Page 117 of The ABCs of You & Me

After setting her hands down gently, I draw a card. “What are two things your future self would thank you for?”

Sophie looks away, squinting as if she can see the answers in the distance. “Choosing to do my master’s and…” She looks back at me, eyes searching my face, a small smile appearing. “Asking you to be my friend date.”

“I’m very happy you asked me.”

“What about you?”

“Well just to be a contrarian, not doing my master’s and going back to school to be an EA and…” I could say saying yes to her that first time, but no, it was earlier than that. “Sharing my lunch with you that first day.” Her responding smile erases all the pain and worry from her face, like the sun peeking out from behind a thick layer of clouds.

She pulls another card. “If you could switch places with one other person, who would it be?”

“Why would I want to switch places with anyone? It means I wouldn’t be here with you.” She rolls her eyes at me. “I’m serious,” I insist.

“Play along. You’ll still be here with me no matter who you say.”

“Fine. Bennett, probably. That guy’s life seems pretty decent.”

“I’d say Bennett too.” Sophie cracks up.

“Oh, okay, this one is a bit risqué,”

“Shoot.”

I take a deep breath, feeling the nerves start to creep in. “What is your favorite way that I touch you?” She’s red instantly, and my nerves disappear. God, I love that blush.

“Whoever wrote this question probably thinks everyone is going to answer this in a sexier way, but for me, it’s when you’re holding my hand and your thumb brushes back and forth over the back of my hand. I don’t even know if you know you’re doing it but it’s like you’re reminding me you’re there.”

Well, damn, I had kind of hoped for something a bit hotter, but I have to admit that’s probably the best answer she could have given.

She stares at me expectantly. “Right, um… When you trace my tattoos with your finger. It makes me even happier that I got them.”

I slip the card back into the box and hold it out for her.

She giggles and looks up at the ceiling. “What fantasy would you like to check off your list with me?”

“Can I be very honest without you saying it’s a cop-out?”

Her eyes narrow suspiciously. “Okay.”

“You’ve always been my fantasy. Like the chance of being with you in any capacity other than as friends was as likely as walking through a portal into Middle Earth.” I inch closer. “Kissing you, really kissing you, was an out-of-body experience. Being inside you.” I moan as I tip my head back. “If I die tomorrow, I’d die a very happy man. And I know that’s something people say, but I mean it because I got to experience life with you in so many ways.”

“Please don’t die tomorrow,” she whispers.

“Oh, sunshine, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got way too much time to make up for where you’re concerned.” I pull the card from her hand and toss it away. “Too many future plans with you I don’t want to miss out on. Too many places I have yet to taste you,” I dip my head, running my tongue along her collarbone, smiling when she whimpers. “Too many sounds I still want to hear you make. Too many days of letting you know how beautiful you are left to live.” I murmur against her lips, soaking up the sigh she releases as my body covers hers.

Sophie wakes me up the next morning with soft kisses and a mug full of coffee. “You’re going to be late for training.”

“Donkey balls,” I curse, sitting up quickly and swinging out of bed. I stop dead when I see that Sophie is wearing only my Nyx Avalon concert shirt and her boy shorts, and I think my brain glitches. “How am I supposed to leave when you wake me up looking like this?” I gesture down her body. “This is not fair.”

“Use it as motivation to be very, very efficient today,” she stresses, walking toward me. “Because while you copped out on a fantasy, I have one I’d like to make come true later on.”

Holy Sasquatch’s snatch, she’s going to be the death of me.

FIFTY-TWO

SOPHIE

While Foster is off with Pete, I have a chance to prepare for date Y. After grabbing my half-packed suitcase from the car, I start packing the rest with Foster’s things. I had casually asked about any set plans he may have for the long weekend, and after he had said no, I went ahead and booked a yurt in the middle of the forest.

---