Page 61 of Seductive Swimmer
“I think it’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done.”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. “Well, that’s what you do when you love someone. Big, giant, insane, romantic things.”
“Like adopting a dog?”
My eyes fly open to see him grinning down at me, love shining from his eyes.
“Yeah. Like that,” I whisper softly, hesitantly. I don’t want to presume anything, but did he just say…
“I love you, Savannah.”
Ohmygod.Four words make my brain shut down. Four words make my heart thump loudly. Four words make me want to melt into a puddle of goo. Four words. And the best my nerdy little heart can come up with in this moment is to reply with just two.
“I know.”
I immediately dissolve into giggles, and poor Alex has no idea why. He’s looking at me, trying not to laugh but also looking a little bit wounded. And I just can’t stop. Tears start streaming down my face, and I’m still giggling, shaking with laughter.
“You know, you’re ruining the moment a bit,” he says almost conversationally. I hiccup and eventually, with a few deep breaths, manage to calm myself.
“I’m sorry. I could blame exhaustion but really it’s just me being the ultimate nerd.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “Sorry, I don’t follow.”
“Star Wars? Princess Leia and Han Solo? I love you; I know?” I’m flabbergasted that he doesn’t know the reference. “Is all pop culture lost on you, or just the nerdy stuff?”
Alex shakes his head, bemused, and still confused.
I tip my head back to the sky and move it back and forth slowly. “I don’t know if I can be with a man who doesn’t know a classicStar Warsreference when he hears one.”
Alex pulls my face back down to his, and kisses me long, slow, and deep.
“You’ll have to educate me,” he says in between kisses. “And I’m still hoping to hear a fewotherwords from you, you know.”
I tap my chin. “Hmm, would those be, ‘yes, I’ll be happy to take Molly when we get home’? Or maybe, ‘no, I will not have sex with you in your mother’s rose garden’? Or, I know, it’s gotta be this, ‘of course I’ll let you drive me to the pool every morning when it’s raining.’”
Alex bends down swiftly and sucks the skin between my neck and shoulder into his mouth with a growl. “Insolent woman,” he teases.
I push him away and bring my hands up to lace behind his neck. Once his eyes are locked with mine, I finally say the words I’ve been longing to say.
“I love you, Alex.”
Then I pull him in, and tangle our tongues together with a kiss that feels both familiar and brand new. We take our time, exploring each other and this new level in our relationship.
Love.
Everything is brighter, and stronger, and more wonderful than it was just moments ago before we admitted our feelings to each other. Strange how just a few words can change your entire perspective on life.
After a while, Alex pulls back with a groan. “I need to go inside and check on Mum.”
I run my fingers through his hair, relishing being close to him again. But the reason for his abrupt departure comes rushing back to me in an instant. “Oh my God, yes, your mom! How is she? What’s going on? Brayden couldn’t tell me much.”
His face falls grim. “She had a biopsy today of a lump in her breast. They don’t know what it is yet.”
We both stand and I take his hand in mine. “We’ll get through this, and so will she. I’m here for you both.”
Alex smiles down at me and kisses the top of my head. “Thank you, that means more to me than anything.”
As we go back around to the front of the house to collect my bags, Alex gives me the quick version of his history with his parents. When he briefly describes his conversation with his mother about his dad, I see with such clarity why he struggled to express himself in our relationship. Before we go inside, I tug on his arm to make him stop and turn to face me.
