“What problem?”
“I don’t know.That’s what I’m asking.”
I feel like I missed some part of the conversation.“I thought we had fun.”
“Yeah, we did.”
“Okay.”But it still doesn’t feel okay, so I say, “I told you I like you, remember?”
For some reason, that makes him grin.“Now that you mention it.”
“Okay.”And I can’t help but ask, “Do you feel weird because you slept over?I guess that’s not what people normally do, is it?”
He’s looking at me like he’s seeing methroughsomething.Or like he’s finally noticing something.And then he says, “You have got to be kidding me.”
“What?”
“Are you seriously making it this easy?”
“Making what easy?”But he doesn’t answer, and finally I decide I better make sure he knows, so I say, “If it’s about sleeping over, you don’t have to feel weird, because I liked it.”
“You liked it, huh?”
I nod.
“Did you like it more than choking me on that hog you keep in your trunks?”
It takes me half a second to—to catch my balance, I guess.And then I say, “About the same.”
He bursts out laughing.
“Gray—” I throw a look at the door, and then I cross the room and put a hand over his mouth.
He’s smiling against my palm.And then he ducks away from my hand and kisses me.
I kiss him back.And something happens in my head because I can’t hear anything for a while.When I finally can—and Gray’s pulling back—Gran’s got her shower running.
Gray touches the corner of my mouth with his thumb, and that’s when I realize I’m smiling.He’s smiling too, but mostly with his eyes.And then he says, “Morning, beautiful.”
It feels silly, sure.But it’s also pins and needles, my face getting hot.
Gray acts like he doesn’t notice.But he’s a detective, so I’m sure he does.“Here’s what we’re going to do.You’re going to put away the king cobra, and then you’re going to give me the all-clear, and I’m going to leave without your grandma seeing me.”I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, Gray adds, “I’ll catch an Uber.How’s that?”
“It’s not that I’m embarrassed,” I say.
“I know.”
“Gran’s already obsessed with you.”
“Sam, it’s okay.You don’t have to explain.This just kind of…happened.”
“I’m glad it happened.”I can’t help lowering my voice again, feeling that flush prickle in the hollow of my throat, when I add, “I really liked doing that with you.”
He smirks.“I know.”
And that’s Gray, too.I figure I might as well get the rest of it out too, while he’s feeling so proud of himself.“And you were real sweet about—about everything.”
The smirk shifts into something else.Still a smile, but somehow…more.He says, “Anybody worth being with would have done that for you.You’re a catch, Sam Yarmark.Thanks for sharing that moment with me.”
