Page 83 of Small Town Swoo
I picked up my head and smiled at him. “Sorry. I get worked up thinking about this because I know how talented you are. I want the world to know it too.”
He laughed softly. “Thanks.”
“I just think it’s so incredible to have that kind of power—you can tell stories that make people feel less alone. You can move them to laughter or tears. You can make people fall in love. All I do is cook stuff.”
“Stop it.” His voice was serious. “You have a gift too. And I’m not just talking about cooking. You see the best in people, and you know how to bring it out. You make everyone around you feel good about themselves. Especially me.”
I tilted my head. “Are you just saying that because you like my blowjobs?”
“No. I mean, I love them, obviously, but I’m saying it because it’s true. I feel more comfortable being myself around you than I ever have with anyone else.”
“Really?” My heart sang in my chest.
“Yes. I don’t know what the fuck it is—maybe it’s because I’ve known you for so long—but I feel...I don’t know. Safe with you.”
I grinned. “Look at you talking about your feelings. Delphine would be so proud.”
“Smart-ass.” He spanked me lightly, and I kissed him, tipping onto my side and slinging a leg over his thighs.
“Will your dad worry when you don’t come home tonight?”
“I sent him a text and told him I was staying somewhere else.”
“Where did you say you were?”
“Ari, I’m twenty-seven. I don’t have to explain my whereabouts to my father. Plus, I think he’s so wrapped up in his secret love affair, he’s oblivious to me. I wish he would just tell us about her.” He ran a hand over my ass. “Not that I’m telling anyone about my lady friend. I’m keeping her all to myself.”
“What are we going to do when Mabel comes home next week?”
“I don’t know. Do we have to tell her?”
I chewed my lower lip. “I’m not good at keeping secretsfrom her. Plus, sheknowsme. She’ll guess, even if I don’t tell her.”
“Is she going to make me give you up?”
“I don’t think so.” Between us, I felt his cock stirring, and I reached down to sheath it with one hand.
“Well, as long as she doesn’t give me a bunch of shit about it, I don’t care if she knows.”
“Okay.”
He rolled on top of me. “And now I don’t want to talk about my dad, my sister, or my feelings anymore.”
“Works for me,” I said, wrapping my legs around him. “But can I say something aboutmyfeelings?”
“Sure.”
“I feel safe with you too. I always have.”
“Good.” He lowered his lips to mine in the dark.
SIXTEEN
ari
My parents wereat the diner in the morning when I arrived. As soon as I saw their car parked in its usual spot, I got excited to see them and hear about their trip. If it felt right, I thought I might casually broach the idea of a food truck and see how it went over.
I found my dad in the office and knocked on the open door. “Hey, Dad! Welcome back!”
