Page 38 of Where It Begins

I pat her back. “You did great.”

“Liar face.” She kisses my cheek. “Have fun, though.”

“Take an antihistamine, but not the non-drowsy ones, otherwise you’ll be up all night.”

“Good call. I can feel the hives setting in.”

She nods and waves when Sidney says it was nice to meet her. I usher him out the door.

“That went well,” I say once we’re safely inside his truck.

“You think so?” Sidney taps on the steering wheel.

“Oh yeah, definitely. A couple more brief hellos and the word vomit will slow to a trickle. She just needs time to get comfortable.” And get over the fact that she’s seen his bare butt. “Exposure therapy is the best way to get over the nerves.”

“I can handle more exposure therapy. Once she gets comfortable enough with me, maybe we can try getting the kids together. Eventually. No rush, though. I know that’s kind a big step.” More steering wheel tapping.

I shift in my seat so I can stare at his profile. “You like me that much, huh?”

He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “Is that a serious question?”

I open and close my mouth a couple of times. “I mean…even talking about getting the kids together sort of implies a level of seriousness.”

“I feel pretty serious about you,” he says softly.

“I feel the same. I was nervous about you meeting Vi because I really want her to like you,” I admit.

“And you think she does?” he asks.

“Yeah, definitely. She would have texted me already if you’d gotten a thumbs down,” I assure him.

We arrive at the restaurant, and he backs the truck into a spot. He shifts into park, but his hands stay on the wheel, gripping tightly.

“Is everything okay, Sid?”

“Yeah. Everything’s great.” He releases the steering wheel and turns off the engine.

I follow his lead and get out of the truck.

The place we’re going tonight is causal, but it has the prettiest rose and ivy covered gazebo. He laces his fingers with mine and heads in that direction instead of the entrance to the restaurant. When we’re standing in the middle he stops and takes my other hand. He looks down at our clasped hands.

I give his a squeeze. “Are you sure everything is okay?”

“Positive.” He blows out a breath and his gaze lifts to mine. “I don’t think I recognized how nervous I was about meeting Violet until a minute ago.”

“She likes you, you have nothing to worry about.”

“That’s good.” He smiles and brings my hands to his lips kissing my knuckles. “Because I just realized I’m totally in love with you.”

I blink at him a few times. I know how I feel about him, but hearing him say it first is kind of a shock. “Are you sure?”

He bites his lips together and nods once. “It’s okay if you’re not there yet.”

“I’m there. I’m here. With you. In the love boat. Or gazebo.” I fling a hand around. “I just didn’t expect you to say it first. But I’ve been thinking it a lot lately. In my head, obviously.”

His uncertain expression shifts to amusement. “Have you?”

“Often right after sex and especially after you’ve gone down on me, but also when you text me in the morning, and at night, or flowers show up at my work, or whenever I see you, to be perfectly honest.” I link my hands behind his neck. “It’s been a struggle keeping it to myself lately, so I’m glad you had the bigger balls of the two of us and made it easy for me to admit I feel the same way.” I’m rambling, which isn’t unusual during a bout of nerves. “This is a really perfect spot for an ILY drop.”

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