“You never argue with a man who wants to do the dishes,” Aunt Shannon says as she comes down the hall with her purse and keys in hand.
“Where are you headed to?” I ask.
“Lola wants to go to the fair on the boardwalk.”
I nod. “Oh, okay. Have fun.”
She looks from me to Jacob, then to me. “You boys should go. It’s a beautiful night. Be a shame to waste it here.” She looks around the room.
Jacob’s arm brushes my side, and I realize he’s done washing the dishes.
“Yeah, sounds like fun. Maybe we’ll check it out.”
Shannon smiles and gives us a wave. “Alright, then.”
When the door shuts, I turn to Jacob, noticing the way he’s looking at me.
“What?” I ask. His gaze drops to my mouth for a split second before he catches my gaze.
“Do you?” He swallows, hard. “Want to check it out?”
The way he asks is sweet. Like he’s nervous. I think it's cute. I think he’s kind of cute, like this.
“I’ve seen the fair on the boardwalk a hundred times,” I say, and I don’t miss the furrow of his eyebrows.
“Oh, right.”
I guess that makes sense, given he’s never been here before.
And suddenly I feel like an asshole as I realize this is all new forhim.
I reach out and slide my fingers through his hair and hold his head still. Forcing him to look at me.
“But I’ve never seen it with my hot boyfriend before, so—”
His cheeks turn pink and he closes his eyes.
“Aaron—”
“I’d love to go to the fair on the boardwalk with you,” I say as I tilt his chin up. He opens his eyes, gazing up at me with warmth.
“Really?” he asks, his voice soft. “You don’t want to just… I don’t know… crash on the couch or whatever it is you normally do when you’re here?”
I think about the last time I was here, but I can’t remember what I actually did. It’s been too long.
“I think I’d rather go on a date with you,” I say.
“It’s not a date,” he says, his voice a whisper. “It’s just a walk.”
I know it’s more than a walk and I think he does, too, but I also don’t want to push him. I’m not used to letting others take the lead, but when it comes to Jacob, I get the feeling letting him lead will be better for the both of us at the moment. Because I feel like I’m out of my league here with him. In so many ways.
“Then I’d love to go for awalkon the boardwalk with you.”
He nods. “Okay, I’ll change and then we can go?”
I nod. “I’ll wait here for you.”
I watch as he heads down the hall, watch his perfect ass as it disappears around the corner, and only then do I let out a breath, looking to the chandelier. It sparkles, throwing prisms all across the room.
