Angel chuckled. “I can’t imagine you’d do that.”
“I…I don’t want to ruin whatever fantasy you might have by not living up to it,” I admitted. “I might not exceed expectations. Or even meet them, in some aspects.”
He kissed my knuckles. “You could never disappoint me, pidge.”
I doubted that very much. But it was nice of him to say.
“What did you hope for us?” I asked, nudging his knee.
“That our long nights would be filled with love and laughter. Some kind of happily-ever-after.” He brushed his thumb across my ring finger.
I nodded, my face aflame, because part of me already knew I’d fallen for him.
Years down the road, when he was in a hospital twelve hours a day and I was sorting thongs or serving as a nanny for my sister, would we still be a good fit?
He tilted his head, the stars twinkling across his gaze. “I think we’re well on our way, pidge.”
The future was beautiful if I could see him in it.
I caressed the side of his face, admiring the mischievous crinkle of his eyes.
One day, we’d be pruned with old age. But the memory of tonight would be imprinted on me forever.
Chapter fifteen
Necessities
Angel mooned me on his way to grab the towels, a pep in his step like he knew he had a nice backside. Or that I was watching. Or both.
He knotted one of the towels around his waist, then offered me the spare. I turned away before wrapping mine into a dress.
He chuckled. “You know we just hooked up, right? There’s no need to be modest.”
I shot him a sidelong glance. “The bubbles blurred out my private bits.”
“I guess so.” He offered me his hand. “Are you still free to play, or do you have to get back?”
“I should go home,” I lamented, stumbling out of the tub.
He caught me easily. “You don’t sound excited about it.”
“Well, I wish we had more time together,” I said, shuffling inside with him.
He squeezed my waist. “We can see each other tomorrow. Are you free?”
I turned to him with hopeful excitement, then withered at the realization: “I have to hang with Jen.”
“All day?”
“I don’t know. It depends if she’s more in the mood to vent about friends or harass me about my bathroom usage. With any luck, she’ll cancel our plans.” I trudged into his bathroom to grab my clothes.
He leaned against the door trim. “You know, you could always cancel on her. Or leave to spend part of the day with me.”
If only I wouldn’t feel so guilty. She’d probably ask where I was going. And if I said a date? She’d lose it. Or have a heart attack. Neither of which was great for the baby.
“I’ll have to update you on the situation,” I told him.
He sighed, eyeing me forlornly as I bent to get to my jeans on. “Wouldn’t you rather stay over to avoid the fight? You wouldn’t have to be quiet. And I have a spare toothbrush.”
