Page 147 of The Fallacy of True Love
I couldn’t stop from grinning. “I signed a contract and everything.”
Understanding dawned on his face, bringing with it joy as bright as sunlight. “You accepted the offer?” he breathed out.
“I did. So you’ll have to be ready to see me more often.”
“Hell, yes. When are you coming? I’ll block off the dates already.” He shook his head. “What am I thinking? Congratulations on your new job, babe. You—” He shut his mouth, eyes widening even further. “You said you signed the contract. When?”
I laughed. “Yesterday.”
“Before we talked.”
“I didn’t want to let whatever happened this weekend dictate my decision. You were right—I wanted the job. I like my hiring manager, and the other employees I met seem decent. My only issue was the pay, and I was able to negotiate an addendum stating they’ll evaluate a salary adjustment when I get through the probationary period.”
Pride shone in his eyes. “That’s my girl. I’m happy for you, Maya.”
“Thanks,” I said. “The in-person meetings suck, but at least now I have a bigger incentive to make that trip.”
Smiling, he shook his head. “So you already knew you were going to give me a chance before I got here.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you just want to see me sweat?”
“Of course.” He affected an exaggerated eye roll, and I chuckled. “I’m kidding. It was just—I knew I wanted to be with you, but part of me was still scared.” Even now, my stomach clenched. “Everything I said, I really was stressing about, but you answered each of my concerns so easily.”
He moved his hands up and down my back, as though he had picked up on the remnants of my anxiety. “I had a list of arguments I thought you might make, and I prepared my counters.”
“Of course you did.”
“I like that you told me your worries,” he said. “I know this relationship is new, and it’s going to be harder since we won’t be together that often. But whenever anything’s bothering you, just let me know. We’ll find a way to work things out.”
Nodding, I murmured, “My first in-person is right before Holy Week, so I figured I’d extend my stay.”
“Sounds perfect to me.” Framing my face in his palms, he drew me in for a long, deep kiss that had me moving my hips against his.
And then my stomach growled louder than before.
I lifted my head, and we stared at each other in surprise. Alonzo’s chest shook beneath me. Suddenly, we were both laughing.
“Guess that means it’s time to eat,” he said.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Alonzo
On Sunday morning, Maya and I woke up early for our first surf together. She gave me tips on my form, and we had breakfast and dessert back in bed. Then Nikki called us to hang out on the beach, so I brought my tablet and notes for a study session while Maya swam with Nikki and Jo.
I was taking a break and reapplying sunblock when Nikki came up to me.
“Lonzo,” she said. “Thanks again for babysitting Jo.”
I smiled at her. “Of course. Anything for true love.”
After spending most of yesterday locked away in our own world, Maya and I went over to the café to watch over Jo and Milo while Nikki and Eric went on their first date. They were supposed to attend Eric’s work event, but apparently he hated the idea of their first date not being a private one. He’d ended up cooking for her at his place instead.
Meanwhile, I’d had to stop Maya from texting them to ask how things were going. It was funny how she could be such a mother hen when it came to the people she cared about.
“Is it true that he sang for you?” I teased Nikki.
