She moved so I could get a good look at myself in the vanity. The acne scarring on my forehead was no more, my cheeks were a deep shade of red, and my lips a perfect nude. I looked like Naomi 2.0.
“It’s perfect. Thank you.” I grinned at my friend.
She wrapped her arms around my shoulder and pulled me in for a hug. “You’re perfect. I just highlighted it. Now, go have the date you deserve. Take my car and call if anything goes wrong and I’ll send one of my brothers to rough Finn up. He’s not getting away with hurting you this time.”
I laughed and hugged her back. “He won’t. But thank you. It’s comforting to know you have my back.”
“Always.” She kissed my temple. “Now, go show this guy what he missed the first time around.”
Ayearago,wewanted to meet halfway between our hometowns. It was an aquarium I used to go to on field trips as a kid. Mid said his school frequented the same place, and we joked about possibly walking past each other when we were kids. It was silly to think about at the time, but now it felt like it could’ve truly happened.
Finn was waiting for me at the entrance. I made such a big deal about how well he cleaned up that his ears turned red. I don’t think I’d ever get over how cute he looked when he was nervous.
He wore black pants and a gray knit long sleeve T-shirt that hugged his form perfectly. His hair was swept out of his face, curling on the end like he used product.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured in my ear when we hugged ‘hello.’ “I have something for you.”
I stood still while he placed a small yellow flower behind my ear.
“The rest are back home,” he explained. “Didn’t want to leave them to wilt in the car.”
My smile was so wide that it hurt my cheeks. “Thank you! Um, I’m Naomi.”
Finn’s eyebrows furrowed as it took him a second to catch on. “Right. And I’m Finn.”
He offered me his hand to shake. As soon as I took it, he tugged me closer, so that we were a breath apart. He smelled like mint. There was a spark in his dark eyes reminding me of how much he wanted this. Wanted me. A warm feeling spread across my body.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Naomi,” he said in a low, honest voice. Then he kissed me.
My stomach jumped. I had not been expecting that this early. I responded instantly, feeling a hot need growing in my belly. We hadn’t even made it into the aquarium, and I was ready for the next part of this date.
“A bit forward?” he asked when he pulled back. I could tell he was trying to conjure a look of guilt, but from his firm grip on my waist, it was obvious he didn’t feel one ounce of shame. He shouldn’t.
I shook my head. “I liked it. I enjoy knowing what people want.”
“Noted,” he promised with a devious look in his eye.
“What?” I asked, amused.
“Nothing.” He kissed me once more, stealing the little oxygen I had left before pulling away again. “Ready to go inside?”
My eyes were still half-closed, and my head felt light as I nodded. I should take this slow and fall with less willingness, but damn, his kisses were addicting. His calm voice made me want to curl up against him and listen to him speak all day.
Finn led the way into the aquarium. We never let go of one another once as we toured the exhibits. I gushed about my favorite animals and rambled random facts. Finn listened intently, asking in-depth questions at all the right places. As I gushed about the sea otters, he nuzzled my neck and whispered,
“They remind me of you.”
“Really?” My eyes widened because that was probably the most incredible compliment I’d ever received. “How come?”
“They always look excited and energetic.” He glanced at the exhibit, where two scurried across the rocks to dive into the water. “Plus, they do that thing where they massage their cheeks.”
“The grooming?”
He hummed and nodded. “You do that sometimes. But I think it’s because your cheeks need massaging from all your laughing. It’s adorable.”
I tried my best to hold a laugh back here so I wouldn’t prove his point. But there was no use. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Finn pressed a kiss on my forehead. “Want to see my favorite exhibit?”
