Sem's eyebrows bunch. “Nah, Maggie. For real. You are. You could have anyone….”
“I don’t want anyone. I think we’ve established that.”
“Have we?”
“Um. Yes. We have. I’ve told you so.”
Sem looks unsure, so I bring my rubbery, sore arm up and stroke across his cheek.
“I haven’t been with anyone since you, nor do I want to be with anyone else.”
“Same.”
“Good, so how about this,” I begin, tapping against his full bottom lip. “How about you and I label what this is between us.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…let’s be boyfriends.”
Sem rears back a little, his eyes wide, and for a second, I wonder if he’s disgusted with the idea. My heart stops, but then he utters, “Boyfriends?”
“Yeah. Is that too much for you? I know you haven’t really come to terms with your sexuality….”
He shakes his head. “Nah, I think I’m bi. I mean, I must be.”
“Is that so?”
He nods.
“Hm, okay, so since that’s kind of sorted, what’s the problem?”
“Why would you…” He clears his throat. “Why would you want to be my boyfriend?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you serious?”
When he just nods, I clasp his hands with mine, threading our fingers together.
“Do I need to tell you all the ways I think you’re exceptional?”
“Maybe,” he says shyly, and I thread my fingers through his hair and pull his face closer to mine. Good lord, this man is adorable.
“Fine, I’ll tell you what makes you extraordinary and I’ll tell you every single day until you believe them yourself. Shall I start now?”
Sem wets his lips and nods.
Oh, my heart.
CHAPTERTWELVE
The next morning, we go to a local shooting range, and I watch Sem and Luke unload their rifles at the wooden targets in the distance with excessive enthusiasm .
“Freedom, baby!” Luke shouts, his cackles echoing between the bouts of gunfire.
Sem grins widely next to him as shells litter the ground.
It should not be hot, but it so hot.
My boyfriend is a maniac and I love it.