Page 90 of Tell Me It’s Right

“I’m guessing it’s pointless to ask you where…”

“Yep,” he says cheerfully, then heads to get the car door for me.

He says nothing else as we drive, just lets the soft radio music fill the space between us. I tightly wind my hands together in my lap and peek at him out of the corner of my eye. As always, he’s the picture of calm and relaxed. He has one hand thrown over the top of the steering wheel, and he bobs his head absently to the song as his eyes sweep the road.

And he looks…nice.I can’t really put my finger on what it is. He’s wearing pretty much the same thing he always does—loose-fitting jeans and a T-shirt, though he has a shirt with a collar layered on top this time. His hair is as messy and tousled as always. Same silver rings and chain around his neck.

He must feel my attention on him because he shoots a quick look my way with half a smile. “We’re almost there.”

I peer out the window. Wherever we’re going, it’s close to Leo’s house. If he keeps going straight, we’ll hit the water. He veers right before we hit the main area, then drives along the coast for a few minutes. Golden rays make him glow as the sun prepares to set behind him.

“Here we are.” Gravel crunches beneath the tires as he pulls into a small parking lot that backs up to thickly wooded dunes. I squint through the window and spot a narrow, sandy path that cuts down the middle.

“Did you bring me out here to murder me?”

“I found this place last summer,” he says as he hops out of the truck and circles to my side. He offers a hand to help me down, but even once I’m standing beside him, he doesn’t let go. “It’s quiet,” he continues as he pulls me toward the path. “Hardly ever see anyone else here.”

“You’re not making me feel better about the murder thing.”

He laughs and tightens his hand around mine in a way that has my stomach doing flips.

I can’t see the water at all over the brush, but the sound of the waves grows louder as I follow him through the sand. When we break through the foliage at the end of the path, I stop short.

The sun is just starting to set over the water, painting the sky in electric hues of pink and orange, but it’s the colorful display on our right that I can’t look away from.

There’s a wide red-and-white-checkered picnic blanket spread out on the sand. An array of snacks, drinks, paints, and two blank canvases sit on top, along with a small sign with block letters wedged into the sand.

Can I be your boyfriend?

I stare at it as if my brain can’t comprehend the words.

Liam steps up beside the display, looking nothing like he had in the car. He shifts his weight and swallows hard as he meets my eyes.

He’snervous, I realize. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him nervous.

I stare at him. He stares back.

Slowly, my lips curl. “You did the grand gesture,” I murmur.

He returns my smile. “Had to consider my audience. You didn’t answer the question.”

I let out a small laugh as he leads me to the blanket.

“Gracie…” He pauses and wets his lips. “I know we talked about not making a big deal out of this. And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since, because the thing is, Idowant to make a big deal of it. I haven’t had any interest in dating in a long time. And then you come back into my life like a fucking storm.” He smiles as he says it, and his thumb traces small circles on the back of my hand. “And I don’t want this to be something that just passes through. I know it’s more complicated than that. I guess what I’m saying is, I want to give this a real try. If you do.”

I know now’s the part where I say something, but I’m frozen, mute. I think I’m barely breathing at this point.

He leans back. “If I’ve misread everything?—”

“You haven’t.” I tighten my hand around his before he can let go. “You haven’t misread anything. I…like you. A lot. And it scares the hell out of me.”

“For what it’s worth,” he murmurs, “I’m nervous too.”

“Liar. Nothing makes you nervous.”

His gaze flicks from my eyes to my mouth. “You do. So, is that a…?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

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