I shake my head. “I don’t care about that. Not at all. I want everyone to know that we’re a couple. I want to hold your hand in public. And kiss you.”
“This is a one-eighty.” A nervous laugh escapes him.
“I mean it. I finally realized that I can’t control my mom’s happiness. Only my own happiness. And you make me happy. So happy.” A tear slips out.
He reaches up and swipes it away. “I’m not sure, Posey.”
“It’s time to board,” a woman comes over and says to Xavier.
“Give them one minute,” he says.
“We cannot be delayed. We have our take-off time and the aircraft is waiting.”
Gavin stands and I slide out of his way, using the chair next to him to stand. He steps forward and kisses my forehead. “We can talk about it.”
Then he walks away and my heart caves in on itself. Talk about it whenever he returns, he means.
He turns around and holds his hand out to me. “On the plane.”
“Now? You want me to go now?” My mouth hangs open.
“The decision is yours.” He smiles. I eagerly take his hand and he pulls me to him. “Good decision.”
I laugh, but his mouth descends on mine, swallowing my laughter.
He closes the kiss and runs his thumb back and forth on my cheek. “I just have one question.”
“Yes?”
“Who are you going to vote for?” He smiles and my stomach flips.
“Technically I don’t have to share my vote with anyone.”
He pulls me tighter and buries his head close to my ear. “Say it, baby,” he whispers.
“Price,” I whisper. “I vote for you.”
“Then let’s get on this plane so I can thank you properly for your vote.” He places a chaste kiss on my forehead.
“Does this mean I get to join the mile high club?” I ask.
Xavier groans from behind me, and Gavin laughs.
“I’m not sure Guilia would like that.” He kisses me again. “I love you, Posey Greene.”
My heart swells until it feels as if it might burst out of my chest. “And I love you, Gavin Price.”
He kisses me and takes my hand, leading me to our happily ever after.
Election Day
Although we know that Gavin won the election since he’s the only one running, he’s still there at the voting booth, passing out stickers and thanking people for voting.
I walk in dressed in a sundress and sandals, my purse swung over my shoulder. He’s talking to George Lehmann about a place to put a Vietnam War Memorial. The Gossip Brigade told Gavin they knew about us well before we outed ourselves and maybe since they scratched his back, he could scratch his. He’s starting to realize how small-town politics work.
Gavin catches sight of me over George’s shoulder, his gaze following me to the check-in desk. I wait my turn to cast my vote, feeling his smoldering gaze on me the entire time.
“I’ll bring it up at the first meeting, George. You have my word.” He shakes George’s hand.
“Okay, just remember you might not be with her if it weren’t for us,” George says and eyes me when he leaves. “Posey.”
I nod. “Mr. Lehmann.”
“Thank you for coming in and voting today,” Gavin says, standing right next to me. “I’m sure someone as beautiful as you has a lot of other things to do.”
“Do you flirt with all the voters?” I ask in a sweet voice I rarely use.
Even Gavin can’t get the smirk off his face. “Oh, I’m just friendly.”
“Then could you kindly stop looking down my blouse?” I put my hand up to cover it even though I undid one button right before I stepped in.
Hey, we’re keeping the magic alive.
“Sorry. I can’t help myself.” He grins.
“I thought I heard you had an amazing girlfriend,” I say.
“I do. She might be into the whole threesome thing though.”
I look at him and lift my eyebrows. He chuckles.
“Sorry, I’m planning this celebration nightcap for my boyfriend. After I vote, I have to jet to the store to make myself into a sundae.”
He growls and clears his throat. “Sundae?”
“You know. Chocolate sauce, caramel, whipped cream.”
He runs his hand over his forehead and his breathing hitches. “Cherries. Don’t forget the cherries.”
I giggle, unable to keep the charade going. “Never. He loves cherries. And ice. Likes to take an ice cube…” I lower my voice. “He places it in his mouth and glides it along my nipple. Drives me crazy.”
“Is that so? I guess I’ll be sure to try that on my girlfriend.”
“You should.”
A booth becomes available.
“Well, anything you want me to know before I go in there and cast my vote?” I look around.
A few people are checking in, but they probably assume Gavin and I are talking about what to do tonight for dinner or something since I moved into his house last week. We zoomed right over that whole proper date thing.
“Well.” He leans in close to my ear, his hand molding to my hip. “I have a seven-inch cock and know exactly how to use it.”
My face heats and I push him lightly. “Now that’s playing dirty, Mr. Price.”
“The sundae thing was playing dirty. I’ve got to get through two more hours here with a raging hard-on.”
I laugh and walk backward toward my voting booth. “I’m going to go vote now.”
He mouths, “I love you,” and my heart pitter-patters. God, that man.
I can barely focus in the booth. When I exit, he’s talking to someone else a few feet away and his hands are stuffed in his pockets, but I swear he adjusts himself when I give him a wave and a wink.
“Have fun at the store, baby,” Gavin says.
“Do you need anything?” I ask.
“Not that I can think of. I think your list was detailed enough.”
I slide my tongue along my bottom lip.
“Posey,” Erwin says, playing with his Rubik’s Cube near the entryway. Gavin didn’t feel right telling on Midge, so he bought another one for Erwin, which made him happy, even if it wasn’t his original one.
Later that night, I have everything ready to turn myself into Gavin’s celebratory sundae, but the doorbell rings right when I thought he’d be home. We’d decided on no party, that we would wait up all night and see him win together.
I open the door, see who’s there, and shut the door again.
Mandi bangs on the door. “Open up, Posey!”
I peek through the opening. “Sorry, Posey isn’t home.”
But Mandi and Chevelle use their weight to open the door. In walks my entire family, carrying plates of food. Everyone from the twins to Lucy and Adam’s new foster child, Trey. He’s about Emilia’s age and they’re inseparable every time we’re together.
“Did you honestly think you were going to get away without having a party?” Cade shakes his head. “Where is the new mayor anyway?”
“On his way, I presume.”
“Posey!” Mom hollers from the kitchen. “Why do you need all these cherries? Are you making a pineapple upside down cake? If you are, you only need about fifteen maybe.”