Page 61 of Whatever You Want

He placed his hand on my shoulder as the girls did a little victory dance. “I take it golf isn’t your thing?”

“I hate golf. I think it’s stupid.”

He laughed. “It just takes a little patience.”

“I thought you didn’t play golf,” I said, standing off to the side while the girls went to fetch my ball out of the creek.

“I play occasionally, it’s just not my first choice.”

I eyed him skeptically. “How did you get so good?”

He grabbed me by the hips, pulling me close. I shivered when his lips brushed against my ear. “Haven’t you learned by now that I’m good at everything.” He looked off to the side to make sure the girls weren’t listening. “Especially with my strokes.”

I laughed while bringing my hand up to his cheek. The soft whiskers along his jaw scratched against my palm. “You’re full of yourself, you know that?”

“I’d rather be full of you.” His eyes twinkled in amusement.

I smiled up at him. This man was insanely good for my soul. What started out as an unbearable day turned into an enjoyable evening.

By the time we made it to the eighteenth hole, I looked at my card, noticing I was in last place. I didn’t even try; I walked across the green felt and dumped my pink ball into the cup. The girls called me a cheater while Logan lined his ball up. He studied the path in concentration and swung with just the right amount of force, sending the ball sliding into the hole.

The girls pouted off to the side with their hands on their hips.

He held his hand up for a high-five, which no one returned. He might have been proud of his hole in one, but we were a little bitter. “All right, showboat, let’s get you an ice cream cone.”

We left Logan’s truck in the parking lot and decided to take advantage of the nice weather and walk to the ice cream stand a couple of blocks away.

“Does everyone know what they want?” he asked, leaning up against the window to look at the board with the list of flavors.

“I’ll have a vanilla and chocolate twist with rainbow sprinkles,” I said, not even bothering to look at the menu. I ordered the same thing every time.

“Rainbow sprinkles, huh?”

I smacked his stomach playfully. “The sprinkles are the best part.”

“If you say so.” He looked over at a couple who had just walked away, leaving an empty picnic table. “Why don’t you guys go grab that while I finish up with the order.”

I started to follow the girls, but he reached out and grabbed my wrist. “You took off your rings,” he said, sliding his thumb over my bare ring finger.

I was wondering if he was even going to bring it up. “It was time.”

He cupped my face between his palms and pressed his lips to my forehead. “I’m not going to push you today, because you’ve already taken a huge step. Tomorrow.” He stared into my eyes. “We’re doing this.”

“What exactly are we doing?”

“Moving forward.”

Logan pulled my hand away when he noticed me toying with the hem of my sweater. “Don’t be nervous.” He laced our fingers together, trying to put me ease. “They will love you.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” I sighed nervously as we pulled into his parents’ driveway.

He brought my hand up to his mouth and pressed a kiss. “Relax, Ava. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I just want them to like me.”

“I assure you they feel the same way.”

He let go of my hand and stepped out of the car while the girls jumped out of the back.

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