“I want to know.”
“I can’t believe you’re willing to go through any trouble...for me.”
“Fucking hell, woman, how can you say that? Don’t you know how much you mean to me?”
A sliver of vulnerability crossed her face. She really didn’t know.
“I’ve done a shit job showing it, then. I’ll up my game.”
A small smile played on her lips. “I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“That goes both ways, Tess.”
“I want you to keep me posted on every step, okay?”
I nodded. She narrowed her eyes.
“I mean it. Not just drip information or tell me enough to keep me from worrying.”
“Why? That’s a perfectly acceptable plan.”
She groaned, smacking my shoulder. “No, it’s not, you stubborn man. I’m not some fragile thing you have to keep in a glass case.”
I tilted my head, considering this. “Actually, that’s another good idea. Or just sending you to the Bahamas on an all-inclusive trip until I fix it.”
She pinched my abs this time. “I mean it. I don’t want you to be looking for solutions on your own. I’m part of this too. And Skye.”
“I know.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Aha. I’m not sure you do. Your grandmother did say you’re a lone wolf.”
“When?”
“While you were fixing the bell. I told her I’ve got this huge family and we’re always in each other’s business, and she said she always hoped you’d get a sibling.”
It was true; I always preferred to do things on my own, but it was just the way I’d grown up, and I liked it.
“What are you thinking about?” Tess asked.
“Many things. Like what I’m going to do to you this evening.”
She sighed. “You’re really great at this wooing thing.”
“It’s more than that, Tess. I don’t want you to ever doubt that you’re important to me. That I’d move mountains to make you happy, keep you safe. Not just now, always. Don’t doubt that.”
“Okay.”
I put an arm around her shoulders as we turned into a very narrow alleyway covered by ivy, which in the city was unusual but charming. There was one other topic I wanted to bring up.
“By the way, Thanksgiving is coming up. I always spend that with my grandmother, and I want you there too.”
Tess elbowed me lightly. “I was hoping to convince you to come to my mom’s place.”
I wanted to pump my fist in the air, feeling victorious that we were on the same page. Our lives were converging in a way I hadn’t planned for, but damn if it didn’t feel amazing. And right.
She bit her lip. “If you want to. I mean...I don’t want you to think I’m pressuring you into meeting my family—”
“Tess, I want to meet your family. Do I need to pamper you more for you to believe I want to spend as much time with you as possible?”