Zolt rolled his eyes. “They’re too excited that you’re here. We’ll eat, and then I’ll take them out for a walk.”
If we wandered through the magic of those trees in the crisp, morning air, crunching twigs, smelling the damp earth, I’d end up holding his hand. Then I’d kiss him.
“Do you mind if I stay here? I have some work to finish up.”
He nodded and plated up our sausage sandwiches, guiding me to the sofas. Soft, lyrical music played in the background. English music.
“It’s helped me with my expression,” he said andnodded at the speakers. “Pronunciation.” He took a huge bite, tomato sauce dripping onto his plate. “What did you want to do today?”
There wasn’t one thing I wanted to do.
“It’s not a trick question, Fia,” he laughed, and his hand found my thigh.
“I just want to be with you. We could sit on this sofa all day, and I would be happy. I think I’d prefer that to going out.”
“It is very cold,”he reasoned. He took my plate and placed it on top of his on his lap. But he didn’t move.
“What’s wrong?”
He hesitated, looking at Vincent begging at our feet. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Yes.” Please.
“Is there hope for us? I can’t—I don’t know if I can do this if—” He swallowed, and his eyes met mine. “If there’s no chance.”
He needed to protect himself.
“I forgive you, Zoltán. I don’t really know what there is to forgive, because you’re innocent. I’m the guilty party here.”
He shook his head, dropped the plates on the coffee table, and took my hands. “No. You were right to go. I don’t blame you.”
“I have hope, Zoltán.”
His breath shook. “Will you stay?”
“Careful, I’ll think you’re asking me to move in.”My laughter lacked amusement, filled with awkwardness, but it softened with sincerity to say, “I’ll stay.”
“You can move in if you want. But… this is a forever commitment. I won’t settle for less.” He squeezed my hands.“I will give this everything I have. The rest of my life. For however long you’ll have me.”
Forever always felt like a vow from his lips.
“Yes,” I agreed, squeezing his fingers back.“Yes, I want that. I want you. I couldn’t walk away from you if I tried. I want it all with you.”
I pulled my legs up to kneel beside him and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I want everything. To hold your hand. To wake up beside you. To walk the dogs. To show you every day how much I love you.”
His smile, the crease around his eyes tightening, the turn of his mouth, the way his hands fell to my waist… I knew I was safe. I could tell him anything.
Slowly, I leaned in, and we knew it was coming. He squeezed my sides, but it still surprised me when my lips met his. Slowly, softly, but surely. He held me and tugged me onto his lap, pulling me close as his mouth moved urgently with mine. Enveloped in that rich, earthy smell of his, I always got carried away, my tongue melding with his, rocking on his lap as my fingers threaded in his hair, treasuring the fact we were here together.
We weretogether.
When we stopped to breathe on quiet, relieved laughter, he kissed along my jaw, then neck, when I heard the commotion behind me and turned.
Vincent was chomping on the leftover crust from my sandwich.
“Vincent!”
