My heart swells. It’s not just about picking Bryce’s brain to help me figure out how I can expand my role in my current position, but Garrett’s openness to invite me further into his life. His family is important to him. The fact that he wants us to travel to Buffalo reinforces how important I am to him. While I should run for the hills…a man is proposing a trip to visit his brother on our first date…Garrett and I aren’t the typical couple. The last five years have merely served as a preamble to tonight.
“Thank you for always supporting me.” Leaning in, I lift our joined hands and place an appreciative kiss on his knuckles.
“Again, don’t thank me for doing what should be expected.”
“Just because it’s expected, doesn’t mean I can’t be appreciative for it,” I say, a sweet defiance rings in my tone.
It’s something my dad always says. Even if we expect someone to do something, we should still appreciate it because not everyone meets our expectations, and when someone does, we should cherish that. The coziness of Garrett’s thoughtfulness leaves me feeling cherished. I want him to feel the same.
“You know the campus coffee shop is closed, right?” I tease as we park at the university.
While I knew all the details about dinner, the only thing Garrett shared about the post-dinner activity was that it would be someplace I’m very familiar with. My gears spun with so many scenarios. None of which landed on me coming back to campus on a Friday night.
Hands clasped, we walk through the quad. It’s not proper human guide, but I use my cane and hold his hand anyway. I deserve to hold hands with my handsome date as we stroll in the cool night air, just like everyone else. The murmured conversations of students moseying between buildings hums around us.
He leads me to the egg-shaped theater building at the campus center, where a main stage and several smaller theaters are. I’ve attended a few performances here over the years—mostly to listen to some of the chamber music ensembles the university is known for.
“What are we seeing?” I press into him as we stand in line to get into the theater.
“The string quartet is doing a specialBridgerton-themed performance with music from the show.”
“What?” Excitement vibrates through me. “How? I thought the tickets were sold out?”
When I’d seen the listing on the university’s events calendar, I squealed obnoxiously at my desk. By the time the tickets were available for staff, they were sold out. Students and faculty always get first dibs on tickets.
“I have some connections.” Playfulness dances in his timbre.
“Connections? I know you guest lecture at the medical school, but am I dating a Pemberley big wig?” I shimmy my hips.
“Not a big wig.” He chuckles. “Just a grateful dean of the medical school who had tickets that he agreed to swap me for.” He places his palm on the small of my back, guiding me down the line.
“What did you swap him for? Kidney? Firstborn?”
“Weirdly, your brother has dibs on my kidney.” He takes out his phone to show the attendant our tickets.
“How?” I guffaw.
“He won it in a poker game two years ago. But he only plans to collect if he needs it,” he says, ushering us into the theater.
“Who has dibs on your firstborn?” I bite the inside of my cheek in immediate regret for that question.
He coughs. “Still up for grabs.”
“Do youwanta firstborn?” Bypassing any good sense, I lean into my true nature and just ask.
Kids are something I know I want. Even if we may not be there now—or ever—it’s best to put this on the table. I’m sure I’m breaking all kinds of first-date etiquette here. In fairness, I have sat on this man’s face, so traditional dating rules may not apply here.
“I did.” He places my hand on a railing. “Human guide, or…”
“Human guide.” I take his elbow, letting him lead us up the stairs to our seats. “You did, but you don’t anymore?”
“I don’t know…” His shoulders shrug. “Val and I talked about it, but after she… I just stopped thinking about wanting things beyond just time.”
Worrying my lip, I nod, as if he could see me from behind him. “I want a firstborn, and maybe a secondborn. Though they don’t have to be borne by me. Adoption. Foster parenting. However they get here, I’d like to be a mom. I’m open. It’s early for this type of conversation, but I want to be honest about what I hope for my future.”
Looks like I’m pushing through all the little barriers I’ve put in place. In three months, I’ve gone from being unable to tell Miles I wanted to date to telling Garrett I want kids on our first date. This is not the Jensen I’ve always been, and it’s somehow the right Jensen.
As much as I am falling for this man, I’m falling for myself even more. My needs and wants are important, and I won’t stuff them inside out of fear they will scare someone away—not anymore.
