Page 94 of More For Me

She laughs. “So.”

“That wasn’t at all awkward.”

She just shrugs. “I don’t really care.” And there goes my heart, soaring straight through the roof. She looks up at me, suddenly shy. “So, um, what happens now?”

“It’s up to you. I can go upstairs and put on a new shirt and then we can go out there and hang out with them.”

She covers her face. “Okay, the embarrassment is kicking in. We left your shirt out there.”

“I’m in an undershirt,” I point out. “It’s not like I’m naked.”

Her eyes scan my chest, an almost grumpy expression darkening her face. “This undershirt is dangerous, Bodhi.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

She sighs, resting her forehead against mine. “I really don’t want things to get weird.”

“I don’t want that either. But I don’t think they will.”

“How are you so sure?”

Because I’ve known this is what I wanted for years. Because I’ve known this is what we were supposed to be for years. Because I love you way too much to let it be awkward. Because I would stand between you and your family and anyone else who even thinks about making you feel that way.

“Because it’s us,” I say instead and she sighs again, happier this time, as if she liked that answer. Then she yawns and slumps into me a little more.

“You haven’t been sleeping well, have you?” She shakes her head. “Me neither.”

She tilts her head to look at me, concern on her face. “I really am so sorry, Bodhi.”

“I know you are. And I’m sorry for not telling you about Ari. That was a pretty big thing to keep from you.”

“I understand, though,” she says. “What you said about me being your happy place?” She grins. “Super romantic, by the way.” Then her face grows serious, her hand coming up to brush lightly over my cheek. “I get that. And it means a lot to me.” She spreads her hand over my jaw and I have to grit my teeth to keep from whimpering. I’ve wanted her to touch me like that for so long. But then she yawns again, and I force myself to get in control.

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do,” I tell her. “We’re going to go upstairs—” I chuckle when her eyes widen comically large. “Into our own rooms.” I press my lips against the pout on her mouth. “And we’re both going to get some sleep.”

“You don’t think we should talk more?”

“Not tonight. We’re both tired.” And I’m pretty sure if I sit here for one more minute, we’ll be making out again.

She must read my mind because she does this adorable eyebrow waggle. “And you don’t want to do anything else? Maybe something more fun than sleeping?”

I groan, digging my fingers into the skin at her waist. “I very much want to do many, many fun things.” I take a deep breath, again battling my control. “But I also want to do this right. Which is why we’re going to go to sleep—alone—and then tomorrow, I’m taking you out.”

Her eyes widen with excitement. “You are? Like, a date.”

“Exactly like a date.”

She gives me the sweetest, shyest, most adorable smile. A smile so beautiful that I would fall in love with her in an instant, if that ship hadn’t already sailed a long time ago.

And then she yawns again so I stand, pulling her up with me to set her on her feet. Luckily the staircase is right at the end of the hall, so we can avoid the living room entirely. From the sound of the TV, her cousins are watching a movie in there. And probably also texting everyone in the family.

We go upstairs and I walk her to her door, stopping at the threshold. She looks shy again, a little nervous, as she gazes up at me, and I cup her cheeks. “You left your glasses downstairs,” I realize. “I’ll go get them.”

“I have an extra pair in my desk drawer.” She rolls her eyes. “They’re old. Even more attractive than the ones I was wearing.”

I kiss her nose. “You look beautiful in glasses, Lele.”

She gives a tiny moan. “I’m going to be doing a lot of swooning if you’re always this sweet.”