Page 59 of It's Always Been You
It’s possible I might be in just a tiny bit of trouble.
“Come on, Rory. I’ll show you the bedroom. We can clean up back there.”
He bends over and picks up the lacy shreds of my thong from the floor, holding it up with a wide smile and then glancing down at the wet spot on his sweatpants. “And I think new underwear is in order all around.”
This trip is already so bizarre that I just lay my head back and laugh. A perfect lightness settles over us, and we head to the back of the plane to put ourselves back together.
Chapter Twenty-One
Gabe
“What even is this perfection?” Molly asks, as we step inside the upscale Hayes Valley boutique.
“It’s your surprise,” I say, winking at her, loving the flush that rises on her face.
“I get a surprise? I love surprises.”
“Oh, I remember. I remember everything about you.”
“I’m beginning to think you really do,” she mumbles, glancing around the store.
We’re the only customers, and I take Molly’s hand, guiding her to the back where the dressing rooms are. As soon as we step behind the curtain, she gasps and her eyes light up. I grin at her response.
It’s set up just like I asked. There are rolling racks along one side with dresses in every material and color of the rainbow and displays set up with shoes and accessories along the other. Plush white carpet covers the floor, and a pink couch is set up in the center of the space with a table in front filled with cans of Diet Pepsi, iced peppermint mochas, and Molly’s favorite black licorice and Reese’s Pieces.
“So…what are we doing here?” she asks.
I pull her in to face me and brush a curl behind her ear. Her hair is down and wild, just begging me to run my fingers through her curls. Ever since the plane, I can’t keep my hands off of her. I know there’s still so much unsaid between us, and I have a lot to prove to her. I saw the way she froze for a split second when I called hermineon the plane, and I know she’s not where I am yet. I’m determined to let her steer this ship, and I’m a patient man, but it’s like I need to be touching her all the time to remind myself that she’s really here and I’m not dreaming.
I dreamed of her so many times over the past ten years.
“Okay, so there’s something about the building dedication tomorrow I haven’t told you yet.”
Molly glances around, a smile on her face. “If it’s the reason I’m currently standing in a fashion lovers paradise with my favorite snacks on the table over there, I’m sure I’ll love it.”
“It is. Emma had the idea to make the dedication into a gala to fundraise for my women in STEM initiative, and the university was game to run with it. It’s fancy. Fancy means you need a dress, so I’m taking you shopping. A friend of Amelia’s owns the store, and I called in a favor. It’s ours for the next couple of hours.”
Molly’s grin has a sly edge to it. “A private jet, a driver, and now a VIP shopping trip? You sure know how to show a girl a good time.”
I lean in and press a kiss to her forehead. “Only one girl.”
When I pull away, Molly’s face turns serious. “You know I don’t need all of this, right? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love it. But I liked you before you invented a phone, and I like you now. Just for you, not for what you have. Or, you know, all of this.” Molly waves her arm around the room.
“You like me, huh?” I keep my voice light, and my smirk plastered on my face, trying not to show her how her words are affecting me. How much I didn’t realize I needed to hear them.
Molly sighs dramatically. “I tried not to, but you’re kind of irresistible. I think it’s the glasses you pretend you only need for reading and driving. And the superhero T-shirts.” She glances down at my Star Wars T-shirt and smiles.
“I like you too.”
This time, she leans forward and kisses my cheek. “Of course you do. I’m fantastic. Now, do I get to try on these dresses or what?”
“Any one you want. Or all of them. It’s your day, Rory.”
“And what are you planning on doing while I do this?”
“Oh, I’m planning to sit my ass right on that couch like I’m front row at Fashion Week. Put on a show for me, Rory baby.”
She narrows her eyes at me, studying my face. “You know I really like fashion, right?”
