Page 187 of Just for the Cameras
“Right away.”
Sam takes off, and Graydon drapes his arm over my chair. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, well, you didn’t have to plan this entire night, and you did, so it’s the least I can do.” I lean over and kiss his cheek. “By the way, thank you for this. The best date I’ve ever been on, and not just because of the scenery, but because of the person I’m on the date with.”
His brow cutely rises. “You flirting with me, beautiful?”
“I am. Is it charming you?”
He smirks. “I think it is.”
“From the way your lips are tilting up—a very unusual thing for you—I would say it is.”
“Seems like you’re the only one who knows how to make me smile.”
“That can’t be true. What about OC and Bennett? Don’t you joke around with them?”
Graydon lets out a long sigh. “Don’t get me started on those two fools.”
“Wait, what?”
“Don’t get me wrong, they’re nice, but Jesus Christ, I met them for some coffee, and OC purchased five muffins and stuck his tongue in the middle of each of them, lapping them up. It was vile to watch.”
“Ew, why would he do that?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Maybe I don’t.” I scoop up more rice. “Do you three get together often?”
“Not really.” His hand caresses my back as he waits for his meat. “Recently, we’ve sort of, I don’t know, gotten together and talked.”
“Why do you say that with such pain in your voice?”
“Because it is painful most of the time. I’m not a social kind of guy.”
“Really?” I say sarcastically. “Could have fooled me.”
He gently tugs my hair, making me laugh. “Smart-ass.”
“So what goes on in these painful conversations you have?”
“Why do you want to know?”
I shrug. “Just curious to know more about you.”
He slowly nods and draws circles over my bare shoulder. I love how affectionate he is. Never would have pegged him as such, but I do love it. “It’s usually OC leading the conversation, being ridiculous about something. Bennett will join in on occasion, getting caught up in OC’s antics.”
“And let me guess, you just sit there like a grump.”
“Pretty much.”
I chuckle, actually able to see that play out in my head.
“Although, they’re part of the reason we’re hanging out on this boat right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, hate to admit it, but they’ve been a sounding board in helping me sort out my feelings for you.”
