Page 22 of True Blue

“Definitely by the second not-date⁠—”

“Second date,” he corrects, making me laugh. “I’ve wanted you pretty much from the moment I saw you, Indie. Then I got to know you, and I just... fell for you more and more.”

I must make a face because he asks softly, “What?”

“It just…” I mutter. “It surprises me.”

“Why?”

“Because I assumed that you would want to be with someone... like some pretty, earthy artistic girl or like some pottery babe, you know? Someone who would understand your art and... you.”

“I’ve never shown my art to anyone, Indie,” he admits, shaking his head. “Not even Nana.”

That shocks me. He’s so close with Ellie. He says they have the closest relationship out of all the grandchildren. The fact that he hasn’t shown her his art but has shown me is baffling and yet... touching.

But I need to know...

“Why me?”

There’s not a second of hesitation as he answers me.

“Because you’re Indie,” he says simply. “Brilliant, kind, weirdly obsessed with eighties music even though that era is god-awful and the seventies are far superior⁠—”

“You take that back!” I point at his face.

He grins, catching my hand and kissing my finger.

“I respect your very wrong music tastes,” he chuckles and presses a kiss to my head at my harrumph. “And you make me laugh.”

I must make a face again because he chuckles.

“You have a direct line to my funny bone, honey.”

My chest warms. “I like it when you call me that.”

“Honey?”

“Yes. It’s sweet,” I sigh, laying my head on his chest and smiling when I hear him let out a rumbling sigh.

Teddy tilts his head down, “What?”

“You’re just like a big grumbling bear⁠—”

He laughs loudly at that.

“What?”

“Bears love honey,” he says, and I freeze.

He can’t mean…

A dangerous hope grows in my chest.

And when I tilt my head up to look at him, he’s already looking at me. His expression shows no regret, just pure honesty.

“Oh...” I whisper, realization crashing into me.

One side of Teddy’s mouth quirks up.