A rock had never felt so soft.
He must have seen me melt because he smiled. “You like being my baby.”
I inhaled a slow and deep breath before I let it out, feeling that odd sensation in my stomach that I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was gripping and tight, pushing the air out of my lungs. It was comfortable but also terrifying.
His arm circled me and kept me tight to him, his other arm resting on mine.
And we lay there in the sun…like a couple.
Not like a one-night stand.
As much as I didn’t want to admit it…I was happy.
“You want breakfast?”
“You don’t owe me anything, not after last night.”
He grinned. “I’m like Santa—I just keep giving.”
“No, you’re like the Energizer Bunny—and you just keep going and going.”
He gave a quiet laugh, the joy reaching his eyes.
“I should be the one making you breakfast.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Because I’m not much of a cook. But next time you come over, I’ll DoorDash whatever you fancy.”
“Deal.”
“What time is it?”
He grabbed his phone on the nightstand and tapped the screen so the phone lit up to show the time.
“Ugh, I have to go.”
“You got plans?”
“Yeah. And I’m already running late.”
He reached for his nightstand again and handed me my phone. He must have put it there sometime in the night so I could reach it if I needed it.
I took it and tapped the screen, seeing the eighty-five text messages in my box and twenty-five missed calls.
“Eighty-five text messages?” he asked incredulously.
“I’m in a couple group chats.”
“Twenty-five missed calls? No one calls anymore.”
“Well, my bitches sure do.” I went through them, watching them blow up my phone because they wanted me to go out with them—even though I’d already said I had plans. The texts were from friends as well.
“Damn, you’re popular.” He didn’t get jealous or weird, like every other guy did when he saw I had a ton of activity on my phone. Mason always hated it, hated hearing my phone vibrate on the nightstand all the time.
“Because I’m lovely.”
“And you chose to spend your night with me…quite the compliment.”
“Well, I didn’t choose. Kinda just passed out.”
“Because you didn’t want to leave. Bigger compliment.”
I propped myself on my elbow and looked down at him, seeing an unbelievably handsome man who was getting sexier by the minute. “You’re so different from when we first met.”
“Because I didn’t like you.”
I grinned.
He grinned back. “But then you made me like you, and now I can’t stop.”
“What exactly did I do? Because I’m still the same bitch who doesn’t take shit.”
“That’s exactly why. You’re smart. Really smart. You hold your own. I like that.”
“You don’t think I’m too much?” I used air quotes because I’d been told to shut my mouth a couple times.
He shook his head. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
Jesus Christ, did my dad set me up with the most perfect guy ever? “Okay, I’ve really got to go.” I kicked the sheets back and hopped out of bed. “Supposed to have brunch with my mama.” I tapped the screen to check the time. “Not gonna have time to change. Can I use your bathroom?”
“Make yourself at home.”
I dashed into the bathroom and washed my face. I grabbed his toothbrush and used that too.
He passed in the mirror to use the toilet and didn’t blink an eye even though he made eye contact with me in the mirror. Didn’t care at all.
He had a comb on the counter, so I used that to brush out my hair and make myself as presentable as possible.
I pulled on my dress and heels then headed to the front door.
In just his boxers, he walked me to the door, still sleepy as if he might go back to bed after I left. “Got plans tonight?”
“I’m going out with my friends.”
“Can I be your last stop for the night?”
I should say no because this was moving so fast, but I didn’t. Couldn’t do it. “Sure.”
He grabbed my ass and gave it a manly squeeze as he kissed me goodbye.
Ooh…I liked that.
I liked it when he grabbed my ass like it was his.
He pulled away, gave me a subtle smile, and watched me walk out.
“Sorry I’m late.” I fell into the chair across from her on the outside patio, where the white tablecloth already held a pitcher of mimosas and a basket of pastries. Mom was in a summer dress and heels, her hair curled, looking stunning as always. “Traffic was crazy.”
“But you walked here.”
“I mean foot traffic.” I put the linen napkin over my lap and helped myself to the pitcher. “Ooh, this looks good.” I took off my sunglasses and set them on the tablecloth before I grabbed the menu. “I’m starving.”
Mom just stared at me.
“What are you getting?”
She leaned over the table, her elbows on the surface, and continued to regard me.