“Are these your babies?” I gesture to the one in my peripheral vision.
“Yes.” She sounds like she’s beaming.
“Did you already sing to them?”
“No, why?”
I shrug, but inside I’m itching to know how she sounds.
She huffs. “Are you trying to find out if I’m tone deaf?”
“Maybe,” I say casually. I rock back on my heels. “Are you?”
“Absolutely not. Just you wait.”
I hear noises in the kitchen, water running, then she’s back in my space, smelling like hope.
She starts off softly as my brain tries to place the words to the song. Iknowthis melody, but I can’t place it. Val’s not off pitch, and her voice is actually quite nice. The sound fills me with warmth. Just as she gets to the chorus, the lyrics click in my head.
“‘Here comes the sun,’” she sings.
I throw my head back and let out a deep laugh. Because this song encompasses Val so completely, and now I think I’ll have to make it her ringtone.
Oh man, I’m a goner for Val Elliott.
26
Val
Why does Jabari’s laugh sear my very soul? My lips can’t help but tug upward as I attempt to keep singing the Beatles’ song. I’m not the best vocalist in the world, but I wholeheartedly believe my plant babies love the tune regardless of how I sound.
After finishing, I arch a brow and adopt a prim expression. “I have more songs where that came from.”
“Please tell me they’re all related to plants.”
Gah! The urge to kiss that cute smirk dizzies me. “In some form or fashion.” “Dandelions” by Ruth B. is another favorite I sing.
“Let me guess, Miley Cyrus is on that list.”
I chuckle. “Maybe.”
Jabari follows me as I pour out the remaining water and return the container under the kitchen sink. When I turn, he’s right by me. I’m not sure if he didn’t gauge my distance or if he means to be in my space.
I don’t hate it. In fact, I discreetly sniff the cologne clinging to him. The notes smell like some type of sage in all the best of ways, and now I’m thinking of the forest in the fall and being wrapped in a cozy blanket.
Ha! You just want to cozyup to him.
Maybe. I didn’t hate being near him when we watched themovie. But I’ve always been a fan of moving slowly in relationships. All my past ones have operated in that manner. However, I’m taking Fran’s advice and thinking about what I truly want. And maybe that’s dating Jabari and seeing what happens.
Still, I don’t want to ask Jabari out myself. Is there a way to show I’m interested without throwing outcome hithersignals? Is there a subtle art to flirting that makes a guy ask you out? My skills are rusty and, honestly, questionable to begin with.
“Should we sit and talk everything out?” I slide my hand onto his bicep, thinking to lead him to the living room.Holy muscles,Batman!
I’ve never thought of hockey players as particularly muscular. I mean, the sport has them exhausting every single calorie they consume in a three-period game. Not to mention they look lean in their game-day suits. But the thickness in Jabari’s arm tells a whole different story.
His hand comes to cup mine, and my heart beats erratically.
“Sitting sounds good.”
