Page 34 of Courageous Yearnings

“We’re things… I want to do things, but later, when things are really things and… oh heck, I’m not making sense. Am I? I want things, but when things happen later. When I’m ready for us to do the thing, all the the things together. I mean, oh heck, what do I mean? Um. I’m trying not to think with my thing about thinging until after we do things. You know… things. Does that sound right?”

His nervous chuckle was utterly adorable, combined with his sheepish, shy smile as he looked at her. He looked so rattled, so happy, and so utterly bewildered like a man stepping into a new world and that it was precious.

“Boop… we’re gonna do things in the right order of things, but all of the things, okay?” he repeated, still not making sense as he let out a small chuckle again. “Lots of things will be thinging with us.”

Her fingertips touched his neck, and he shivered bodily before giving her a goofy grin that made her smile.

“Did I mention I’m comfortable with you picking girly stuff?”

“Yes,” she chuckled as he was shaking his head again – only to lean forward and kiss her again. This time, he was taking control of the kiss, holding her close against him, only for their kiss to end with him completely taken aback.

“Pink plates… mouse coffee cups… flowers,” he whispered.

“Things?” she asked, almost teasing him.

“Oh gosh, so many dang things,” he groaned aloud. “I’m up to my eyebrows thinking of all the things.”

“Let’s just leave it at this, take a break for a few moments, and take a step back so we can make sure we are discussing the same things.”

“Things can mean so many things,” he agreed emphatically, rubbing the back of his neck and looking her up and down. “Oh man, those things and the flowers, my things, so hot… I cannot function.”

“You are struggling,” she chuckled. “Why don’t we head out?”

“You’re right,” he agreed. “I’m not all there, and I can come back tomorrow.”

“For the things…?” she teased.

“Oh man, things are killing me, and I can’t stop thinking about things.”

“Shhh,” she laughed openly, putting his hands on the handle of the cart like he was a child. “Just push. I’ll drive. You can think about the things.”

“You don’t mind?”

“It’s kind of flattering,” she admitted, blushing.

“Oh mercy and thank you…” he began, turning his face upward, catching her by surprise. “I think my toes are permanently curled in my shoes… and things will never be the same.”

10

LANCE

Lance was awake when the cell phone alarm went off beside Blythe as she got up to get ready for work. The moment she was in the bathroom and turned the water on, he closed his eyes, picturing things, and then got up to make the coffee. No, he couldn’t lie there dawdling. Not when he had a busy day ahead of him.

Today, he intended to surprise his girl – just like she had shocked him to the core. When he’d kissed Blythe at the store, he never expected her to kiss him back like that.

“My word that woman can kiss,” he whispered aloud, pressing ‘Start’ on the coffee pot and thinking about that moment once again. She had pressed her body against his fully, curled her arms around his neck, and poured every ounce of her soul into it, and he was a willing recipient. He’d never had a woman be the aggressor with him before, nor would he ever forget it! When she’d deepened the kiss and her tongue met his, he was a goner.

Heck, as far as he was convinced, there was no other woman on the planet that would ever satisfy him again. No, she was perfect in so many ways… ways he never imagined, nor could he get past them. He didn’t care if they had pink dishes, and she might think that they were ‘just dating’ but in his brain, his heart, and his soul – Blythe Monroe was ‘the one’ for him.

He was going to drive her to work, get a few things for her place… and start setting them up a home, whether she knew it or not. Texting Alec, he hoped the other man didn’t question him too much because he wasn’t sure how much he wanted to discuss his relationship with Blythe.

Hey buddy – you free today?

It’s seven in the morning – am I late for work?

Aliens are real, aren’t they?

A new pope?

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