Page 53 of The Sweet Part
He steps back, gesturing for me to come inside.
I shove my hands in my coat pockets, suddenly awkward. I remember every detail of our dinner here and our night together.
One corner of his mouth turns up. “It was my way of apologizing for my buttinsky mom going to your house and warning you away. Sorry about that. She’s never done that before to someone I’m seeing. It was completely unnecessary anyway, right?”
My shoulders droop. “Right. I mean, I did say we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”
“Which I completely understand. Sophie is your number one priority.”
I swallow hard. “I think I messed up.”
“With what?”
I meet his eyes. “I like you a lot.”
He steps closer, his voice turning husky. “I like you a lot too.”
“And-and I think I’m ready for more. With you.”
He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “May, I’m honored. But what about Sophie? She seemed to be onto us from the start. I’d like to see where things go with us without Sophie thinking I’m stepping in as her dad.”
“We could just tell her we’re going out as friends?”
He quirks a brow. “That’s not going to fool her.”
“Okay, well, then I don’t know what to do. I don’t want her heart to break if things don’t work out.”
“Or yours.”
“Or mine,” I admit.
He pulls me into his arms. “Would it help if I told you I missed you fiercely and can’t stop thinking about you?”
I wrap my arms around his neck, reveling in the heat and strength of his body pressed close. “It would. Me too. I’m scared of all I’m feeling.”
His eyes soften. “Me too. I’ve never felt this way before.”
My heart cracks open. “Oh, Mason.”
“This doesn’t come along every day.”
My eyes well. I had love once, and I’ve been afraid to let myself love again. “I know.”
“We can take it slow. Just the two of us, okay? We’ll leave our families out of it. You’ve already seen how nosy my family is, and until you feel comfortable having me around Sophie, I’ll stay away. I understand why that’s necessary, but, May, I need to see you. I’m falling in love with you.”
He cradles my face and kisses me tenderly, reverently. My heart soars. This is right. I have to take a chance on love again.
* * *
I drop off Sophie at my parents’ house for a sleepover the following weekend. I told her I’m spending time with some old college friends this weekend. I don’t like to lie, but it was the only way I could think of to keep her from hoping for something that may not happen.
I set her backpack inside the living room. She runs to hug Mom.
Mom strokes her hair. “We’re going to have so much fun at our sleepover. Tonight we’ll watch a movie with popcorn, and tomorrow we’ll go sledding. The snow on the hill behind the elementary school is perfect.”
“What movie?” Sophie asks.
“A little birdie told me you’ve been wanting to seeHoppity.” That’s an Easter Bunny movie that came out last year. Sophie’s been looking forward to Easter a lot this year, even though it’s two months away. I guess she’s old enough to really appreciate fun holiday traditions.
