I closed the distance to the table in three strides, cupped Simon’s cheek to turn his face toward me, and bent to kiss him.
The moment our lips made contact, something settled in my chest. Mom had ruffled me, like she always did, but as Simon let me kiss him, let me have whatever I wanted from him, likehealways did, it was like having all my feathers stroked back into order by a big, gentle hand.
“Hi,” I murmured, pulling back just far enough to look him in the eyes. The way the light was streaming into the kitchen lit them up like dark amber, as though they were glowing from the inside. Itwasjust a trick of the light, but I was feeling needy enough to let myself believe Simon was looking at me like that because he meant it.
I had him for the weekend, and I was just realizing that a smart man would make the most of that. Since I’d never have him like this again.
“Project?” I asked, glancing at the spread papers.
“Simon’s helping me,” Delilah spoke up. “He’s really smart.”
“Smart, handsome, sexy, great in bed…” I said, smirking as I trailed off. I didn’t look at Delilah—the hint of color rising across Simon’s nose and cheeks wasmuchmore interesting. I could imagine the look on her face anytime I wanted. Simon didn’t blush like this for me.
In the spirit of making the most of it, I kissed him again, letting a happy sound I might have held back otherwise escape me. Simon would take it as all for show. He’d agreed toall over each other.
I’d apologize later.
“He’s helping me,” Delilah repeated, firmer this time.
I pulled back again to look Simon in the eyes. The look in them almost made me forget what Delilah had said a second before.
“That’s because he’s too nice,” I said when I remembered. Part of me wanted to be mad he was helping my sister—who was marryingmy ex-boyfriend—but Simon wouldn’t have been Simon if he wasn’t helping. Even Delilah.
I loved him. I loved him so much.
I pulled back before I could do or say anything stupid.
“What did your mom want?” Simon asked, looking up at me with a smile still lingering on his lips.
“Tell you later,” I said, glancing at Delilah.
“I think we’re just about done here?” Simon turned back to the papers spread over the table.
“One last place card,” Delilah said, holding up a finger as she grabbed a pen with her other hand.
T-H-E-O.
Of course I was last.
“You sure you want him next to you?” Delilah asked Simon with a glossy pink smirk.
“Always.”
There was so much warmth in Simon’s voice that my knees weakened. He wasgoodat this.
Letting myself get a taste of what it’d be like if Simon reallywasmy boyfriend was definitely a mistake. I’d made it now, though. Might as well enjoy it while it lasted.
Delilah shrugged. “No accounting for taste, I guess,” she said, setting the card on a pile on top of one that saidSimon.
Then she leaned over and pressed a dramatic kiss to Simon’s cheek, leaving a smear of lip gloss behind.
I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t react. She was doing it to get a rise out of me, and we still had most of the long weekend stretching in front of us. If I let her start getting to menow, she’d only take it as encouragement.
“Thank you,” Delilah said, putting her hand over Simon’s on the table and squeezing it. “You’re amazing. How did Theoeverconvince you to date him?”
I took a breath to speak despite havingjustresolved not to take the bait, but Simon caught my gaze and broke into a smile that made the corners of his eyes crinkle.
“You know when I fell in love with Theo?” he asked, keeping his eyes on me. “I’ve never told him this, actually. It was the second time we met.”
