“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Libby managed a smile, drawing on the part of her that was purely happy to see him, despite everything. “It feels like we’re coming back down to earth. From, you know.”
“Planet Last Night,” Jefferson filled in. He was looking at her like he wanted to smile, or even laugh.
“Bedhead?” Libby patted her hair. “Or should I say beachhead?”
He ran a finger along her hairline, drawing it across her temple and then behind her ear. Even after he stopped, the trail of warmth continued, all the way down to her toes.
“Did you fix it?” she asked when she found her voice.
“I just wanted to touch you.” His knuckles brushed the side of her neck. “Before we go inside, there’s something you should know.”
“Your name isn’t really Jefferson?”
He paused like she’d strung up a trip wire. “Uh, no. That is my name.”
“Of course,” she said quickly, before he could question whythe first place her mind went wasfalse identity.“Go ahead. I shouldn’t have interrupted you.”
“That’s okay.” He swallowed. “I like you. A lot. And I’d like to keep seeing you, when all this is over. I don’t know how or where, but if there’s a way, I’m willing to try. If that’s something you want.”
“I do want,” Libby said, before her conscience could scream,I’m not worthy.“All of it. With you.”
He was so honest and brave. Jefferson deserved someone who didn’t suck.I’m going to confess everything,she decided.Today.And then come clean to Hildy, bringing the Lillibet hoax to a merciful close. Like an exorcism.
She slid an arm around the back of his neck, drawing herself against him. Libby didn’t usually throw herself at people. Too many of the guys she’d known were wishy-washy, one foot out the door. Lean on someone like that, and you’d both eat dirt. With Jefferson, she trusted him to be there, solid and real, meeting her halfway. Not just because he was an upstanding person, but because he wanted her there, in his arms, as much as she wanted to be wrapped around him.
I like you, too,she told him with her lips.A scary lot.
His hands traveled down her sides, squeezing the curve of her waist before sliding back over her shoulders to pull her closer. Every time she kissed Jefferson was like discovering a new flavor.Oh, I like this one, too.One quick kiss was building into something more when he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers.
“Next time we spend the night together, let’s go someplace less sandy.”
It was a rain check that felt like a promise:This will happen.All Libby had to do was eliminate the obstacles standing between them. Which happened to be slightly different than the ones Jefferson knew about, but that was all part of the process.
She breathed deeply, letting the cool morning air fill herlungs. There was something hopeful about this time of day, like you were literally seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. Maybe that was Libby’s problem: she’d always slept through the optimistic hours. Right now, with Jefferson at her side, it was just barely possible to believe it would all work out.
“I guess we shouldn’t go in together.” Libby didn’t have Jean’s gift for strategy, but instinct told her she wouldn’t be able to act normal around Jefferson so soon after having his tongue in her mouth.
“We could say we were doing yoga.”
“What about my butt?”
“Seems perfect to me.” He pulled her against him, hands cupping her cheeks (the lower ones). “On closer inspection.”
“You know, I didn’t actually have a sprained ass.” Because that was definitely the right place to start her confession. Really ripping off the bandage.
Jefferson nodded, unsurprised. “I figured it was the morning thing. Wanting to sleep in. Especially on Me-mas.”
She hoped theoh shitdidn’t show on her face. Mother freaking Me-mas. “Right. That’s today. I was supposed to start the day me-ditating. Next to the Me Tree. Aka Big Naked Me.” She bit her lip.
“I prefer you in 3D.”
“Even though you can’t use my nipple as a night-light?”
“Not high on the list of qualities I look for in a woman.”
“Imagine in the wilderness, though. If you’re camping. It could be handy.”
