Page 26 of Wrong Number, Right Lion

I side-eyed him. “You’re making fun of me, right?”

“Never.” He bopped the end of my nose as we chose a bench.

“What delights have you got?” I clapped my hands as he opened two paper bags.

His head twisted toward me. “You talking food or my prowess between the sheets?”

My cheeks burned, and I didn’t know where to look. I squinted at the blue sky, ducks on the pond, and finally my hands. Kalen nudged me, and I shot him a glance.

“You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed.”

I elbowed him in return, and he brought out bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Yum. I took a bite.

“Better than?—”

“Don’t you say sex.” My mouth was full, but I had to cut him off.

“Oh, I wasn’t.”

“Liar!” I brushed my thigh against his and continued eating my bagel.

A dad pushing a baby and toddler in a double stroller walked past. The little girl tossed a toy onto the path, and Kalen caught it. Not only was his eyesight excellent but his reflexes were the fastest I’d seen.

“Did you play a lot of sports as a kid?” He had to have been one of the popular kids.

“I did. And you?”

I cackled, a laugh that was laced with some resentment. “Nope. I was always the last one picked, the clumsy one who couldn’t catch, defend, or score. No one wanted me on their team.” I hadn’t thought of those days in a while, where I’d beg my folks for a note saying I couldn’t play due to an injury.

Kalen put a hand on my lap. “I’m sorry. I’d pick you no matter how many catches you missed.” I placed my hand on his and studied the ducks, bobbing their heads under water.

Taking his paper bag and mine, I made to stand and toss them in the trash. I could have scrunched them up and aimed for the garbage can, but I’d miss and have to get up anyway. Kalen would have excellent aim and could have done it, I supposed.

We were very different, but a relationship wasn’t built on how athletic we were. If that was the case, I’d never find the love of my life. And I suspected I may have found him, and he was sitting beside me.

“I should get back. Thank you for lunch. I owe you ‘cause you’ve done a picnic and a lunch and helped me with dinner.”

“This isn’t a competition, Arlo.”

“Well, I could get used to being waited on.” Was that too obvious? Or not enough? I had to be more brave in saying what was in my heart.

“Good. I hope you do because I’ll be doing a lot more of it.”

I allowed what he’d said to wash over me. He was saying we’d be seeing more of one another, or that was how I interpreted it. But trying to piece together his intentions was making work for myself. I had to ask him directly. But it was hard. I was exposing my heart, and it was scary.

“Don’t misunderstand me, I love that you shower me with goodies. But why?”

Kalen reached out and ruffled my hair. “You sound as though you don’t deserve it. And trust me, you do. I’m lavishing you with attention because I like you. Really like you.”

Oh. My dreams weren’t yet reality, but I could see them in the distance.

“Are you going to say anything or leave me dangling?”

A vision of his long thick cock popped into my head. “Nope. There’ll be no dangling around here.”

“Well?” He raised a brow.

“I like you too!” I’d shouted when that hadn't been my intention. The ducks quacked and paddled across the pond away from us.

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