Page 83 of The Boyfriend Swap

“Thank you.” I bit down on my lip. “Was it you?” I couldn’t bear going back onstage without hearing it from his lips.

Will studied my face. “Was what me?”

I swallowed hard. “Did you ask your law firm to rescue the music program?”

He nodded his answer.

Even though I only had the tiniest of doubts by now, I was overwhelmed by the admission. “I can’t believe you did that for me. It was…” I gulped. “I don’t even know what to say or where to start thanking you.”

Will waved me away. “It was nothing, Snow. The firm has a charitable foundation and needs to donate a certain amount of money each year. I merely proposed they consider helping a local public school out and they agreed. Turns out, the managing partner has a soft spot for education. His wife is a retired schoolteacher from a lower-income district.”

Shaking my head, I said, “It wasn’t nothing.”

He gave me a wry grin. “There’s something in it for them too. It’s a tax break and they’ll get free advertising in exchange, so—”

I grasped his arm. “Stop downplaying it. It might not be a huge deal for your firm, but it’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me. Why?”

His eyes probed mine. “Why do you think?”

My hands shook and I wished I could amputate them for the length of this conversation. “You care about me?”

Still gazing at me, Will nodded again. “Very much. And while I understand and respect your doubts and can’t deny my execution could have been better, I didn’t only ask you out because Sidney cheated on me, and I didn’t only break up with her because of that either.”

“I believe you,” I said, my voice croaking. Sidney’s apology had come as a pleasant, albeit awkward, surprise—although it took a few minutes for my anger to simmer. Sidney didn’t know I’d been planning to break up with Perry when she launched herself at him, and it was a blatant breach of the girl code. But her honesty and vulnerability won me over by the end of the call. I also had to wonder if it could have been her on the receiving end of the apology. If Will had owned up to his feelings while I was still with Perry, would I have waited until I was truly single to satisfy my urges or would I have given in to my lust like she had? I liked to think I would have exercised self-control out of respect for Sidney and Perry, but as my eyes locked onto Will’s lips like a magnet on metal, I wouldn’t swear my music collection on it.

Will lessened the distance between us. “And I didn’t only want you to dump Perry because he’s a tool who’s not good enough for you. There was another reason.”

I blinked back the tears desperate to explode from the back of my lids and looked up at him. “What other reason?”

He shook his head and let out a laugh. “I thought I knew what being jealous felt like before, but I didn’t have a clue until I spent almost a week with the most adorable, sexy, and sweet girl in the world knowing she was dating…” He rolled his eyes. “A blond god. I wasn’t jealous because Perry was with Sidney; I was jealous because Perry was really datingyou,andI was falling for you big time.”

I was tempted to halt the conversation to pinch myself and confirm this was really happening. “You had me at ‘Snow,’ Will.” In case he missed theJerry McGuirereference, I said, “You’re the one I want, not Perry.” I shrugged. “I didn’t think I could compare to someone like Sidney.”

Will took both of my hands in his. “I don’t want someone like Sidney. I want you. And I have a feeling I always will.” He chuckled. “Even when you’re seventy-one.”

I pressed my lips together in confusion, and then I remembered the song we danced to at Billy Murphy’s. I stroked his jaw with my hand and reveled at the sensation. It felt better than I ever imagined. “And what happens when I turn seventy-two? I might not be sexy anymore, and I might be adorable in an old-lady way, but I’ll still be sweet. Will you still want me?” I held my breath.

Will drew me closer to him. “I’m willing to bet my firm’s entire charitable foundation you’ll still be sexy, adorable, and sweet when you’reninety-two. And, yes, I’ll still want you.”

I chuckled. “That’s a mighty risky wager. And considering my school’s music program needs those funds, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with it.”

He took a few locks of my hair and rubbed them between his fingers. “We’ll wait and see then. But my money’s on you, Snow White. It’s on us. If you’re looking for a date for your family’s Passover or Easter celebration, I’d like to confirm my availability.”

“You mean Eastover?”

Will’s eyes opened wide. “Is that a thing?”

I smiled. “I have no idea. I totally made it up.”

He shook his head at me. “Clever. So what do you say? Can I be your date for Eastover?”

“Yes. On one condition.” I gave him a meaningful look. “No pretending this time.”

“Considering I was only pretending to pretend during most of Chrismukkah, you drive an easy bargain.”

I was afraid if my heart swelled any more, it would be visible from the outside. “Which means you have to kiss me. And I’m not talking about little pecks. I mean full-on making out.” I waggled my eyebrows. “I might even put out.”

Will ran a finger along my bottom lip. “I’m in, Snow. But do we have to wait until Eastover to get started?”

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