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If I still had one, that is.
“It, well…” She rubbed the back of her neck, peering around us. “I mean, it’s definitely more intense than I anticipated.”
“Understatement of the fucking century.” I tried to keep my composure about me. “I thought I’d get you out of my system after three fucks.”
Okay, that definitely sounded better in my head.
She started to laugh. “Wanting to have sex with someone doesn’t make a good reason to start a relationship with them.”
I took a deep breath. “I don’t only want to fuck you. I also want to talk to you. Like, all the time.”
“I do too,” she admitted miserably. Her gaze skittered to her daughter, who was now picking up flowers and sticking them in Fluffy’s and Mittens’s fur beside me. “What are you saying?” She dared look up at me again. “That you want to give it a try?”
“I mean, why not? We’re already exclusive, and we have fun together, the sex is insane, and we’re neighbors, so it’s convenient. What’s the downside?”
“That we’re both extremely damaged and have never been in a healthy relationship?” She laughed.
“Good. So we’re starting this marathon together and can help each other out.”
“Might be a sprint.” Dylan shrugged, but the sassy mirth was gone from her voice. She licked her lips, staring at the tip of her sneakers as she drew circles in the sand. “Look, I find it really hard to trust men. Allowing myself to feel is betraying my own heart. I promised myself I’d never hurt it again.”
“Is it happy being numb?” I challenged, smoothing her hair out of her face. It was always everywhere. Like a flock of ravens. “Is it happy being guarded by a thousand fucking walls? Were you happy the past few years?”
“Yes.” Her brow furrowed in outrage. “Of course I was happy. It’s been challenging, but Grav—”
“Is only one facet of your life.” I cut into her speech. “And you know it. You have needs too. You have a life. Dreams. Don’t tell me you forgot about them, because I won’t buy it. You’re still a dreamer. You’ve always been a dreamer.” I grabbed her cheeks and pressed her forehead against mine, my lips moving over hers. “You’ve never stopped dreaming, and that’s why staying away from you has been so goddamn hard.”
We were both panting even though we were standing perfectly still. The dogs beneath me looked like a bouquet, but Gravity was true to her word and didn’t interrupt us.
Finally, Dylan broke free from my touch. “Trial relationship.” She erected a finger between us warningly. “That’s all you get.”
“Does this mean I’m getting my money back if I’m unhappy with the product?”
She punched my arm. I laughed.
“Take it or leave it, mister.”
“I’ll take it.”
She balled her fists, resting them on my pecs. “This is a gentle reminder that you should treat me like a blue jay with the sass of an eagle. I act all tough, but I’m flighty and get easily scared. So, you know…” She trailed off, shaking her head and chuckling at the awkwardness between us. “Just…don’t fuck it up, okay?”
“Trust me, I’m going to try my fucking hardest.”
“Potty word.” Gravity’s head snapped up from the dogs. “Ha! What do I get for not telling Grandma about it?”
“Nothing.” I gave her an incredulous look. “Your Grams is not my mother. I don’t care if she knows I use potty words.”
I was still embracing her mother, holding my breath that she wouldn’t say anything bad about it, like “get your filthy hands off my mommy, bozo.”
Instead, Gravity shrugged and said, “I want my dinosaur.”
Dylan shot me an inquisitive look.
“I bribed her so I could talk to you.”
“With a prehistoric creature?”
“With whatever it’d take to get a moment alone with you.” I locked her chin between my thumb and index fingers, tilting her head up for a kiss. “Gravity?” I asked.