“I like that,” he says, holding his pinky up between us. “To whatever comes?”
I lock my pinky with his. “To whatever comes.”
We weave our fingers together and watch the moon illuminate the water before us.
Chapter Twenty
Micah
THE SMELL OF FOOD AND THE SOUND OF MUSIC SENDme hunting for Dani.
When I get to the kitchen, she’s cooking eggs with my T-shirt draped over her body, dancing to “Get Me” by Justin Bieber and Kehlani.
Watching her move is majestic. Every step is the picture of grace. From the way she twirls on her toes when she needs something from the fridge to the way she balances on one leg when she stirs her pan.
Simply put, I’m in awe of her. I walk up and kiss the back of her neck, surprised when she leans in rather than pushing me away.
After our conversation last night, I brought her home so she could pack a bag, and then we made our way back here into my bed. I want the whole Dani package, every piece of her, but I’m not willing to lose her again by pushing my own agenda.
“Since when do you cook breakfast?”
She transfers the eggs onto a plate, turning in my arms and wrapping hers around my neck. “Since I woke up starving after someone burned off all my calories last night.”
I step away from the stove, pulling her with me until we’re swaying with the music. “Hmm, I don’t recall. Maybe you should refresh my memory.”
She leans up to kiss me, moaning as I bite her lower lip. “Mmm, no, no, no. Back it up,” she says as she drops her hands to my stomach to push against it. “The eggs are gonna get cold fucking with you.”
That’s the goal. I go in for one more kiss before holding my hands up in surrender. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
“Exactly.”
We sit at my kitchen table, eating together and planning our day. It’s impossible not to imagine a future where this is our routine, but I release those thoughts in favor of enjoying the now.
“I don’t know what to do about my video for Tanya,” she says. “All the footage I got from you and everyone else has been amazing, but mine still isn’t coming out right.”
“Yeah, but you’re working on that. Give yourself some grace.” Leave it to Dani to have exactly one therapy session and think she should immediately move past all her mental blocks.
“We don’t have time.” She waves me off. “I mean, we don’t have forever. The gala will be here before we know it.”
We’ve been moving full speed ahead with planning since coming back from Colorado, but we still have plenty of time before the date.
“You will get there. The words are in there.” I place my index finger against her heart. “And when they’re ready to be spoken, you’ll know.” Matters of the heart don’t take kindly to being rushed.
She lets out a deep exhale, her shoulders loosening with every second. “I guess you’re right. I wish I were an artist like you, then I wouldn’t even need words.”
An idea takes root in my mind. “Will you try something with me?”
She nods without hesitation, unleashing a fire inside of me.
I guide her up to my loft and have her sit on a stool. I search through my supplies until I find one of my white paint markers. “Do you trust me?”
She considers me carefully.
I’m waiting with bated breath for her answer until she sets me free.
“I do.”
Thank fuck. “Good. Then—I mean this in the most nonsexual way possible—I need you to strip.”
