Crush - Kelsie Rae Page 0,60

me.

“Photographer look?”

“Yeah. Your face scrunches up in concentration, and your eyes kind of crinkle in the corners as you set up the shot.” He rubs his thumb against my cheekbone before running it up against my temple. “Then you get this sexy little smirk of confidence like you already know how well the pictures are going to turn out before you’ve even taken them. Like I said. Hot. Although this cute little blush you’ve got going on is pretty adorable too. And don’t get me started on these damn freckles.” I can feel his eyes bouncing around my face, taking in every single inch of me until I’m a puddle on the cliff.

“I hated my freckles when I was younger,” I admit, my gaze dropping down to our shoes. With his finger under my chin, he tilts my head up and captures my attention.

“Don’t. Ever. Hate these things, Marce. They just might be my most favorite trait in the world.”

His spine curves as he closes the distance between us and peppers kisses along the bridge of my nose, making sure to give each and every tiny fleck of brown on my skin his full attention.

Clicking the button, I soak up his affection like a dry sponge before standing on my tiptoes and connecting his lips with mine. A sigh escapes me as he snakes his arms around my lower back and dips me until my hair is touching the ground, and one foot has popped into the sky.

I snap another picture before my laugh breaks off the kiss, and he helps me catch my balance, which is no easy feat since my stomach is huge right now.

We spend hours up on that peak. Snapping pictures. Laughing. Smiling. Talking. And soaking up the sunshine as well as each other.

And I wouldn’t change a damn thing about it.

24

Marcy

Me: Hey!

Dylan: Hey! I was meaning to text you! Great minds think alike. ;) Any chance you could babysit Sadie the Friday after you get home? Poppy and Betsy want to take everyone out for an adults-only dinner, and even though she offered to pay for a babysitter to wrangle all the monsters at her place, I’m afraid Sadie might get trampled over there with so many kids, so I wanted to reach out and see if you’d be okay with it. Not a big deal if you can’t, though.

Dylan: Just thought I’d throw it out there.

Her rambling is almost enough to make me forget about my own problems.

Well, not that I’m having problems per se, more like the opposite. Still….

Reigning in my self-doubt, I hastily respond.

Me: Of course. Happy to help.

Dylan: Perfect. Thank you, Marce. You’re seriously a lifesaver! How’s your trip going?

Now that’s the question, isn’t it?

Chewing on my lower lip, I reply with the only response I can.

Me: He bought me cranberry juice.

Dylan: ??? Okay…is that a bad thing? Or a good thing? Personally, I’m more of an orange juice girl.

I laugh while sneaking another peek at the open bathroom door.

After our hike, where I didn’t take more than three hundred steps, we came back to the hotel to get ready for our dinner with Anthony and Sway. But my mind has been running a million miles per hour, and I needed to let it out, so I texted Dylan. I need her to tell me that I'm not crazy for falling in love with Ben. That it’s going to be okay. That I can trust him. That he won’t hurt me again.

Nibbling on my lower lip, I type out the truth.

Me: It’s a good thing. A scary thing. But a good thing. I think? Man, I don’t even know.

Dylan: Back up, girl. What’s the big deal about cranberry juice?

Me: It means he’s able to differentiate between his wife and me. That might sound dumb that I need those little pieces of evidence, but I’m not her, ya know? And does he know that? Is he OKAY with that?

Dylan: Marcy, you have to forgive him. He screwed up, but he’s human. And he’s been trying like hell to earn back your trust. You need to let him in.

Me: That sounds terrifying.

Dylan: It is, but it’s absolutely worth it. Trust me. I’ve been there. Let me ask you this. Do you love him?

My entire body shakes like a leaf as I ask myself that same question.

Do I love him?

My phone vibrates again, and I look down to read it.

Dylan: You’re not Kate. And that’s okay. Just be YOU. But in order for him