“Sure.”
She was also not offering to stop by later... or asking me anything in her usual nosy way. I was getting more suspicious by the second.
I glanced at the empty breakfast tray I’d been too lazy to carry to the kitchen, and a small detail caught my attention. Will had brought me blueberry pancakes, even though I’d never specifically told him they were my favorites. This morning I’d thought that was a coincidence, but now....
I climbed down from the bed and headed downstairs. It was almost sunset, and it was just me and Will, unless he’d left too.
When I didn’t see him anywhere in the front, I went to the backyard where I’d left him hours ago, and then I was... stunned.
There were twinkle lights in the tree and a blanket on the ground underneath, as well as a picnic basket. Will was in the process of laying something on the grass. When I squinted, I realized they were candles.
It happened in a fraction of a second. My heart went from feeling tiny but heavy to feeling impossibly big and full. I made a sound somewhere between a giggle and a yelp. Like the fool I was, I gave myself away instead of enjoying these stolen moments. But I just couldn’t contain my joy. Really, that was all it was.
Will straightened up and held his good arm up in surrender.
“Caught in the act.”
I practically flew to him. It felt that way, at least. Like I was so light that my feet weren’t even touching the ground, merely skipping over the surface.
I stopped right in front of him, smiling. “I see what you’re doing. You’re groveling.”
He groaned, lowering his head. “You didn’t even realize I was groveling until now? Blake will never let me live this down.”
“Nah, I caught on to it a few days ago. I’ll save your honor when it comes to Blake. After all, I saved you from Pippa too. It’s becoming a running theme. But what’s your cousin got to do with this?”
“He’s got this theory about the science behind groveling.... Never mind. Gave me some pointers.”
“Did that include talking to my mom?”
He snapped his head up, looking directly at me. “No, that was my idea.”
“Why did you do it?”
“Who knows you better? I had to know if I had a real chance here.”
“You know you did. I told you when you came by that night I was half drunk.”
“You also asked me not to kiss or touch you.”
“That was a defense mechanism,” I countered. “So... why did you talk to her?”
Will came a little closer. There were now maybe three inches separating us, and I desperately needed to feel his warm skin on mine, but I wanted to hear what he had to say first.
“I wanted to make sure they were on my side. Didn’t want to risk anyone else wanting to throw things at me, like Luna.”
“So, technically, you wanted me ambushed.”
“Not sure if it’s an ambush or an intervention. My sisters could clear that up.”
“You just wanted pointers, didn’t you? Blueberry pancakes?”
“Made an impression, I see. Since I’m making confessions, I spoke to your dad too.”
“Wait... on the phone or in person?”
“In person.”
“That was brave, Detective. You risked him shooting at you. My dad is very chill. Until he isn’t.”