“Hey.” His gaze moves over me in a way that warms me from the inside. “Did I wake you?”
“No. I was already up.”Barely. I’m wearing pajama pants, an oversized long-sleeved shirt, and ridiculous slippers. I probably have lines on my face and a wicked case of bedhead. Parsnip squirms around in my arms, the allure of the hallway a forbidden temptation. I shake off my daze and step back to make room for Flip. “You should come in.”
As soon as the door closes, I drop Parsnip, who promptly rubs himself against Flip’s legs while meowing loudly.
“You’re such a harlot,” I scold. I wish I could do that without it being weird.
“A cute harlot.” Flip toes off his shoes. “I brought breakfast.” He kisses me on the cheek and walks down the hall.
“That was really sweet.” I follow him into the kitchen.
I don’t know how to interpret this visit. The last twenty-four hours have been surreal.
“Have a seat.” He pulls a chair out for me, and I gratefully park my ass because once again, my knees are made of Jell-O.
“Is everything okay?” I’m so anxious. And I really wish I had a mirror and my toothbrush and a different pair of underwear on.
“We need to talk.” He opens the box and angles it toward me. It’s full of my favorites. I love every single baked good in this box.
“Okay.” I wish my stomach didn’t feel like it wants to turn itself inside out.
Flip meets my anxious gaze with a steady one. “I had a great time with you last night.”
I’m a fluttering, excited mess now. “Me, too.”
He tucks my hair behind my ear. “I like you.”
I’m at risk of melting into the floor. “I like you, too.”
“When the girls go to your showcases, I always try to find a reason to tag along because I love watching you dance. And I love it when you come to games, especially when you come tothe Watering Hole afterward so I can find out what you’ve been up to. I started reading all the books you recommend because it gives me a reason to message you, especially when I think I’ve found your favorite part.”
My mouth is dry, my palms are sweaty, and my heart is pounding. What he’s saying is exactly what I always dreamed. And now it’s coming true. It seems impossible, but also like this is the best week of my entire life. “I love that you always seem to know exactly what part is my favorite.”
“To be fair, those corners usually have a crease in them.” His eyebrow lifts.
My cheeks heat. “I knew I should have used flags instead.”
“It’s been very insightful.” Flip has the audacity to smirk and look hot doing it.
I pull my shirt up to cover the bottom of my face. The other scenes I dog-ear are the spicy ones.
“I’ve been making notes of my own.” He winks and covers my hand with his, bringing it to his lips. “I like spending time with you, Talls.”
“I like spending time with you, too.”
“I want to date you.”
I surreptitiously pinch my thigh to make sure I’m actually awake. My heart stutters. “Date me?”
My experience is limited to university age man-boys who want to meet up at some party. Eventually a group movie night ensues, and then a few weeks or a month down the line, dinner at a restaurant off campus.
“I’d like to take you on a real date, one that’s planned, where I pick you up, take you somewhere nice, and treat you like a queen,” he says with genuine seriousness.
“That sounds...” Perfect. Amazing. Terrifying. “I’d like that.” I don’t know what to do with my hands, so I clasp them together to keep from fidgeting. Parsnip bumps against my legs under the table.
“I’d like to see where this goes.” He laces our fingers. “But you won’t be a secret I have to keep.”
I swallow my guilt over the way I propositioned him. “I don’t want that either.”
