Page 125 of Hall Pass Fridays

He kissed my hair. “It shows.”

I lifted my head as he made sure I got my favorite dipping sauces and a piece of Hawaiian pizza, despite the way he mock shuddered with a wink.

Sean and I might not have had a sexual relationship, but our friendship had only deepened over the past year. He was someone I would always want in my life. He still told me heloved me, and the words were as warm and steadying as they’d always been.

Jack never got jealous. He just smiled at me in that way he was doing even now. When we were both full, we leaned into each other, watching the rest of the documentary curled up together.

Sean stood with a groan when it was over. “Time for me to soak these worn-out muscles.”

“Wuss,” Jack said with a laugh.

“Don’t start with me, old man. You’re turning forty first.” Sean winked at him as we all rose and walked toward the door.

Derrick wished us a good night, but Sean hesitated at the top of the steps. “Let me see the ring again.”

I held out my hand, even though he’d seen it plenty in the last couple of months. His hand slid under mine, lifting it and rubbing a thumb over the diamond. It wasn’t a huge stone. The ring was lightweight enough that I sometimes forgot it was there, though I didn’t think I’d ever forget I was engaged. Jack had proposed before asking me to move in with him because he’d wanted it to be like that, too. I hadn’t even had to say it out loud.

“You two are perfect together,” Sean said, pulling away. “I’m happy for you both.”

Jack wrapped his arms around me as we watched Sean descend the steps. I slipped the door closed, turning in Jack’s arms.

“Should we put on a record?” he asked.

A smile took over my face. Listening to one of the Millers’ records was the best way to christen our first evening together. I leaned up and kissed his nose, then turned to pick one out.

Jack settled on the couch. “I checked on our bid. I think we’re going to win.”

I nodded. My chest felt too tight for words. There had only been one record we hadn’t been able to replace yet, and Jack had found it last night. I hadn’t even realized he was still actively looking.

One of the album sleeves caught my eye, and I pulled it out with a fond smile. Jack’s apartment was quiet as I set it on the player, but silence between us never felt awkward and tense. That didn’t mean we never disagreed. We just talked through it together. Everything was so perfect that one of my friends had said it sounded boring.

There was nothing boring about being loved by Jack or about loving him in return.

As the first strains of the music filled the air, the giddiness I’d been feeling before returned, and I turned toward him, holding out my hand. “Dance with me?” I asked.

His eyebrow lifted at my choice of songs, but he was smiling as he took my hand and rose to dance with me. The song I chose wasn’t a slow one, and maybe not exactly fitting when it was about not settling for the first man who came around, but I hadn’t settled at all.

Jack spun and twirled me as our bodies moved in rhythm together. The memory of the Millers dancing to this same songwas a sweet ache as Jack and I grinned at each other. He surprised me with an ending dip, and I laughed up at him as he pulled me upright, our mouths moving together in a searing kiss.

It was a perfect way to start the next step of our lives together, the type of evening I could already picture repeating forever.