“Ugh, fine. He’s stubborn, but I still like him.”
Jude and Immy started playing with the dog, so I took the chance to pull Loren over to a swing on the patio. “Come on, Kitten. That’s enough for today. Swing with me.”
She didn’t resist, and when we sat down, I placed my arm behind her back and gently pushed with my feet. We watched in silence as the two teens ran around laughing with Fort for a bit before she broke it, turning to me.
“Wells, thank you for teaching me. I know I still have a ways to go before I can successfully evade an attacker, but I already feel more confident. That man scared me more than I want to admit, and it’s been troubling me. You’ve given me back some confidence.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Huh.”
“What?”
“I expected more of a sarcastic comment or sexual innuendo, not an actual answer.”
“I can be polite!”
“You know Monroe once told me you weren’t completely housebroken, and I thought it fit. It’s even funnier now knowing you train dogs.”
“Oh, you think that’s funny?” I turned, leaning over her, trapping her as I engulfed her on the swing.
“Yeah.” Her answer was breathy, and I wanted to kiss her. She licked her lips, and I started to lean forward when a door banged, saving me from rushing things. Placing a kiss on her forehead, I moved back, allowing her to straighten.
We sat there, swinging for a while longer, not needing to talk. I kept my arm around her shoulders, though, my thumb rubbing small circles on her exposed skin. I could almost pretend this was a scene out of a movie, the happy ending where they watch as their perfect life unfolded before them.
It was a perfect moment, but I knew it wasn’t my ending. I still had some treacherous paths ahead of me, some obstacles to overcome on my course there, but it was a step and a reminder of what it could be like. I just hoped Monroe would be part of it as well.