Page 24 of Truth or More Truth (Throwback RomComs #3)

twenty-three

. . .

A fter we send Ash and Leslie off on their honeymoon, it takes us longer to leave the reception than I’d anticipated. Since I’ve gotten to know both Ash and Leslie’s extended families over the past eight months, there are a lot of people I need to say goodbye to.

Finally, Bobby growls in my ear. “We need to go. I want you alone for a bit, and then we both need a few good hours’ sleep before hitting the road.”

I swat his chest. “When did you turn into such a dad?” Then I grin. “Oh, wait,” I say teasingly. “It’s because you’re so old, right?”

I can’t decipher the flicker in his eyes before he gives me a pained smile and says, “Yep, that’s it. Middle-aged man over here. I need at least one nap a day and eight hours of sleep every night.”

“Hey,” I say softly and lay my hand on his chest. “I was only teasing. I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“No,” he says as he places his hand over mine. “You didn’t. It’s been a long couple of days, and I truly am tired. Is there anyone else you absolutely need to talk to before we go?”

“There’s not,” I reply as I grasp his hand and pull him toward the door. “Let’s go. ”

Bobby chuckles as he trails behind me. “Is your car here, or is it at the church?”

“It’s here.” I dig the keys out of my clutch.

“It’s been a few hours since my only glass of wine of the night, so I’m OK to drive, unless you want to.

” I noticed he didn’t drink any alcohol tonight, and I wondered if there was a connection between that and what happened on the road last night.

I purposely didn’t drink much myself in case I needed to drive us back to the hotel.

“You go ahead,” he says in a light tone. It’s too dark to see his eyes and determine how he’s truly feeling about driving. “But I’ll take the first shift in the morning.”

“Are we going to make out here or in one of our rooms?” I ask Bobby as I pull the car into a spot in the hotel’s parking lot.

A burst of laughter escapes him. “You’re not one to beat around the bush, are you?”

“No reason to. You want to kiss me. I want to kiss you. The only question is where?”

“Well, I’ll start with your mouth,” he says in an amused tone. “And then I might move to?—”

I swat his arm. “OK, OK, let’s leave a little air of mystery around what’s going to happen.” I grin at him. “But at which physical location would you like to do this kissing?”

“It’s probably safest to do it here,” he says and turns his body toward me as much as he can in my small car.

“We might get caught, especially since Randall, Wendy, and Diego haven’t made their way back here yet.

But I don’t think it’s a good idea to go to either of our rooms together if we want to get any sleep tonight. ”

“Agreed,” is my only reply.

He reaches one hand over and cups my face, stroking my lips with his thumb. I lean into his palm and close my eyes, waiting to see what he’ll do next.

“Open your eyes and come over here,” he says as his hand leaves my face.

My eyes flutter open, and he pats his lap .

“Come on. I’ll help, but it’ll be easier if you’re involved in the process instead of me just hauling you over here.”

I don’t comment on the fact that he hauled me over the same space last night, but in the other direction. This isn’t the time to bring up anything about that situation.

Turns out it’s not as easy to get out from under the steering wheel in a long dress as I thought it’d be. It takes some tugging, contorting, and giggling, but I finally make my way onto his lap, with my feet extended onto the driver’s seat.

“That would’ve been much easier if I’d just gotten out and walked around,” I say.

“Yeah.” He tugs a strand of my hair. “But not nearly as fun. Now, where were we?”

“Well,” I say as I wrap a hand around the nape of his neck. “I think you were about to start kissing me on the mouth and then possibly moving on to?—”

I can’t finish my sentence because his mouth is on mine. It’s on mine for a long time. Long enough that my rear end falls asleep from the odd angle I’m sitting on it, and I try to readjust my position.

“Stop wiggling,” Bobby grits out.

“What? My butt’s asleep. I need to get some feeling back into it.”

“Just … don’t.” He briefly closes his eyes. “It’s probably best for us to get out. It’s a little cramped in here.”

I smirk at him. “You weren’t complaining about that ten seconds ago.”

He chuckles. “I most certainly was not. But now that I’m thinking about it, I’m getting a little claustrophobic and,” he states, “that has nothing to do with the company, so don’t even think it.”

“Yes, sir.” I giggle. “Or do I mean no, sir?”

Bobby takes a deep breath and shakes his head at me. “You’re killing me. Now, lean in so when I open the door, you don’t fall out.”

Getting out of the car is almost as difficult and entertaining as making my way onto his lap was, since I’m facing away from the door.

When we’re both finally on our feet, a slow clap starts up behind us.

I whirl around and am not surprised to see Wendy, Randall, and Diego’s beaming faces. Diego is the one clapping.

I point back and forth between Bobby and Diego. “Don’t you dare speak Spanish to each other right now.”

“I’ll say it in English, then,” Wendy proclaims. “Bravo!” She claps quickly a few times and then laughs. “Oh, wait. That’s Italian.”

Bobby’s arm slips around me, and he pulls me in front of him and loops both arms around my torso. “Show’s over, folks. Some privacy would be appreciated.”

“Spoilsport,” Wendy says, as her husband tugs her toward the hotel lobby doors.

“Come on, Diego,” Randall orders, “let’s give them some privacy.”

As they go, Bobby turns me so we’re facing each other, and my hands land on his chest. He suggests, “Let’s say goodnight out here instead of in the hallway where we could be overheard.”

“I heard that!” Wendy calls.

“My point exactly!” Bobby yells back, resulting in a peal of laughter from our friend. “Get on inside, eavesdroppers!”

I peek over my shoulder to make sure they’re out of sight before saying, “I had a really good time tonight. And last night. And yesterday. And the day before.”

Bobby’s arms tighten around me and he gives me a quick peck on the lips. “Ditto.”

“All I get is a ditto and a tiny kiss?” I tease. I almost poke his chest but then remember that’s not good for my finger, so I refrain.

“I had a stupendous time tonight. And last night. And yesterday. And the day before.” He gives me a lingering kiss between each time frame he mentions.

I sigh. “That’s more like it.”

“I have a feeling we’ll also have an excellent time tomorrow. I just wish I didn’t need to head to L.A. as soon as we get back.”

“Me, too. But we can talk on the phone.” I tilt my head. “We should probably exchange phone numbers, huh? ”

“We’ll definitely do that tomorrow. Now, kiss me one more time, and then we’ll head inside.”