Page 88 of The Art of Loving Lacy
“Tell me what happened,” he said.
“A car ran into mine when I was leaving work this afternoon.”
“Oh, baby. Why didn’t you call me? Are you okay? Look at you. Let’s get you inside.” He guided her inside, his hand never leaving the small of her back. “I wish you would have called me. I hate thinking of you being scared and hurt without me there.”
“I’m okay. Besides, it was at the hospital that I realized how much I wanted to be with you. I still can’t believe you’re here,” she said. “I was going to shower and come to you. Oh no, the shower. I left it on.” She hurried into her bedroom.
“I spent all those months wondering what it would feel like to be in your apartment. It feels right, Lace. It feels good,” he said as he followed her into the bedroom.
“You really were coming to see me?” He held up the backpack.
Lacy came out of the bathroom wearing a robe. “Yes, I was really coming to see you.” She draped her arms around his neck. “And I spent all those months wondering what it would feel like to have you in my bedroom, and you know what? It does feel right.” She kissed him lightly. “I realized when that car hit me that you were right. I was just driving down the street andwham. It happened so fast. I didn’t even have time to think, and then I saw it all so clearly.”
Dane sat on the bed and pulled Lacy onto his lap. She ran her finger along the dark, sexy stubble that speckled his cheeks.
“It doesn’t matter if we have a day, a week, or a year together, Dane. Whatever’s possible, I want it. All of it. Every scary, risky second of it.”
“Oh, Lace, so do I.” He brought his lips to hers and kissed her gently. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt you,” he said.
“I’m okay, just sore. I still can’t believe you’re here. This last week has been like a nightmare.”
“No more nightmares, Lace. Not ever.”
“My eyes are open. I know the risks of being with you, and I know the way it feels not to be with you. I’ll take the risks any day of the week,” she said.
“I had two hours to think on the way over here, and I want you to know that I don’t expect you to give up your job. I’ll work my schedule around yours, and if you want us to be together every other week, then we’ll make it happen. My job matters, Lace, but without you, nothing has much meaning.”
“I’ve had a lot of time to think, too. I don’t want visits every other week. After spending every day with you and then being yanked apart, I know how it would feel to be separated, and it’s not a feeling I want to experience again,” she said. “I want…”
“What are you asking?”
“I’m not asking, Dane. I’m offering. If the friendship proposal still stands, I would like to accept it,” she said with a smile.
He searched her eyes, and she knew he was searching for surety.
“I’m certain, Dane. I want to be your friend-with-benefits.”I want to be so much more.
He pulled her to him.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch.”
“I’m sorry. Oh, Lace, you’ve just made me the happiest guy on earth. But I want more than friends-with-benefits. Can’t you at least be my girlfriend?”
The sparkle in his eyes told her he was teasing. She kissed his lips. “I suppose I can do that.”
“I almost forgot.” He lifted Lacy up and set her on the bed beside him. “I’ll be right back.” Lacy listened as he crossed the floor and went out the front door, then returned a minute later and sat beside her.
“It occurred to me when we were in Wellfleet that you really are my shining light, Lacy. I love you and I wanted to give you something so you would always remember our first night together.”
“Do you really think I’d ever forget our first night together?”
He handed her an eight-by-ten envelope. She withdrew a certificate from the International Star Registry, and as she read it, she ran her finger over the embossed gold star at the top.
Her eyes filled with tears. “You named a star after me?”
“The Lacy Star.”
“This is the most romantic, thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. Oh, Dane, I love it.” Lacy leaned over too quickly to kiss him again and winced.
