Page 35 of When Love Is Unexpected

"Did you come in to help your sister or to see me?"

"That's a little presumptuous of you, don't you think?" I say. "Loren managed the studio for four years before you came along. I had no idea you even existed back then, and I was still constantly here to help her."

"Ouch!" he exclaims.

"I'm sorry," I say. "That was harsh. Meeting you is one of the best things that's ever happened to me."

He reaches for my hand and gives it a little squeeze before lifting it to his lips and kissing it.

After dinner, we go back to his temporary home.

"Aaron will be here tomorrow," I say, walking into the house. "We'll have the entire family back together, including you."

"Do you want some coffee?" he asks.

"No," I say. "I think I'm good. Come sit next to me."

I scoot over to make room for him on the couch so he can sit close to me.

When he sits, he instinctively throws his arm around my shoulder, resting it behind me on the back of the couch, but he doesn't touch me.

"I have a question for you," I say.

"Shoot," he says.

"Have you heard of the different love languages?"

"Yes," he says. "Affirmation, time, gifts, touch, and, what's the last one?"

"Wow," I say. "I'm impressed. The last one is acts of service."

"That's right," he says. "So would a foot rub fall under touch or acts of service?"

"Touch for the person getting the foot massage," I say, "and acts of service for the person giving the massage."

"Is that how it works?" he asks.

"Yeah," I say. "I was just wondering if you know what yours is."

"You first," he says. "No, wait, don't tell me."

He looks intently at me, his blue eyes searching mine for the answer.

"Touch," he says. "Your love language is physical touch."

"How do you know?" I ask.

"Because you can't keep your hands off me," he laughs.

"Funny," I say. "What about yours?"

"Mine's not on the list."

"What do you mean it's not on the list?” I ask. "It has to be."

"What made you think of this anyway?" he asks.

"I was playing with Jon the other day. He got such a kick out of tickling me, and when I tickled him back, he got so excited. It made me think that his love language is physical touch, tickling."

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