Page 27 of Born to Make You Smile

Touching his chest. Undoing his buttons. Kissing his cheek.

His warm, smooth cheek…

“Thought you might be hungry,” he added. “There’s sesame seed and pumpernickel. As well as several flavors of cream cheese.”

“So not necessary but, um, thank you.” I took the bag of warm bagels and glanced at Dorina, who nodded and smiled politely.

“Oh, and this.” Gavin reached into the front pocket of his pants and pulled out a small ziplock bag with my lip balm, then handed it to me as if it was some sort of biohazardous material.

“I just about had to disassemble my passenger seat to get to it.”

I smiled warmly. “Oh. I appreciate the rescue mission.”

Dorina squeaked out a laugh, then looked at Gavin. “Thank God! That’s her favorite one.”

“Did you want to stay and have some bagels?” I asked him.

“Oh no. I have to get back to the girls. They want to head to the zoo today and…” He looked down and scratched his forehead. “We're meeting up with Michelle and Hunter.”

My chest tightened. Before he’d mentioned Michelle, I was hoping he would invite me along. For the past few years, I had been the one to accompany the girls to the zoo. It was kind of our thing.

It took everything in me to hide my disappointment with a toothy smile.

“Wonderful. Well, have fun. It's a perfect day for the zoo. The weather isn’t too hot. Oh, and make sure you visit the penguins.”

They were Mackenzie's favorite. Mine also.

“Of course, I'm sure Mackenzie wouldn't let us leave without seeing them.”

We all stood there, the three of us staring at one another, shifting our bodies in silence.

“How are you feeling, Grace?” he asked, clearly referring to last night.

“Great. Never better.” I grinned.

“I'm glad. All right. Well, you ladies have a fantastic day. Grace, I will see you tomorrow morning.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice to speak. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach I couldn’t shake.

***

“So thoughtful of Gavin to drop off bagels,” Dorina said, spreading a thick layer of cream cheese on a slice.

“Yeah. It was.” I took a bite of my pumpernickel bagel with smoked salmon cream cheese. It was heavenly. Gavin had brought everything I’d mentioned last night in my weed-filled haze.

“I saw him walking to your house when I pulled into your driveway,” she explained. “I almost didn’t recognize him without his glasses.”

I chuckled, taking another bite of bagel, hoping she would drop the subject.

“It’s nice he looks out for you. Good thing he was around last night to get you.”

I nodded with a hum, looking down to hide my flushed face.

“Will got so drunk. I felt bad for bailing on him this morning, but his sister said she’d take care of him. By the way, what happened? Why didn’t you go home with Ethan?”

“He…” I sighed, collecting my thoughts. “I broke it off with him.”

Dorina looked at me, her mouth falling open. “Oh no. Really? Why? I thought you two were, you know, getting along.”

---