“I’ve been to more piano bars than you could count, sweetie,” Mom said to Beckett. “I lived in Nashville for some time. Long before my girl, here.” He nodded. “But you two go ahead. Itdoessound fun.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll go. And you’ll be fine.”
“I will, babe.” She reached across the table to place her hand on mine. “I’ll be completely fine.”
“I’ll take excellent care of your daughter,” Beckett said.
“I have no doubt about that,” Mom grinned. “Good!” She clapped her hands. “I’m glad that’s all settled.”
After dinner, I walked Mom back to the hotel room, freshened up, and met Beckett in the lobby, as was our routine.
He gave me a kiss on my forehead. “Hey,” he began, “were you okay at dinner? We seriously don’t have to go if you’re going to be nervous. I completely understand.”
“It’s fine,” I replied. “Iwantto go. I’m sorry if I made you think otherwise.”
“Then what is it?”
“Can we sit for a sec?” I asked.
“Sure.” He led me to one of the lobby couches. We sat down and positioned our knees toward one another. “Go ahead.”
I took a deep breath, summoning my courage. “I really like you,” I blurted out.
He smiled, then his features twisted up in consternation. “Uh-oh. Is there a but coming?”
“No”—I shook my head—“that’s all. I really like you.”
“Well, that’s a good thing, right?” he asked, brightening. “Because I really like you too.”
The words felt like a warm hug. “Yes, it’s good. I just—I wasn’t expecting any of this to happen. Does that make sense?”
“Absolutely. I didn’t think I’d meet someone on this trip. It’s been a crazy ride from the moment we met at the airport back in New York.”
“Right? I guess I’m nervous because I don’t feel like myself around you.”
“How do you mean?” he asked, lifting his hand to my face to tuck a flying tendril of hair behind my ear. The gesture gave me goose bumps on my upper arms.
“You make me feel… I don’t know how to describe it, actually. Just, like…more.”
“More,” he repeated.
“Yeah, like everything is amplified, you know?”
“I think I understand what you mean, if I’m taking it the right way. Like, I’ve kissed women before, but I can’t remember the last time I felt so alive while being close with someone like that. I can’t say that I’veeverhad that same feeling. Is that what you mean? Because if so, I’m right therewith you. Totally.” He was babbling, and I felt a shift in my chest. Like a knot was coming loose.
“You see?” I smiled. “This is what I mean.” I picked up Beckett’s hand and placed it on my chest. “Feel what you do to my heart.”
His eyes gleamed with the recognition that we were both trying to say the same thing—albeit very poorly. He picked my palm up and placed it on his chest in the same position. “I get it,” he said.
We locked fingers then, and, staring at each other, I tried to formulate my thoughts. “I wasn’t expecting you. You make me feel wild.”
“Yup. Same. Agreed. All of that, yes.”
I laughed. “I guess I’m just worried I’ll lose myself.”
“I thought this was about your mom.”
I looked into the distance at the palm trees separating our hotel from the square. The tree closest to us was shaking as two long iguanas played a game of cat and mouse. “I think I’m scared of things I can’t control.” I shrugged.
