“You’re not twisting my arm here.” Somehow, he managed to smile at me, not give me the eye-roll I probably deserved more.
“That might hurt.” Laughing weakly, I dropped my gaze to his injured arm.
“Eh.” He shrugged then duffed my shoulder, the way he often did with Duncan or one of his other friends. “I’m a stubborn cuss. I’m choosing to be here, Danny. Promise.”
“I’m working on believing you.” I remained unconvinced that I alone was enough enticement, but every time he gave me one of those patient smiles, I came a little closer to believing him.
“Good.” The steadiness in his expression gave me enough courage to suck in another deep breath and put the SUV in Drive.
“Okay. Here goes nothing.” My foot hovered above the gas pedal.
“Go slow,” Cash advised. He really did have a natural aptitude for teaching stuff like this, far more patience than I offered myself. “Like I showed you.”
Slowly, I applied the barest pressure to the pedal, then a little more. It took a few jerky stops and starts, but eventually, I got the car pointed in a straight line, creeping its way across the deserted parking lot.
“I’m doing it. I’m really doing it.” I was stone-cold sober, but I felt high, the rush of something new and slightly dangerous.
“See? No failing.” Cash had one hand braced against the door but otherwise seemed totally at ease. “Keep going. You’ll be better in no time.”
Continuing to move at a sloth-like pace, I made a complete circuit around the parking lot, then another few before returning to the center where we’d started. Each lap brought me fresh clarity about how much I truly did trust Cash. Maybe being in this thing with him was similar to driving. I couldn’t be afraid of failing, or else the fear might paralyze me, prevent us both from moving forward. Improving. We didn’t have to be perfect at this all at once.
“Thank you,” I said softly as I put the car back in Park. “For everything.”
“No problem.” He rolled his shoulders. He didn’t seem to get that I’d meant more than simply the driving lessons. I needed a way to show him that I was working on those trust issues of mine. I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel.
“I want you to meet Gloria. My makeup artist friend.” My voice was far more somber than the announcement needed.
“Sure.” Cash’s expression shifted to something more guarded. “You’re worried she might not approve? Tell you I’m too old and cranky for you?”
“Oh, I’m not worried about that.” Most of the time, I barely thought about our age gap, and when I did, it was usually as a positive. I liked that he was older with more life experience. It grounded me in a way I couldn’t really put into words but liked. “She’ll love you. This is more because you introduced me to your friend. You came out to Duncan. You’re inspiring me. And I’ve never brought someone around Gloria and her family before. I’m sort of…protective about them. But I might invite her and the family to my birthday celebration, see if they are free to come over in a couple of days.”
“I like that idea.” Reaching over, he gave my leg a quick squeeze before brushing a kiss across my cheek. “Warn Duncan to bring more food.”
“I will.” I chuckled along with him. “And I guess if my cake idea fails, we can always buy one.”
“Now that’s the spirit.” He grinned fondly at me, so fondly my chest ached and eyes burned.
“Cash?” I leaned in so my head could fall on his shoulder. The seatbelt tugged, but my need to be close to him was greater than any care I had about the awkward position.
“Yeah?” He kissed my hairline.
“I might love you.” I couldn’t keep the thought inside any longer, and my voice came out all breathless and rushed. “I mean, I know it’s soon and all that. But I might.”
Laughing, he shifted us both around so he could kiss my mouth.
“I might love you too,” he whispered against my lips. “You’re right. It’s early, but I can’t deny there’s something special between us.”
“There is.” Freeing myself from the seatbelt, I made a contented noise as I snuggled more easily against him. It helped a lot to know that he felt the same way, made my chest loosen and my heart sing instead of pound. “I suppose jumping you in the open like this would be bad?”
I kissed his neck, deliberately using my tongue to make him shiver, but then he wriggled away from my grasp. “Save it for your place. I’ll make it worth it. I promise.”
“You better.” I faked a pout simply to earn a laugh, but I did trust him to make all of this worth it, the scary leaps of faith included.