My Rebound (On My Own #2) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,39
in my shoes, and I swallowed hard.
“Hi,” I whispered.
“I’m glad you can say something other than ‘oh.’ And, yes, everyone’s gone. It’s just you and me. Breakfast is ready. You made good time.” He looked down at me. “And you look beautiful.”
I snorted. “I look a little wrinkled.”
“And yet, you’re bright and sunny. I know I would hate you if I didn’t like the way that you looked.”
I snorted at that and then sat down on a bar stool as he put a plate in front of me.
“I only know how you like your coffee at the coffee shop, not here.”
My eyebrows rose. “You know that much?”
“I’ve been with you a few times when you ordered. I know what you like.”
“Oh,” I said again and laughed. “I like coffee with cream and lots of sugar. I know it’s bad for me, but I need it.”
“No problem. I made tea for myself, but I did start a pot of coffee for you.”
“I could have had tea. I like it.”
He smiled. “I’ll teach you the correct way to drink it, then.”
“Tea snob.”
“Maybe. It’s the two halves of myself warring.”
“Perhaps,” I said with a laugh.
This felt easy. Like we would be okay. As if we hadn’t ruined everything by going with this whole rebound plan that we didn’t really plan for at all.
“Here you go,” he said and set the cup in front of me. I licked my lips, then blew over the surface. “Thank you.” I took a sip. It was the ideal temperature, the flavoring just right. “This is perfect,” I said.
“Good to know. Now, eat. I’ll sit next to you. We don’t have to talk right now.”
“Maybe we should,” I said but took a bite. Flavor exploded on my tongue, and I groaned. “This is fantastic.”
“Just a few things from the fridge mixed in with some egg whites. I’m not a fan of yolks unless I’m dipping toast in it—or it’s deviled.”
I laughed. “Same. Dippy eggs are the best.”
“See, I knew we were right for each other.” He winked, and I froze.
He let out a sigh and shook his head. “Well, that was awkward. Let’s begin again,” he said and took a bite.
“Begin speaking, or begin eating?”
“Both, but not at the same time. We do have manners, after all.”
That made me snort, and I shook my head before I started eating again.
“Are you okay this morning?” he asked after a few moments of silence.
I nodded. “Last night was amazing, Pacey. I don’t know how else to say it. I also don’t want to stroke your ego.”
“You stroked a lot more last night,” he teased.
I rolled my eyes. “I walked right into that one.”
“You did. I had a wonderful time last night, too. I’m glad it happened. I’m not going to regret it.”
I shook my head. “I can’t regret it either. I don’t want to live my life full of regrets anymore.”
“That’s good,” he said and leaned forward. “That’s good to know.”
“I just…what is this, Pacey?” I blurted and then stuffed my mouth full of breakfast.
He nodded, took a bite, and slowly chewed while I swallowed, trying to let my mind catch up with everything.
“You need labels, don’t you?” he asked. But it didn’t sound like he was judging, more as if he was clarifying.
I nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry. I know that it’s cool to go without labels and find your way and just muddle through, but that’s not me. I can’t be me without labels. And if that means ours is just friends who had sex once and never talk about it again? That’ll be what it is. Because I need those labels. Preferably color-coded,” I added with a soft laugh at the end.
Pacey’s eyes brightened. “I’m good with anything. But, yes, I can see that you need labels. And, honestly, so do I. I may not seem the type, but I’m not as cavalier with relationships as others might think. I wouldn’t mind a label for us. And if I say…how about we just enjoy each other? That doesn’t seem like enough.”
“It is. But no cheating,” I added. “No cheating at all. Oh, and a blowjob counts as cheating.” I blushed and sipped more of my coffee.
“Of course. And I would never. And you and me, we can be our rebounds together. And date. Enjoy one another and see where it leads. Exclusively.”
My eyes widened. “Because we need companionship.”
“That’s what you like,” he whispered. And then he leaned forward and brushed a kiss over my lips. “We’ll study, we’ll