Blue
The end of the night came too quickly. never wanted it to end. There was a lightness inside her, she couldn’t remember ever feeling. And it wasn’t just Sean. It was his whole family. They simply enveloped her in their fun, in their quirkiness, in their warmth like nothing ever had.
She, Sean, Amelia, and Don headed to their cars, a warm, salty breeze washing over them. A car honked at the jamb at the exit, followed by another. Amelia held ’s arm, laughing with her over how silly the boys had been.
“Are they always like that?” asked.
Amelia nodded as they headed off to the left. “Always.”
“Nonna, stop giving away our secrets,” Sean said in mock offense.
“How am I supposed to be a man of mystery if you tell her everything?”
Don snorted. wouldn’t have taken him for a snorter, but she decided it suited him.
“Men of mystery are overrated.” knew that for certain. At sixteen, she’d been promised to a “man of mystery.” If she’d stayed, she’d have been married for the last two years.
“I prefer open books.” Loved them. She squeezed Sean’s hand, feeling the comfort of his large, warm palm, safely encompassing hers.
“Better not lose this one,” Don said, pointing at .
“You’re the most open book on the planet.”
“Hey,” Sean said, sounding offended—too bad the twinkle in his eye belayed the disappointment. Definitely an open book.
They started to turn down their row, when Don came up short, pulling Amelia to a stop with him because of his hold on her arm.
“Don, what are you doing?” Amelia asked.
“We’re over here.” He tilted his head in the opposite direction.
Amelia stared down the row they were on.
“We rode with Sean.”
Some of the lightness in Don’s eyes dimmed.
“We went separately,” Sean said, stepping closer.
“I had to pick up ?”
Amelia blinked, glanced around like she was lost for a second, then smiled.
“Right, of course. I swear I’d lose my head if it weren’t attached.”
“ Psh ,” Sean said, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.
“You never forget anything.”
“Well, I’ve been forgetting a few things lately.” She patted his cheek.
“I have an appointment with my doctor on Wednesday, so I’m sure he’ll fix me right up. It’s probably because I haven’t been sleeping well.”
Sean shot a look at Don, and felt a nervous pinch in her gut from the return look Don gave Sean—he shook his head. knew that look. It was one her dad gave her before they ran away when warning her off a topic.
“He’ll get her some sleep meds, and she’ll be right as rain,” Don said, his voice tight even though he was trying to sound light.
hoped everything was all right.
Amelia stepped toward , wrapping her up in the best bear hug, and ’s throat tightened. Her dad was a good hugger, but there was just something about a mom-hug (or grandma-hug as the case may be).
“It was so good to meet you.”
“You too,” said.
Amelia let her go to arm’s length.
“Don’t forget to come try my cannolis. You won’t be disappointed.”
looked in Sean’s direction not wanting to promise something she couldn’t follow through with.
He winked.
“They’re the best.”
And there came that warm feeling again.
“I will. Thanks.”
Don patted Sean on the shoulder and gave a side-hug, and they said their goodbyes.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Don said. And really hoped she would see them again.
By the time they reached her and Dad’s apartment building, felt emotionally drained. She stifled a yawn against the back of her hand. It was two in the morning after all. Sean smirked at her as he parked. Most of the lights were out in the edifice that’d probably been built in the seventies but was well-maintained. It had flowers everywhere, winding paths, and a few street lights that added a nice glow and kept the place from being pitch at night.
“Hold tight.” Sean hopped out and went around to her side of the vehicle.
She gave him a grateful smile as he helped her out of his jeep and shut the door quietly behind her, fondly rubbing the roof once he did. They stood at the curb. She was so, so tired, but she also wasn’t ready for this night to end.
“Thanks again for inviting me. That was—” She stared into the distance, not really seeing anything. “Needed.”
He leaned against his car.
“I’m glad you came. You handled my family well.”
She chuckled under her breath.
“They’re so fun.”
They headed for her door in a comfortable silence—no longer holding hands, their arms only touching on a passing swing.
At the door, she reached in her leather bag and pulled out her keys, but she wasn’t ready to go in, even though her body felt like it was about to collapse from exhaustion.
“That was a great topper to celebrate the end of our assignment.” She glanced up at him.
“Guess we’ll just see each other in class?”
His smile broadened.
“Oh, no. You’re not getting rid of me so easily.”
She let out a little breath, that to her own ears sounded a little harried. Crap, she didn’t want to sound breathless. “I’m not?”
He leaned forward, right into her personal space, and this time she sucked in a gasp and held her breath—she had to for self-preservation. He smelled entirely too good.
That clean laundry scent clung to him and when she breathed deep, her body always seemed to list his way.
That mixed with the heavenly aroma of the rose bushes around her front door, the soft lamp light, and the chirping cicadas were making this way too dream-like.
Way too surreal. Was he going to kiss her? Should she kiss him? Her lips itched with anticipation. She licked her lips, and his hazel eyes dropped to her mouth.
He swallowed, placing a hand on the door beside her head.
“I like you . So, unless you order me away, I’m staying.” He got just a little closer.
She gulped as this time her gaze shot to his mouth.
“So, what’s it to be?” he asked.
lifted a hand to his chest. “Stay.”
He grinned again, then leaned forward . . . completely skipping her lips to place a kiss on the tip of her nose. She gasped. He pulled away and walked slowly backward with a big, cocky grin on his face.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?”
She blinked at him as he continued to retreat.
“I said stay,” she said a little harsher than she meant to, but dang it, she wanted that kiss!
“Tomorrow night?” he asked again.
Her brain was all a jumble of racing thoughts that she responded to him without thinking. “Nothing.”
“Wrong, you’re going out with me,” Sean said.
Her heart raced again. “Where?”
Sean shrugged one of his massive shoulders.
“It’s a surprise.” He lifted a hand in a wave.
“See you at seven?” He didn’t wait for her to answer, just turned, and jogged off.
“You tease!” she yelled after him, getting a deep chuckle in return that sent goose bumps up her arms as he reached his car.
She let herself inside, then slumped against the door and took deep breaths. Her heart was still racing. Racing from their almost kiss. Racing at the thought of seeing him again tomorrow. Racing at all the possibilities of what tomorrow would bring, and the day after, and the day after that, until a smile crossed her lips. She felt . . . happy.
Oh, man. She was in so much trouble. Because she couldn’t ever imagine being around Sean and not feeling happy. She didn’t think it was possible. But there was only one inevitable outcome for them. And in her world, that outcome wasn’t a good one.
She cleared her mind of those thoughts and headed for her room. She didn’t want to think about any of that right now. She just wanted to bask in the glow of this night and not think about the future for once. And for the first time in a long time, that’s exactly what she was going to do.
Tonight, she wouldn’t fall asleep thinking of guns, death, danger, and the blood on her hands. No, tonight she’d fall asleep to the sound of Sean’s deep laughter, his intoxicating smile, and the promise of kisses from his perfectly plump lips to come.