Page 74 of After All This Time

She puckers her lips out and pulls them back, curving them up to create a smile that lights up that pretty face of hers. “Actually that’s a horrible backup plan. I’m guessing you can’t hear like a normal person. I wasn’t blessed with good singing genes.”

“I know. I’m just being nice.” I burst out in laughter that becomes louder than the music currently playing.

“You’re lucky I’m driving right now because you’d have a small bruise somewhere on your arm from me hitting it.”

That’s one of the reasons why I brought it up.

I’d do anything to get her hands on my body.

We’re driving around the area where Sweet & Salty is to find a parking spot.

Why did I think coming here on the weekend was a good idea?

“There’s one!” Dani points to a space on my left and wiggles her hand in my face.

“Can you not do that? I’m driving.”

“Sorry.”

Shaking my head, I lick my lips and smile away from her.

I pull into the parking space and we unbuckle our seatbelts.

Dani’s sitting there staring at the sign for Mom’s shop. Her eyes are growing wide like this is the first time she’s been here when it’s actually the millionth time.

“This is going to sound really cheesy, but I’m really happy that your mom opened Sweet & Salty. It’s always been a safe space for me, but even more so when my dad passed away.”

She looks away from me, but I reach my hand out to turn her face back in my direction.

I squint my eyes, my gaze fixating on her. “That’s not cheesy at all. We all have our safe spaces. I know I do.”

Fuck, her eyes are going to obliterate me.

“What’s your safe space?”

“I don’t want to tell you. You might steal it.”

She scoffs. “I would never do that.”

“Just like the time you said you didn’t steal my phone on family game night when we were in sixth grade.”

“I didn’t steal your phone.” She opens her mouth, closing it to conceal a laugh that’s about to explode out of her.

“You’re full of shit, Solomon.”

I put my index finger and thumb underneath my chin. My index finger and pad of my thumb are resting on the edge of my jawline.

Dani shakes her head, rolling her eyes at me. “I’m getting out of the car now, so feel free to yell at me on the way in.”

She closes the car door, and I slam mine.

She’s looking at me like she’s about to jump me and crossing her arms in front of her chest. “What?”

“What the hell did my car door ever do to you?”

I inspect the door to make sure they’re aren’t any dents, scratches, or marks. “It looks perfectly fine to me.”

“It better be because you would’ve been paying for any damage you would’ve caused. Just saying.”

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