We ordered the famous fried ravioli appetizer that I’d dished about as our drinks came out. His Aperol spritz was good of course. My Bellini was better.
Our server came back a moment later with our appetizer and took our orders. Then it was just the two of us.
“What do you think—” I started just as he began, “How do you feel—”
We both laughed, and I reworked my original thought. I couldn’t say that.
“What do you think about the ravioli?” I chickened out, yes, but in my defense, he was leaving tomorrow, and that was going to have to be okay.
“You know me so well. Am I that predictable?”
“When it comes to food, yes. When it comes to life decisions…”
“What are you saying?” He folded his arms, and his lips quirked in a sideways grin.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just… Kind of thought you’d be taken by now.” I hoped I wasn’t overstepping. But I couldn’t say the thought hadn’t been eating at me. “I’ve always thought of you as a relationship guy, that’s all.”
Jamie’s shoulders dipped, but his smile didn’t disappear. He’d always appreciated my directness. “What makes you say that?”
Had I just dug myself into a hole? Yes. And the darkness was closing in around me.
“I mean, every girl you’d dated you’d ended up in a relationship with. Case in point.” I touched my collarbone. “Notto mention you were so good with me. Not that there wasn’t room for improvement.”
He chuckled. “I’m never going to live down our first anniversary, am I?”
Back then, I’d let the fact that he missed our anniversary go, but I liked giving him a hard time about it now.
“I never told you, but I’d had every intention of being home in time for our date. The only reason we didn’t make it back by then was because Gabe disappeared after he’d found some local, and hooked up. We looked for him for hours, but we had bad cell reception. That’s why I wasn’t talking to him the week after.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” I was flabbergasted.
“Because it didn’t matter. I’d still fucked up. I never should have gone in the first place.” Jamie paused for a long moment, as if pondering what to say. “I am a little more responsible than I was when I was in high school. I guess the reason I haven’t settled down is that I just haven’t met the right person since you. But what about you? What are you looking for in the future Mr. or Mrs. Autumn?”
He may have glossed over that declaration, but I still caught it. I decided to let it go, and redirect the conversation. It hit a little too close to the line we’d been toeing.
“Well, they’ve got to be funny.”
“Of course.”
I tapped my finger to my chin. “I need someone I can go toe-to-toe with. Who isn’t judgmental, and supports me in my decisions. And they need to get along with my friends because they’re also my family.” Wait, was I describing him? “And, good hand-eye coordination is a must. Especially with axes.”
Jamie burst into laughter, garnering the attention of the tables surrounding us, as well as our server who’d just arrived with our food.
A beautiful plate brimming with rich pesto-covered linguini was presented in front of me, and delicious looking chicken marsala was set down in front of him. Still coming down from our slide-induced high, I let the hot, comforting food and the reality of this moment with this man in front of me sink in. We could be happy here. Us, together, weeknight dates in between camp sessions and his day job, like it was our normal.
A small dab of marsala sauce glistened in the space between his lower lip and chin, and I licked my lips as I stared at it. His lips curved up at me when he caught the movement, and his delicious smile made me grateful we were sitting down. Jamie leaned closer. He was stunning as I caught the faintest smell of his amber and spice soap and him, that perfect combination that had my heart spinning and my instincts to lick that sauce off him kicking into overdrive.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” he asked, drawing my eyes to his.
Guilty as charged, I was staring as he licked his lips. Our eyes locked together for what had to have been the billionth time. I grinned. I shouldn’t divulge these tempting thoughts to him. The man’s ego was big enough as it was.
“There’s a little sauce right there.” I ran my finger along my lip, miming.
Jamie grinned at me. “Maybe you should lick—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”
His eyes went wide before he slowly blinked, feigning shock. “You’d let me just walk around like this?”
