Page 136 of Since We're Here
After a second, he chuckles, and I do the same.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Stella and Reese walk back to our table, and I glance over. Reese kisses Oliver on the lipsand sits in the chair next to him, and Stella settles on Ethan’s lap. Maddie’s watching me from across the room.
“Have a good night, Liam.” I carry a pint and two glasses of red wine to the table, and by the time I go back for the other pints, Liam’s gone.
As I get back, Maddie’s rolling her eyes at Stella and Ethan, who are kissing.
“Ugh, get a room.” She turns, sliding her hand up the outside of my thigh and staring at me with her big brown eyes. She’s wearing another of her dresses tonight, and even though it’s fully spring in Ireland, it’s still not quite warm enough to justify the short dress. But I’m damn thankful for it.
“Hey.” I sit and press my lips to hers.
“Hi.” She kisses me again, lingering a bit longer before pulling away. “What was that about?” Maddie nods her head to where I was with Liam at the bar.
“He apologized for hating me for the past five years.”
“Wow.”
“Yes. Wow.” My eyes drift down to her bare legs. “You look gorgeous tonight, as usual.” I settle a hand on her thigh.
“Thanks. Noreen just texted me. The flat will be ready next week after the current people check out and it gets cleaned. I have a feeling you guys canceled a few bookings for me.”
I shrug. She’s right.
“It’d be better if you were living with me.” I squeeze her leg gently.
“Soon.”
“When?”
“How about once we find out the Irish Oktoberfest is a huge hit?”
“It’s a deal.” I run my thumb along her soft leg, inching up to below the hem of her dress. “I was thinking, I don’t know nearly enough about the woman I’m in love with.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Hmm. First kiss?”
“Oh, lord. Freshman year of high school. A skinny kid who played guitar named Markus. In a dark science room after school.”
“Wow.”
“How about you?”
“I was sixteen. No, seventeen.”
“Pretty late, huh?”
“Don’t judge. I was too busy with soccer to worry about girls.”
“Whatever you say.” Maddie’s eyes twinkle. “Tell me more.”
“Her name was Elaine. I first said ‘hi’ to her at the corner shop and we met there every day for a week until I convinced her to let me stick my tongue down her throat. She never showed up again.”
Maddie laughs and I savor the sight of her happiness and her smooth throat, begging for my lips.
“You must’ve improved dramatically since then,” she says when she stops chuckling.
“You’re so mean.” I move my hand under her dress until it’s borderline inappropriate and she inhales sharply.
