More like all the things he was doing to me. Or even more specifically, saying to me.
“So, you weren’t doing all of that for my benefit. That was all for him.” I started to phrase it as a question but it came out more of a statement. He swallowed hard and nodded short and quickly. The lighting was terrible in here, but I knew he was just as embarrassed as I was now.
“As perverted as that sounds it’s accurate. And the more and more I thought about it after you and I fought the more I realized that this weird feud needed to end. Him and I can’t keep doing this. You’ve made your choice and it’s time to start moving forward with it. I told him this and he agreed.”
“So, what now then? You two are squashing the dick waving contest?”
He chuckled.
“Yes. We no longer will be waving any dicks at each other. He’ll wave his with someone else, and I’ll wave mine only for you.”
“Promise?” I raised an eyebrow. He rolled his eyes, but the smile returned.
“With all my heart. I promise to never bring Ronny McCoy into my bedroom desires ever again.”
I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped my lips.
“Same here.”
There was a moment’s pause as we held hands and looked into each other’s eyes. Finally, we were back. I glanced down at the open book under our hands.
“Was the only reason you brought it so you could point out the time Ronny tied me up?”
He blinked rapidly and I realized what I said. I hadn’t told him that before.
“Tied you up? Oh wow, okay. Well, that’s not what I want to hear right now,” he chuckled and shook his head. “We’ll discuss that one another day. No, I brought it to also show you this one.”
He let me go and started flicking through the pages. When he found what he was looking for he pointed.
“That gig we played for your aunt. The one where we were all angels. Seeing you in your wedding dress. It was a sign. Ronny didn’t even realize what was right under his nose, and the fact that you didn’t point it out to him. That was the first real moment I knew we had a chance. It was hard for me to wait, but I knew if I waited, you’d come back to me, and you did.”
“And I did.”
He pushed his seat back from the table and stood. He extended his hand for me to do the same. I did and before we stepped away from the table, he blew out the candle.
“Nowwe’re going upstairs,” he laughed. He navigated the dark bookstore easily. He found the door to the stairs and we went up to his apartment.
“This wasn’t just some elaborate ploy for great make up sex was this?” I teased. He didn’t say anything until we opened the door to his place. He flicked a switch quickly and I blinked at the suddenly harsh light. I let my eyes adjust and then looked around. Boxes. Everything was in boxes. I turned around to question him.
“What’s going on?”
“I think it’s time we start moving forward. We’ve been dancing around things, but we can’t keep living two separate lives.”
“Yeah, but I know you can’t leave here. You have obligations,” I protested. He shook his head and reached for my chin. He grasped it lightly and lifted my face to hold my gaze.
“My biggest obligation is to you. I see the disappointment in your eyes when I leave every night. I hear the tears in your voice when you call me to see how Cara’s doing. It kills me to know that you’re waking up alone every morning. We’re done. I want to change for the better.”
“So, what does this all mean then?” I pressed my lips together tightly as my eyes began to shine. He leaned down and kissed me tenderly.
“It means we’re moving in together.”
