"He's cruel," Walker says.
"You have no idea." She nods.
He raises a brow.
Dean motions go on.
Leighton rolls her eyes. "You're not getting any info on my sex life." She slides her laptop into her messenger bag. Slings it over her shoulder. "But I'm flattered by your obsession."
"What did you do to Chloe?" Emma steps into the main room. She brushes her dark hair behind her ears. Shoots Dean a glare. "I will kick your ass if you keep fucking with her."
"I'll help," Walker offers.
"Oooh, can I too?" Leighton presses her hands together. "Pretty please." She steps out from behind the counter. Nods a goodbye to Emma. "I'll get out of your way."
"You'll leave me with these idiots? All by myself?" Emma feigns horror. She's been working at the shop since Leighton left.
She's only here part time, but it's nice having her around. She's known us forever. She doesn't let the guys get away with shit. She knows her older brother well enough not to flirt when he's around.
But when he's not…
Let's just say she makes Leighton proud.
"I'll be back next Friday." She hugs Emma goodbye. Whispers something in her ear.
"You promise?" Emma releases her.
She nods.
They share a laugh.
Then she's all mine.
She takes my hand, wraps her arms around me, holds me like she'll never let go. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." I've barely seen her all week. She's been working too hard to leave her apartment.
But that isn't gonna matter soon.
Fuck, I hope that isn't gonna matter soon.
I brush her short hair behind her ear. "Should we get out of here?"
"Thought you'd never ask." She turns to our friends. Waves goodbye. "We don't need the audience."
"Baby, you wound me." Dean blows her a kiss.
She feigns disgust.
But she can't hide her smile.
She loves being here, at Inked Hearts, bantering with everyone.
I press my palm into her lower back to lead her out the door.
The orange glow of sunset fills our view. The street is incredibly California. Beach cottages, palm trees, the smell of salt mixing with the smell of gasoline.
"You miss working at Inked Hearts?" I intertwine my fingers with hers. I need to lead her here without making it obvious. I need it to be a surprise.
"Every day." She looks to the ocean, some five blocks away. Watches the sun sink into the horizon. "But I love design more."
"You can work here more often."
"No. I can't." Her eyes fill with affection as she looks up at me. "You're too distracting."
"I can wear baggy clothes."
She shakes her head.
"Cut off my hair?"
"Over my dead body."
"Really? You'd die for my hair?"
She reaches up, runs her fingers through my waves. Address my locks. "I'm sorry he's trying to hurt you. I promise I won't let him."
My laugh dissolves the tension in my shoulders.
But the relaxation is short lived.
This is still happening.
I need her to say yes.
I need it so fucking badly.
I wrap my arms around her waist, pull her body into mine. "All right. No haircuts."
"Promise?"
"For a while." I press my lips to hers.
She groans against my mouth. "Did I already say I missed you?"
"Yeah." I plant another kiss on her lips. "I missed you too." It's only been two days since she last fell asleep in my bed, but neither of us brings that up. Two days is plenty of time. It's an eternity.
But after this…
Fuck, I need a yes.
I need it like I need oxygen.
At Eleventh, I turn right instead of going straight.
"Ryan." Leighton squeezes my hand. "Did you forget where you live?"
"No."
"So, we're…" The cross sign flashes white. She follows me into the intersection.
"It's a surprise."
"A good surprise?"
I hope so. "Great."
"Does it involve dinner? I'm starving."
My stomach is in knots. Fuck, I can't remember the last time I was this nervous. Being with Leighton is everything. But the possibility of living with her?
Of waking up next to her every morning, fixing her breakfast, designing side by side, arguing about what we'll watch, falling asleep next to her every night…
"Ryan?" She steps onto the sidewalk. Turns so she's staring into my eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"
No, but I will be. If she says yes. I nod.
She offers her hands. When I take them, she pulls me into the sidewalk with her. "You're worrying me."
"It's good. I promise."
She looks up at me, staring into my eyes, looking for meaning.
We've been here so many times.
I never get tired of it.
"Come here." I bring my hands to her waist. Lean down. Press my lips to hers.
She arches into me, opening her lips to make way for my tongue, groaning against my mouth.
I want to take her right here on the sidewalk.
It's a good way to put off asking.
But I have to do this.
I have to get a yes.
She pulls back with a sigh. "Lead the way."
I nod as I take her hand.
We walk the two blocks to the apartment hand in hand. This place is closer to the beach, but it's farther into a residential area. The city sounds drop to a murmur. The streets fill with trees. There are lawns and parked cars everywhere.
There.
I push the gate open for her.
She looks up at me. "Ryan… are you…?"
"Yeah."
"And you want to…"
"Let me show you before you say anything."
"You don't have to."
"Yeah, I do." I take her hand. Lead her into the complex. Past the small courtyard. Up the steps. To our new place. Apartment 205.
Her eyes go wide as I slide a key into the lock. "You already—"
I nod.
"But you didn't ask me—"
"It's time for me to live somewhere else." Somewhere Penny's never been.
Not because she haunts my memories.
But I'm done with that part of my life.
And I need Leighton to know how fucking sure I am.
I push the door open. Motion after you.
She steps inside. Flips a switch.
Florescent light bounces off the sleek white walls.
Leighton's heeled boots tap the hardwood floors as she walks down the hallway. She takes in the new, stainless steel kitchen. "It's you."
"Yeah?"
"Of course." She turns to the room on the left. Her eyes go wide as she takes it in. "That's a view of the ocean."
I nod.
"From our apartment?"
"It is."
"Can we really afford this?"
"It's cheaper than living apart."
"By how much?"
Not as much as I'd like. But—"I have plenty, baby. Don't worry. I'm set on living here. I've paid first and last. I've put the deposit down."