He looked even more handsome than I remembered.
Only a couple of inches taller than me, something I’d always liked, with shaggy brown hair that brushed his eyebrows, a scruffy beard that framed his jaw in the most distractingly handsome way, and those eyes.
God, those eyes.
Warm, steady, kind in a way that felt rare.
“Hi,” he said softly, holding out a bouquet of tulips. Soft pink ones. My favorite.
My breath caught. “Tulips?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly shy. “I . . . remembered you said you liked them.”
The warmth that bloomed in my chest was almost physical.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “They’re beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.” He cut himself off, cheeks flushing. “Uh. Yeah. Anyway.”
I smiled so hard it was embarrassing.
“Come inside for just a second,” I said. “Let me put these in water.”
He followed me in, standing politely near the door while I filled a vase. From the corner of my eye, I could see him looking around with a curious but respectful gaze, as if he didn’t want to intrude.
When I set the tulips on the counter, they looked . . . hopeful. Like I felt.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded, grabbed my purse, and we headed out to his car.
His Prius was older, a little scuffed, the kind of car that had seen years of school pickups and art project spills. A Leo mobile. But clean, like he took pride in the life he built.
He opened my door for me.
A small gesture. But no one had done that for me in a very long time.
When he started the engine, the unmistakable jangly guitar and frantic energy of theViolent Femmesburst from the speakers.
He startled, nearly smacking the dial as he turned the volume down. “Oh—sorry, I didn’t think?—”
“Are you kidding?” I laughed. “I love the Femmes. I saw them in concert when I was younger.”
His head whipped toward me, eyes wide. “You did?”
“Yeah,” I said, settling into the seat. “My friends and I snuck into Columbus once for a show. We told our parents we were at a sleepover.” I grinned at the memory. “Worth every second.”
A slow, delighted smile spread over his face.
“I knew you were awesome,” he murmured, shaking his head. “I didn’t have proof, but I knew.”
Heat curled low in my stomach at the way he said it, like a secret between us.
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “So . . . where are you taking me?”
He kept his eyes on the road, but the smile stayed.
“You’ll see.”
