Page 15 of Happily Ever After

Paige turned to look at him. “You did?”

“Pistachio gelato,” he said. “From that little place in town, Noble Gelato. They have quite the selection of flavors. Anyway, I thought it might be a nice change.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“I’ll grab it after this scene, if you’d like.”

“I’m ready.”

“Coffee? I can make decaf.”

“No, I think the gelato will be enough.”

He paused, like he had something else to say, his hand still on the remote.

Paige just waited.

Graham cleared his throat. “Before that,” he said. “There’s something I should probably say.”

Paige shifted slightly, angling toward him a little more. “Okay.”

He looked at the television, then back at her. The room was quiet except for the low hum of the air conditioner.

“This isn’t something I’m particularly good at,” he said. “Talking about feelings. Or…attempting to define them.”

She waited.

“When we started seeing each other, I was very clear with myself about keeping things uncomplicated,” he continued. “Enjoyable but light.”

Paige nodded. She’d felt the same way. Then.

“At some point,” Graham said, “it stopped being light. For me, at least.”

He paused again, then met her eyes. “I care about you more than I expected to. More than I intended. You’ve become a rather important part of my life. If you didn’t already know that.”

Paige didn’t interrupt. She could hear the care he was taking with the words. Her heart raced as she wondered what he might be about to say next.

“I’m not asking for anything to change,” he added. “And I’m not making plans or any sort of declaration. I just felt it best you should know where I am.”

The quiet got heavier, but she didn’t rush to say anything. She reached for his hand, taking it in hers as she chose her words carefully. She looked at him. “I’ve been feeling it, too,” she said. “So it’s wonderful to know I’m not alone in this.”

Relief filled his eyes.

“I’m not making any declarations either,” she added. “But it’s good to be on the same page.”

He nodded, giving her hand a squeeze. “It’s very good.” He leaned in and kissed her, as if sealing the moment.

Paige kissed him back.

When he pulled away, he was all smiles. “I say, seems like the perfect time for gelato, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” she said. “Definitely.”

Graham stood and headed for the kitchen, leaving Paige to sit and think. Mostly about how happy she was. How wonderful it was to have a man like Graham in her life. A man who actually cared about her feelings. And about being truthful.

She smiled.

Tomorrow could wait.