Page 30 of The List of Things

“What’s her name?” I ask.

“Brianne. I call her B.”

“That’s a pretty name.”

He holds me tight against his side.

“Why did you pick the golden retriever?” He nods to the large stuffed animal I’m holding in my hands.

“You said the purple monster was me. Well, the golden retriever is you,” I shoot him a look based on yet another cocky grin on his face. “What?” I ask.

“You got a stuffed animal that reminded you of me,” He boasts, his selective hearing coming into play. “Come on, we’re going to miss the last ferry and get stuck here,” He nods his head.

“My feet hurt, give me a break,” I tell him, still picking up the pace to run with him.

We make it to the boat in time, but this time we don’t go to the upper deck, we walk until we get to the bench closest to the captain's side. I sit down, and there are very few people on the boat now considering how late it is. There are pretty bistro lights hanging around the entire ferry, and there’s a warm glow casting from them, highlighting every perfect feature Bellamy already had.

One thing I have learned for sure from this date is that I am more attracted to him than I had initially thought. Of course, I could see how good looking he was. I knew that from the start, but I didn’t see it in the way I do now. There truly is no flaw in his outer appearance. He’s the perfect man. He’s perfectly tall and perfectly muscular. His smile is to die for. His teeth are without a flaw, and his dimple is incredibly sexy... Just like his tattoos, and his arms. I haven’t seen him without clothes, but I imagine it’s just as flawless. There’s no denying I want him in that way. I have fully confirmed that now.

“Did you have a good time?”

I nod softly, “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

He shrugs as he leans down, scooping my legs up so they’re together on his lap. He unlaces my shoes one by one, unwrapping the straps from my calves and pulling them off of my feet. He keeps the heels next to him on his side of the bench and also keeps my feet where they are, propped on him.

“I hoped you would, but I also knew if I didn’t make this date perfect it would set me up poorly, and you’d never finish the list with me.”

“Awe, how cute.”

His hand rests on my bare leg, his thumb moving back and forth on my skin softly.

“You think I’m cute,” He speaks out.

“Selective hearing,” I chime in, and he shrugs.

“Always thinking happy thoughts.”

I laugh, covering my face as I do.

The boat takes its time docking, and I reach over him for my shoes, but he pulls them away. He takes the shoes in his hands and stands up, reaching for me. I think for a second he’s going to stand me up, and I want to protest, but he doesn’t. He pulls me up in his arms, honeymoon style, not letting me lift a finger, or touch the ground at all.

“Now call me your knight in shining armor so I can live my fantasy out,” He tells me, walking me toward the exit of the boat, physically and metaphorically having swept me off my feet tonight…

CHAPTERNINE

STARVING BY HAILEE STEINFELD

I liftmy hand to knock on the door and bring it back down right away. I wipe my hands on my jeans, feeling the sweat gather. Dear god, he gives me nervous sweats, mostly because everything with him is so go with the flow. I never know what is going to happen. Also because he’s in full control. I lift my hand to knock again, and the door opens this time. I’m faced with a very attractive, not as tall as Bellamy, but still tall Griffin, and his girlfriend Jade.

“Hi, you must be Kamryn,” The pretty girl speaks.

She’s got light caramel hair, and natural curls that frame her soft skin. Her skin is brown, but not as dark as Griff’s. She does her makeup perfectly, I notice a pretty light pink in the corners of her eyes that highlights the dark color of them.

“Yes, and you’re Jade right?”

She smiles, her lips curling over her perfect white teeth, “I am.”

She shakes my hand, and I smile at Griff.

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