Page 170 of Puck Me Back to Life

“I am.”

“You eat like a college freshman.”

“I've been told.”

“I'm honestly surprised you haven't developed scurvy.”

I wave off his concern. “I take vitamins.”

He laughs so hard he has to put his fork down. “That somehow makes it worse.”

“I'm a simple man.”

“You're nutritionally concerning,” he says as he stares at me. “You're impossible.”

“I've heard that too.”

Kai shakes his head before taking another sip of wine. The silence that settles afterward is comfortable. Not empty. Just easy.

The candles he'd lit cast a warm glow across the apartment while rain taps softly against the windows. Somewhere down on the street, a car horn echoes briefly before disappearing again.

For the first time in a long time, dinner doesn't feel rushed.

Nobody is checking a phone.

Nobody is thinking about tomorrow.

We're simply here.

Kai reaches for the breadbasket. “So. You told everyone we're dating.”

I grin. “I did.”

He tears off a piece of bread. “Were you joking?”

I blink. “Why would I joke about that, baby?”

He looks genuinely thoughtful. “I don't know. I was just shocked.” He points between us. “I wasn't sure what this was called.”

“What did you think it was called?”

He takes another drink of wine. “I figured…” He shrugs casually. “Fuck buddies seemed more accurate.”

I choke. My wine goes down the wrong pipe.

Kai immediately starts laughing.

“Oh my God.” I cough into my fist. “Never.” Another cough. “Never say that again.”

He grins.

“I hated every single word that just came out of your mouth.”

Kai blushes. “I was being honest.”

“Well, I want to date you. I want you in my life.”

His smile grows wider. “Yeah?”