Page 41 of Cruising with You

“Wecould work.”

“Gage, don’t––”

“Why not?” I argue, my frustration boiling over.

“You don’t have to pity me because I’m crying right now, okay? I get it, but a tiger doesn’t change his stripes.”

“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do. I’m not saying I love you. I’m not saying I want to marry you. I’m just saying that when we get off this boat…we could give this a real shot. We couldtry.”

“Or we could end it right now. You’ve gotten your brownie batter.”

Gritting my teeth, I spit, “Well, maybe I want to bake it. Did you ever think of that, Nora?”

“Don’t lie to me––”

“Who the hell says I’m lying? Is it because I’m a Leo? Is that the problem?” I laugh, though there isn’t any humor in it before I climb off the bed and begin pacing the tiny room. “Just because the stupid zodiac signs say we might struggle to communicate, is that why you’re not willing to give this a shot?”

“That’s not it––”

“You sure about that?” I growl. “I want you. I want us. I want hard conversations. I want real connections. I want fudgy, gooey brownies that are baked to perfection. I want totry.”

Her lower lip quivers as she crosses her arms over her chest, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Talk to me, Nora,” I plead, my voice softening as I take in the gorgeous girl in front of me.

“Why me?” she whispers.

“Because you’re you. I don’t know how else to explain it. You balance me out. You see things from a different perspective. You’re compassionate. You’re kind. You’re clean. You’re consistent. You’re…you’reeverything. I wouldn’t want this if I didn’t think we could make it. I think about hurting you. About not being able to commit to you. And it makes me feel like someone is ripping me apart limb by limb. Will youpleasetry this with me?”

Standing up, she runs her fingers through her tangled hair in frustration. “But what about our future, Gage? I want the white picket fence. I want to get married. I want to have babies and a dog. You want freedom, and I can’t waste my time with someone who doesn’t want what I do.”

Her barriers are still firmly in place, and it pisses me off. How can she not see that she’s enough? That any man would be lucky to claim her, and I’m trying to do exactly that. Closing the distance between us with slow, deliberate steps, I raise my hand and cup her cheek. “When I’m with you, I don’t feel tied down.Maybe the stars really did align to bring me to you. But I’d be a fool to let you go.”

With a shallow breath, she whispers, “Are you sure, Gage?”

“About us?”

“Yeah.” Her gaze is filled with barely-restrained hope, and the sight is enough to disperse the last of my reservations.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, I admit, “I’m unsure about a lot of things, but I know that I want the real deal with you. So tell me something, Pretty Girl. Do you want me too?”

“More than anything.”

“Then, I guess it’s settled.”

Her grin practically lights up the room. “I guess it is.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she raises her chin, and I savor this moment before kissing her. Again. Only this time, I crack the damn egg to let her know that we’re both in this together.

And we’re gonna make some damn good brownies.

Epilogue - Gage

One Year Later

“Hey, Bertie,” I greet her while setting a cup of coffee on the reception desk.

“Is this––”

---