I’d told him that the morning-after I imagined for us was eating pancakes and smiling quiet, mischievous little smiles at each other over the breakfast table, and he’d clearly taken that to heart.
I loved him. Now that I wasallowed, I couldn’t stop thinking it. The feeling filled my chest and made me grin like an idiot any time I acknowledged it.
I loved him. And by some miracle, he lovedme.
And I hadn’t screwed this up. Devin was here, and he loved me, and he was on the other side of the bathroom doorcommuningwith the pancakes.
I was still grinning as I stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, just in time to watch Devin bring a teetering stack of what looked like perfect pancakes over to the bed, setting them in the middle.
Who was I to say no to that?
“Those look incredible,” I said, moving to grab the maple syrup and butter he was juggling with two smaller plates and a butter knife on his way back to the bed.
We both sat down, making ourselves comfortable among the blankets, and started in on breakfast.
“Thesearegood,” I said after my first syrup-drenched mouthful, folding my pancake in half like a taco to minimize the amount spilling on the bed.
Devin smiled so brightly that I would’ve insisted they were the best pancakes in the entire world, even if they’d been terrible.
“Didn’t know I was getting a boyfriend who cooked,” I said.
Devin shrugged. “I was telling you, y’know, about how I was after I dropped out of college. I lived with Mom while I was finding my feet again, and I had a lot of time on my hands. She taught us all to cook when we were younger, but I had nothing else to do other than learn more, so I got a few lessons. That was also when I went vegetarian, though. I couldn’t… handle handling meat.”
“What I’m hearing here is that you’re the Goode brother most likely to replicate your mother’s potatoes,” I said.
“Sometimes I make them for Sunday lunches and no one ever knows,” Devin confessed, licking syrup off his hand. “So yeah, you could say that.”
“Not to be weird,” I said. “But that’s kinda hot.”
Devin chuckled. “Mom always did say the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach.”
“Funny, mine said it was between the fourth and fifth ribs,” I said.
“Well, she’s right.” Devin shrugged.
“Think she’s still a little mad I never went to medical school,” I admitted. “She’ll forgive me eventually.”
“I’m glad you didn’t, for what it’s worth. As long asyoudon’t regret it.”
I shook my head. “Not for a second. I’m anxious enough without people’s lives being on the line. I’ve got my flowers, I’ve got my friends, and I’ve got my favorite customers.”
“And now you’ve got me,” Devin said, blushing to the tips of his ears.
“And now I’ve got you. You’re the best part.”
“You mean that, huh?” Devin asked, licking sticky syrup off his lips, eyelashes lowered shyly.
“I mean that,” I said softly, putting a hand on his knee and squeezing tight. “I’m lucky to have you. Anyone would be. Don’t you ever forget it.”
“How are you so nice?” Devin asked, grabbing another pancake. I didn’t blame him, they reallyweregood, and he was bound to be starving after last night’s marathon.
I was glad I’d built up plenty of stamina moving buckets of flowers around, because I got the feeling I’d need it. Not that I minded having an insatiable boyfriend. Especially when he really,reallyliked me.
“Maybe I just like you.”
“You love me,” Devin said, more confident now.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I love you.”
