Connor races from corner to corner of the yard, snuffling along the fence line and the edge of the deck in search of any remainingnightly intruders, while I take a sip of my coffee. I pull a face. It’s hours old, and, along with all the other positive changes I’ve been trying to make recently, I’ve decided life’s too short for bad coffee. Setting my mug aside, I pull out my phone and text Steph.
Riley
Good morning, Sunshine
Steph
Morning!
Riley
Speaking of sunshine, it’s looking to be a beautiful day. What have you got going on? Wanna go for a walk with me and Connor?
While she switches off Saturdays with Piper, I know the library is closed today.
Steph
Actually, that sounds really nice. The boys likely won’t be up for a few hours still, and they’re probably just going to play video games all afternoon anyway. I did want to stop in and drop a few baby things off for Lucy.
Riley
Perfect! I was going to suggest meeting at The Bean anyway. I’ll buy you one of those fancy greendrinks.
Steph
Lol. Matcha
Riley
;-)
Steph
Meet you in 30?
Riley
See you then
She’swearingcomfy-lookinggreenjoggers, a matching hoodie with a white tee underneath, and a jean jacket, and she looks fucking fantastic. This woman could wear rags, and her beauty would shine through, because it’s so much more than just the physical. Steph smiles at me, bright-eyed, from her spot outside The Busy Bean Cafe and Bakery.Fifty-three.
“Hi, handsome!” she calls as we draw near.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Oh, I wasn’t talking to you,” she quips teasingly before bending over to give Connor her full attention. “I was talking to you,wasn’t I, sweet boy?” she coos, doling out head scratches. “Yes, I was. Yes, I was. You’re just the handsomest boy ever, aren’t you?”
He jumps up unexpectedly, planting a slobbery kiss to her cheek and causing her to rear back in surprise. She gets to her feet with a laugh, meeting my eyes with a grin as she wipes at the wet spot.
Fifty-four.
“Guess I should have been expecting that.”
“You definitely should have,” I agree with a chuckle as I move in close to tuck a loose strand of her short hair behind her ear. “Now, he got his kiss, where’s mine?” I ask, my hand lingering to cup her jaw.
She blushes, biting her lip and glancing around the street. My heart drops at the realization that she’s hesitant to be seen kissing me in public. Things have been great between us all winter—better than great, actually—and all I want to do is shout about our relationship to the world. Claim her in front of the whole town, so there’s no doubt who she belongs to. But while she’s opened up to me quite a bit over the last few months, in many ways, she’s still tentative about us. Clearly, there’s more work to be done. Clearly, we aren’t on the same page yet. Clearly—
Before I can spiral any further, she steps into me, so we’re chest to chest. I catch the flash of resolve in her beautiful brown eyes a moment before she yanks me down and presses her lips to mine. The kiss isn’t long or deep, but it’s enough.
