Page 36 of Only You
We’ve got this.
When Tatum showsup at my house later that night, the nerves haven’t left me, and I’ve taken two showers already. Why? I don’t know. The nerves are a son of a bitch, and I just want to be completely ready for our date.
I’m dressed in a button-down shirt and slacks, looking hopelessly dorky, but he doesn’t seem to mind at all when I open the door, and his bright smile greets me. His eyes briefly sweep over my outfit and then back up to my face with a wide grin. “Hi.”
I take the moment to rake my eyes over him and try like hell not to drool. I’m pretty sure that’s damn near impossible though. He’s wearing jeans, but there are no tears in them. They look new. And he has a black button-down on, though I’ve never seen him in anything other than a tight t-shirt, which I love. But this is nice too. Especially because he has the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his inked, strong forearms.
His hair is tousled with gel, and I can feel the excitement radiating off him. “You ready to go?”
Go? Hell no. I want to stay here. I want to kiss another person for the first time in my life. I want to do so much more. My libido is ratcheted up so high, I think I might pass out.
“Remy?” I look up at Tatum. “Are you okay? Do you not want to do this? Because that’s okay. I can go change out of my date clothes and come back. We can watch baking shows and just be friends. I don’t ever want you to do something you don’t want to do.”
And I know he means it. He’d do that for me, even though it’s clear he’s excited about our date. He’d sacrifice his own happiness for mine in a heartbeat.
I straighten my shoulders and shake my head from one side to the other. “No. I want this. I want this so badly, I can barely even believe it’s real.”
“Yeah?” The way he lights up breaks my heart.
I step closer to him, taking his hands in mine and looking up into his beautiful eyes. “I want this, Tatum. I’m scared, but I want this.”
His big hands squeeze mine gently as he looks down at me. “Me too. I’m scared out of my mind, but I’ve never wanted anything more.”
“How is this happening?” I have to ask because it truly doesn’t feel real.
“I don’t know,” he says quietly, his throat working as he swallows and looks mystified. “But I’m glad it is. It feels like it was always supposed to happen like this.”
I smile and nod. “Let’s go on our date, Tatum.”
He nods, squeezing my hands again and then letting one go. Lacing the fingers of our other hands together and gently pulling me out the door. I have to release his hand to lock the door, but then immediately take it again and let him walk me to his truck. He opens the door, and I climb inside.
We drive downtown, but I’m not sure where we’re going. When he parks in front of a quaint little building, it doesn’t really look like a restaurant. “Where are we?” I ask in amusement.
“I thought it would be fun to take a baking class together.” He looks a little sheepish, looking through his windshield instead of over at me. “It’s a beginner’s class, so it’ll probably be way too easy for you, and it’s kind of silly...”
“Tatum, look at me,” I say, my heart feeling too big inside my chest. He does, but he looks reluctant. “That sounds amazing.”
“Are you sure?” He looks nervous. “We can just go to dinner.”
“No way. We have to show off your skills,” I say, my excitement only growing now as I open the truck door, and he follows.
We go inside, hand in hand, and go through making an apple pie together. Tatum takes it completely seriously, listening to the instructor for each step. I find myself just watching Tatum.
Little pieces of my heart fall away to him with each adorable question he asks, raising his hand politely each time. We bring the pie back to my place, and I cut slices for us while he gets a baking show ready in the living room for us to watch.
I hand him his plate, and he takes it, looking adoringly at the slice. “We did well.”
I settle in next to him and cut off a bite with my fork, slipping it into my mouth and groaning from the sweet flavor. “We make a good team.”
His eyes are glued to me. More specifically my mouth, and he doesn’t say anything. I can feel the intensity of his heated gaze as I lick my lips, savoring the sweet flavor but really wanting something else.
I put my plate down and then gently take his, placing it next to mine and then turning my body into him. “Tatum...”
His eyes drift closed, and he looks almost pained. “You don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for yet, Remy. This date tonight...” His eyes slowly flutter open. “It was everything.”
I smile at him, one of my hands slowly sifting through his soft hair. I notice he leans into the touch, even though I’m not sure he knows he’s doing it. “I want more.”
His tongue peeks out to slide along his bottom lip, his eyes glued to my eyes. Fixated only on me. “Are you sure?”
