I smile, feeling woozy and wonderful. “It’ll teach me to do it again and again.”
Gabe wraps his hands through my messy pigtails and kisses me softly one more time. “Good. I want it again and again. Wantyouagain.”
And I want to make the most of the few nights we have. “Then you should have me all night long,” I say, snuggling up against him. I sigh contentedly. “I need to get my fill of you this week.”
He smiles against my hair, kisses me. “I’ll fill you up the next few nights, sweetheart.”
I laugh, then he holds me tighter. It feels good to cozy up with him like this. I’ll miss it when it’s gone.
But I don’t tell him that. Because, really, I won’t have time to miss him.
Besides, I’m enjoying this week with him like I would a rich, decadent dessert I can have only rarely—I’m devouring every bite.
Next week is back to salad and quinoa, and hey, I need that kind of fuel for work.
It’s a good thing we laid out the rules in advance. That way I won’t even be tempted to take another bite. A brand-new romance wouldn’t survive our demanding lives anyway.
Yes, I like dating with boundaries very much.
THURSDAY
A Day for Telephone Tag
15
THE MORNING AFTER
Gabe
In the morning, I walk up to a coffee stand on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, get in line, and order a black coffee for me and a caramel iced latte for Ellie.
“Can I get you anything else?” the helpful barista asks with a tilt of her freckled face.
I look down at Gigi, who’s sitting perfectly by my feet. “A water for you, girl?”
Gigi pants. I take that as a yes. “One little paper cup of water for the pup, please?”
The barista flashes a warm smile. “Coming right up.”
“I’m sooooo thirsty. Can I have one too?”
I groan, recognizing my friend Axel’s voice despite the baby talk.
Busted.
With ayou caught mesigh, I turn around and meet my buddy’s dark, laughing gaze. “What are you doing here?”
Axel waggles his phone. “Catching that on video,” he says, with a shit-eating grin. “This is the best.”
I roll my eyes. “Seriously. Are you following me?”
He scoffs. “You’re notthatinteresting.” Then he tips his forehead across the street to another coffee shop, Edge & Plow. Because of course there’s another coffee shop across the street. “Early bird and all. I got up at five AM to write. I had an idea. So I ran with it.”
“Wait, let me guess. The hero breaks his dick during sex?”
“Wash your mouth out with soap,” he says, chiding me.
“Come on. You’re the king of writingwe fucked till we broke our armssex scenes.”