She giggles. “Sometimes a trench coat is just a trench coat, sir. Can’t get your hopes up.”
“What a disappointing truth,” I tease her. “By the way, dinner’s already here. There are chopsticks with the cartons in the kitchen.”
“Perfect, I’m starving!”
I sling my arm around her companionably as we stroll to our meal. She winks at me.
“By the way, I love you in that red. Why don’t you wear more color Brent?”
I laugh.
“Guys usually don’t. This is me easing you into my lounge wear outfits, which is usually just t-shirts and shorts.”
She throws me a look.
“You do remember that I practically grew up here, right? And that I’ve seen you in your house clothes more times than I can count?”
“Yes, but I want to gradually disappoint my girlfriend, not lower the bar entirely right off the bat.” She laughs and we dig into dumplings and lo mein before I ask, “So, what have you been doing this last week, sweetheart? I haven’t seen you the past three days.”
She gives me a devilish look.
“Miss me much?”
I want to carry her off to my bedroom right now, but restrain myself.
“Maybe.”
She laughs.
“Well, you know I’ve been collecting succulents as tiny house plants lately. I got a new one, so that’s fun. And usually, I like to practice karaoke before this one guy began to steal all my free time.”
“That bastard! I’ll kick his ass.”
She giggles.
“Don’t you dare because he has a fantastic ass.”
I blush and laugh easily with her. “So, plants and karaoke?”
“Mm-hmm,” she swallows and says, “I read a lot, but I seem unable to focus lately, although I’m sure why.”
“Maybe you have something on your mind? A man, perhaps?”
She giggles.
“Maybe. But seriously, I want to read more again. I’m sure the librarian will say something the next time I show up.”
I nod. “She’s a hardass?”
“He is a flirt. I knew him in college, Mike Drury. We went on a couple of dates in college, and I think he’s still into me,” she says while diving into her lo mein to hunt down a piece she likes.
Suddenly, my heart contracts, and I swallow my trepidation. I have to ask.
“And are you?”
“Am I what?” she says before finally finds the last mushroom and gobbling it down.
“Are you still into Mike?”
Jane starts to laugh but chokes instead. I rub her back until she breathes correctly once more.
“God, no! Why would you even ask that?”
My panic subsides, but only a little.
“A guy your age is into in you. He’s smart and well-read, and probably twenty years younger than me at a minimum. I’m not here to tell you what to do with your life. If you want to see him—”
Jane is staring at me with utter surprise.
“I don’t,” she says firmly. “Not at all, Brent. I want to see you, and you only. I thought we understood that.”
I swallow, feeling very insecure.
“We never set it out explicitly, but that’s what I want too.”
She smiles gently.
“I have no interest in dating anyone else but you, Brent Marshall. And I haven’t seen anyone but you since our night at the Cube, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Same here,” I manage in a low voice. It quivers, even though I try to control it.
She grins at me.
“Then we’re exclusive?”
“Yes, sweetheart,” I say, my heart fluttering. “It makes me happy.”
She smiles at me, her eyes warm.
“I very much want to be exclusive, Brent. I am only into in you. That’s why I’m whining about Mike. I can’t buy all the books I want to have, and I certainly don’t have storage for all of them, so going to the library is how I get around all of that.”
I smile but say, “Denver is a big city. I’m almost certain we have more than one library.”
“Yeah,” she smiles, “but his is the biggest and the best.”
“I don’t like hearing those words out of you about another man,” I growl.
She giggles.
“Oh no, on that note, things are definitely different. You are absolutely the biggest guy I have ever been with.”
My pride swells and I harden a bit.
“You’re not just saying that to stroke my ego?”
“No. I’m not exaggerating. The first night we...” She’s caught up in the memory of our first night, and giggles breathily. “I legit thought you were packing some sort of toy. I’ve never been with a guy that big.”
I blush, although of course, I’m pleased. “I’m not that big.”
“You are porn star big, Brent.”
My face is on fire. “Really? I’m the smallest of me and my brothers.”
Her mouth drops. “Are you kidding? Do they live close? Maybe they could join us for Netflix and chill.”
“HEY!”
She giggles, “Oh please, like I could handle anything bigger. You hardly fit in me as it is. You know how you always have to work yourself in.”
“Watch yourself, missy,” I mock-frown.
“So, what have you been doing, Brent? I know, three days is such a looong absence.”