Page 49 of The Problem with Perfect

And the truth is…I’m not sure I want to.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re a little stubborn?” I ask, my voice teasing.

Even in just the moonlight, I can tell she blushes, but she lifts her chin again, only further proving my point.

“Maybe.”

I laugh. “Alright, just checking.”

We stand in silence together for a few minutes, just looking out at the water. I suspect she’s trying to cool off or manage her embarrassment about having barked at my sister. Possibly both.

Regardless, I’m unable to help it when I reach out and wrap my arm around her shoulders, tugging her into my side. She looks up at me, surprise evident in her expression.

“Thank you,” I tell her. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone be so adamantly on my side. I didn’t realize I missed it.”

Whatever tenseness was left in her body melts away, and she sinks into me. I revel in her closeness for as long as I can, until I think we should probably head inside. I press a kiss on the crown of her head, and when she looks up at me again, it takes everything inside of me not to bend down and kiss her where I really want to.

“Ready to take off?” I ask her instead.

She nods, and I reach down, taking her hand in mine, and we walk up the dock and back to the house together.

* * *

When I open the door a few nights later, my sister is standing there with an uncomfortable smile on her face. She texted me earlier, asking if she could come by and drop off some banana bread she baked for me. It’s my favorite, so I don’t doubt she made it on purpose so she could come over to talk.

“How’s work going?” I ask, shutting the door behind her then trailing her into the living room.

“Good. I’ve started creating the new summer menu, and people are really enjoying it.”

I nod. “That’s great. What goes on a summer menu at a bakery?”

“A lot of fruit-forward stuff. Strawberry pie is a big one. Cakes that are kept cold, lemon sweet rolls, blueberry bread.”

Rubbing my stomach, I smile at her. “You’re making me hungry.”

She grins back and lifts the Tupperware she’s carrying. “Then I came at the perfect time.”

Abby steps into the kitchen and begins working, first tugging out a cutting board and putting the bread out, then slicing off a few pieces and handing me one on a paper towel.

“A peace offering,” she tells me as I take a bite.

I pin her with a look. “We don’t need a peace offering,” I tell her, uncaring that I have food in my mouth. I swallow my bite. “I’m not upset with you.”

“Well your girlfriend sure is.”

I grin, remembering Bellamy’s outrage on Tuesday. “Yeah, well…she’s sensitive.”

Abby snorts. “I’ll say.” She takes her own bite of the bread, swallowing before speaking again. “But she was right.”

Before I can try to tell Abby she doesn’t have anything to worry about, she holds up her hand.

“Shewas, Rus. You’ve done so much for me.”

“Come on, you don’t have to—”

“Let me finish.”

I sigh and brace myself against the bar that separates the living room and kitchen.

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