“I told my parents about us tonight,” he says, and I wish it made me feel good, but instead, I’m terrified to learn what they might think.
“Do they hate me now?” I ask, turning my head in his direction.
His eyebrows knit together as if the idea of his parentshating me is confusing. “Why would they?” he asks, and I know that Thalia told me she thinks everything happens for a reason, but I don’t know if me and Bailey being together is something she had in mind.
“Because I dated Hunter, and now I’m dating you,” I say, trying not to wince at the thought of how awful it sounds. It’s more complicated than that, but it doesn’t change the truth at the end of the day. “It might not matter to you, but it could matter to them.”
Bailey shakes his head. “Kait, I don’t think they care, and even if they do, it’s not going to change anything for me. I told them because I’m not ashamed of how I feel about you, and I don’t want to hide one of the best things to ever happen to me. You’re not a secret.”
“I hope you know that even though you said I’m the center of your universe, your light is so bright, it’s blinding.”
“If you’re the sun, then I’m the moon because I don’t shine without you,” he says, and I reach to cup his face, turning him toward me so I can lean forward to kiss him gently.
“I think I like the idea of us being each other’s sun instead of star-crossed lovers,” I say against his lips, and Bailey pulls me closer.
“Shit!” I swear, momentarily blinded after jumping when the doorbell rang, unfortunately at the same time I was trying to put on mascara. Blinking, I try to keep from smearing the mascara all over my face, but my eye is definitely watering.
I literally have no one to blame but myself because I lost track of time until my “oh shit” alarm went off fifteen minutes ago, and of course Bailey’s early. Why couldn’t he hit traffic or somethingtoday?
I asked Bailey earlier what I should wear because he didn’t tell me what we’re doing, but I think it’s safe to assume that with all the damage from the hurricane, we won’t be going to any of the typical first date spots like the movies or ice cream.
He said,Wear whatever makes you comfortable, but that doesn’t help me at all. I don’t want to fuck this up by wearing the wrong outfit, but now it looks like I’ve barely put any effort into my appearance because I lost track of time.
Thalia let me leave work early today, which didn’t make sense because I saw on the calendar there’s a private event happening tonight, but she told me I didn’t have to worry about it. I thought I had enough time to paint for a little bit, but I kept snoozing my alarms that were trying to tell me to get ready.
“Dammit,” I mumble under my breath, trying to carefully swipe away the tears leaking from my maimed eye while I walk down the stairs to let Bailey in.
Thankfully, I’d already changed into a flowing lavender romper that’s easy for me to move around in depending on what we end up doing, but I wasn’t able to tame my wavy hair back into a braid.
I open the door, ready to blurt out that I need a few more minutes, but I’m speechless when I see him standing there with a bouquet of sunflowers. B’s blond hair is styled back neatly, he’s wearing a nice maroon V-neck, and his face lights up when he sees me—but his quiet excitement fades to concern when I realize my eye is still leaking tears against my will.
“Are you crying? Is everything okay?” he asks, stepping forward to wipe my tears away.
“I’m not crying. I’m better than okay, I promise,” I say, smiling at him, trying not to squint.
He looks like he’s trying not to laugh, but I don’t buy it. “Kait, I hate to break it to you, but youarecrying.”
“I stabbed myself in the eye with my mascara wand,” I admit, and Bailey smiles, rubbing his thumb on my cheek again.
“You look really pretty,” he says, and the final puzzle piece of my heart settles into place as he offers me the flowers.
“You got me flowers?” I ask, taking the bouquet.
He nods, his green eyes crinkling as they watch me. “I thought sunflowers would be perfect for you because you’re my sunshine.”
“You’re my favorite person,” I say, not even caring about how corny it might sound. I know the lore behind the flowers with the Walker family. It never bothered me that Hunter didn’t buy me flowers because I told myself we were young, and they’re usually a promise of forever.
This was the most romantic gesture Bailey could have possibly made to show me how serious he is.
Maybe it should scare me, but the only terrifying thing is imagining a single day without him again.
“You’re mine too.” Bailey leans down to kiss my cheek, and the butterflies in my stomach flutter. “Should we go, or do you need a couple more minutes?”
“I’m sorry, can you give me like five minutes, then I’ll be ready?” I ask, letting him in.
“Take your time, there’s no rush,” Bailey says, shutting the door behind him.
I rush through to make sure my other eye has mascara on it too, but at least this time I don’t poke my eye out with the wand.
