Page 73 of Still Love You

"Wrong," I say, interrupting Silas as I roll my eyes. "I got it. You don't need to say it again."

Silas laughs. 

"Well, thank you for helping out," my mom says. "Did Willow assign you a soap to make?"

"No, but we were just talking about it." He gives me a sideways glance.

"Willow's favorite is the peppermint, so she's going to make that one."

"Peppermint, huh?" Silas looks at me. "I'd like to try that one."

"You should," my mom says, having no idea what Silas is implying. "Take one and try it out."

"I think I will." He nudges my foot under the table because I'm ignoring him, my eyes on the recipes.

"We should make extra lavender ones," I say to my mom. "People love lavender."

"I agree." She picks up one of the recipes. "Maybe Silas could make the honey oatmeal one. It's a more masculine soap. No flowery smell."

He takes it from her. "I can do that. Honey oatmeal? Sounds like something you could eat."

"The oats are an exfoliant and the honey makes your skin soft," I explain. "I just used it last night in the shower. Made my skin really soft."

I know that'll get Silas going, which he deserves after making sexual innuendos with my mom around.

"I'm going to go check on your dad." My mom goes outside.

I feel Silas staring at me. "If you keep this up, we're going to be trying that soap out tonight."

"I didn't do anything." I pick up a sprig of rosemary. "People like it when you add herbs and flowers to the soap. Gives it more of a handmade feel."

He places his hand on my thigh and leans over to my ear. "You love teasing me, don't you?"

"Sorry. I shouldn't do that."

"Don't stop," he whispers. "I like it when you get me all worked up. Makes it that much better when we actually do it." He gently squeezes my thigh, then sits back.

I'm trying to breathe normally, but it's hard when my heart's going this fast.

Silas gets up. "I'm going to see if your dad needs any help."

My mom comes back in as Silas goes outside.

"Pizzas are almost ready," she says. "You want to help me with the drinks?"

As I get up to help her, I glance out at the patio and see Silas and my dad talking next to the grill. For a moment, I imagine Silas and me in the future, married, and coming over here to have dinner with my parents. Maybe we'd even have a kid or two.

"What are you smiling at?" my mom asks, handing me two glasses of water.

"Oh, um, nothing."

"You seemed deep in thought." She smiles. "Was it about Silas?"

"No. Something else. I'll take these outside."

As I'm walking to the door I hear her behind me. "Whatever it was, you sure seemed happy about it."

She's right. That image of Silas and me in the future made me happy, and obviously made me smile, which I didn't even realize I was doing until my mom said that.

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