‘Here?’
He smiles. ‘No. But this is nice.’
We walk through it, slower this time, as I watch a huge shark swim past. I probably should come here more often, though I’m not sure it would be as peaceful when it’s full of people and small, chaotic children.
When we reach the end, he turns the corner, and the room there is much, much darker. It takes my eyes a second to adjust, but before it does, all I can see is a floor-to-ceiling glass wall that has to hold millions of gallons of water.
Beyond the glass are two huge sea turtles and massive sharks twisting through the depths. We creep a little closer, and my eyes catch on the tropical fish, bright blues and yellows swimmingin schools.
The glow from the aquarium lights up the floor in front of the glass, and it’s then my eyes adjust enough to see steps—almost like theater seating.
Dex looks back at me. He’s lit up from the aquarium lights, a soft blueish hue on his face. He’s fucking angelic. Beautiful in ways I can’t really describe.
And I don’t really want to. I don’t want anyone to know. I want this part of him to be mine.
He steps close. ‘Here.’
I glance around us, then grab the blanket and lay it on the floor. He stands by watching, giving the cooler pack over to me when I make grabby hands for it, and then I empty the tote.
It takes too long, but eventually, I have the food and drinks spread out, and he kneels next to me. He slides down carefully onto his ass and scoots closer until our knees are touching.
‘I love this.’ He doesn’t say love though. He uses kiss-fist. ‘This is the best date ever.’
‘Don’t grade me yet. Wait until it’s over,’ I tell him.
He smiles and shakes his head, even as he lifts a hand to sign, ‘Okay.’
The floor isn’t very comfortable. It’s carpeted, but there’s concrete beneath it, and the blanket isn’t much of a cushion. He doesn’t make a face or complain though.
Instead, he takes his sandwich and bites into it and makes a face like it’s the best thing he’s ever tasted.
‘I didn’t make it,’ I say when he looks at me. He rolls his eyes, and I shrug. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d care that much.’
‘I don’t.’ He sets his sandwich down, now half-gone, and looks at me. ‘How did you come up with this idea?’
‘Lexi,’ I tell him. ‘Denver told me to ask her for help planning a date.’
‘You asked my ex,’ he states, ‘to help you plan a date with me?’
Yeah. His ex. It was weird, but also, it wasn’t. ‘I understand she’s important. Your best friend.’
He shakes his head. ‘You’remy best friend.’
‘Boyfriend,’ I correct.
He goes onto his knees and creeps closer. “Yes,” he says aloud, and I read off his lips. He’s close enough and the room is quiet enough that I can make out the sound of his voice. It’s a low rumble. “But you are both,” he says and signs that last part.
Something cracks in my chest, flooding it with an emotion I have never felt in my life. I don’t know what to do with myself. I want to scream and laugh. I want to pin him to the ground and fuck him senseless. Security cameras be damned. I want to bury my face in his neck and breathe in his scent and never let him go.
I was not meant for feelings like this, but I can’t stop them.
‘Are you okay?’ he asks.
I take a breath, then nod. ‘I’m okay. I feel so much when I’m with you, and it scares me. But I like it.’
His eyes and lips soften. ‘This is a good date.’
‘How good?’
