Page 118 of Lee

“Have you seen this picture?” Rori asked as she handed Lee the frame.

Taking it, he gazed down at it, his finger brushing across her cheek in the photo. “No, I haven’t. But I think I’d like a copy too.”

Rori planned to put the picture frame on the small end table she’d found at the thrift store, which now sat next to her bed.

“Whoever took this,” Lee said, holding up the frame. “I want a copy. And if anyone else has pictures of me and Rori, I’d like those too.”

“There you go,” Hudson said as Lee’s phone chimed a moment later.

“You took it?” Lee asked, his voice sounding a little incredulous.

“I sure did, and when Charli sent out an SOS asking if anyone had pics of the two of you, I remembered I had that one.”

“Well, thank you, bro,” Lee said. “It’s a beautiful shot.”

Rori agreed.

Now that the presents were all open, they began to clean everything up, but they rebuffed Rori’s attempts to help since she was the birthday girl. Instead, she’d been banished to the large quilt that had been laid on the ground earlier to hang out with the kids.

Eventually, all the parents had claimed their kids and left the yard. Now that the festivities were over, most non-inhabitants of the house had left. Jackson and Carisa were still there, sitting together on the swing at the far end of the porch.

Lee dropped down on the quilt beside Rori and smiled at her. Since the sun had set, the only illumination came from garden lights placed strategically around the yard.

Rori laid back on the blanket with a sigh and stared at the inky black sky. Though they were still in the town, since they were currently in the backyard, the streetlights didn’t dilute the darkness very much. The moon was about a quarter, so lots of stars were visible, some bigger than others.

With her arm pressed to Lee’s, his hand was next to hers. She reached out, entwining her fingers with his. He squeezed her hand and brushed his thumb across the back of it.

“Thank you for the party,” she said, keeping her voice hushed so it didn’t carry in the quiet of the night. “This evening has been amazing. I’m so blessed and thankful.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Everyone was happy to be here to celebrate with you.”

Rori rolled to her side, letting go of Lee’s hand so she could prop her head up. Once she was settled, she reached for his hand again. Her heart pounded in her chest as she considered what she wanted to say.

“Are we boyfriend and girlfriend?” she asked, her brain temporarily shutting down her heart’s desire to immediately spill her love for him.

Lee’s fingers tightened against hers for a moment, and he didn’t answer right away. “I guess we haven’t verbally defined what we are yet. However, I do consider myself your boyfriend, and you, my girlfriend. What about you?”

Rori smiled down at him. “Same. Definitely the same.”

“The thing is,” Lee began, shifting his head to stare up at the sky. Silence stretched between them for a long moment, then he cleared his throat and turned back to face her. He lifted his free hand and brushed his fingers along her cheek. “I love you, Rori, so in my mind, we’re definitely a couple.”

Rori’s heart stopped beating for a moment, then took off at a hard gallop. “Already?”

“What do you mean?” Lee asked.

“I can’t believe you love me already.”

Lee smiled. “I’ve loved you for a little while now. Might not have been love at first sight, but it happened pretty quickly.”

Rori’s heart was still racing, but her mind was focused on one thing. Surely it was okay to tell him, now that he’d revealed how he felt for her.

“I love you too.”

Reaching up, Lee cupped her cheek, his gaze intense, but then he just waited. Rori hesitated for a moment before she gave into her heart and leaned down to press her lips to his. The love she’d tried to hide from Lee, afraid that she was alone in her feelings, swelled within Rori as they shared their first kiss.

Her first kiss ever, and she was so grateful that it was with this man who treated her with such kindness and respect. Who loved her. Who she trusted. Who made her feel safe.

He’d probably had his first kiss already. However, if Rori had her way, this would be the last first kiss he ever shared with a woman.

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