Page 59 of A Beginner's Guide to Forever
“Please. I want you to have them.”
I crawl across the sofa to thank him with a kiss but end up in his lap.
“Hi,” I breathe.
“Hi,” he returns. “Did you have a good birthday?”
Nodding, I kiss him again—just because I can. “This is going down in the history books as one of my most memorable birthdays ever.”
“Ever?” he echoes.
“Well, except for my tenth, when I discovered that I’m allergic to marzipan and got sick all over the new backpack my parents had gotten me.”
He chuckles. “That does sound memorable.”
“But I like this one better,” I say, gazing at him.
His hand cups my jaw, and he brings my mouth to his. We kiss slowly, moving together leisurely, like we have all the time in the world. I know it’s a lie, but right now, in this moment, my birthday wish is that it could be true.
I excuse myself to use the restroom, and when I emerge, Hart is standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, admiring the view fifteen stories below.
“How long will you be gone?” he asks when I join him.
“One month. Maybe two.”
The idea of that shouldn’t fill me with a sense of loss. I haven’t known him that long. But he looks just as bewildered by this news as I feel.
“Spend the night with me,” he blurts.
“I don’t have an overnight bag.”
“Do you need one?”
“I mean . . . yeah.”
“I’ll call the concierge and ask them to bring up an extra toothbrush. You can sleep in one of my T-shirts.” He brings his face to the side of my neck and inhales. “Say yes, please.”
I don’t want to overthink this decision like Scarlet insists I do with everything else. Just for once I want to lean in to something that feels good, something just for me. I can be responsible later. In other areas of my life.
“Yes,” I whisper.
He tugs me close, kissing me while his hands stroke down my shoulders, my arms, ending at my hands, which he takes in his, lacing our fingers together. He’s been so sweet to me. I remember what hisfriend Vaughn warned me about. That he’d had his heart broken and not to hurt him, but that’s the last thing I want to do.
“Come on, I’ll see if I have something you can wear.”
I follow him to the bedroom, and he locates a T-shirt for me, placing it on the dresser. Then he empties his pockets onto the desk. Cell phone. A small tin of mints. A money clip containing several folded bills. A ticket for the valet. No condom. My heart suddenly picks up speed. I’m unsure of what comes next. He makes me feel so out of my element.
“Come here,” he says.
I cross the room on bare feet and step straight into his arms. He kisses me, and I’m overcome. He guides me to the bed without breaking the kiss, and we sink down together with him on top of me. We kiss for a long time, so long I wonder if we’ve set some kind of world record.
“Happy birthday,” he whispers, gazing at me when he finally pulls back.
Wow.Happy birthday, indeed. I’m pretty sure I can die happy now. Well, maybe not just yet. There’s something else I want first.
I turn to him, pressing my palm to his chest. “Can we have cake now?”
He dissolves into laughter, which he tries to hide with his fist. “Sure.”
