Page 59 of Holding Out for a Gyro
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been.” Bas seemed to be lost in thought.
I poked him. “You ought to have your own list. You could putGo to Greeceat the top. Make your parents happy.”
His eyes refocused on me, still troubled. “I probably will. Sooner or later.”
“You know what we should add to our list?” Evan asked.
“You can’t put apple cider doughnuts.” I was willing to be civil with Evan for Elizabeth, but I was still salty after last night and wasn’t above giving him a little hell.
He didn’t take the bait. “What about sailing?”
“Sailing?” Elizabeth’s eyes lit up. She loved the water, whichwas why she’d managed to get me to spend so many vacations on beaches. “That would be fun.”
“My parents own a boat, over near Annapolis. We could go out some weekend when it’s warmer.”
Elizabeth physically melted. He was talking about the future. Only as far out as spring, but that meant he was thinking seriously about her for the time being. “Yeah. I’d love that.”
“What would you add if we had a list together?” Bas asked me.
“Cook me an entire Thanksgiving dinner?”
He laughed. “I’d love to cook you Thanksgiving dinner. This Thursday?” His eyes shone way too brightly over a chore I was more than willing to cede. “Oh, but you’re probably going home to be with your mom.”
“No. Not this year.”
“You could come home with me.” His eyebrows rose, and I felt the lock break on the door I’d been keeping my fears behind. My face must have shown my shock. He laughed. “Or maybe not yet. I do have some ideas I’d love to try, and my mom would never let me near the stove.”
I couldn’t ask Bas to give up his holiday, but the idea of spending the day alone depressed me. “Won’t your parents send the police to find you?”
“Nope.” His pinched expression didn’t make him sound convincing, but he pressed on. “I have an idea for smoked squab.”
I salivated like Pavlov’s dog. “What about you guys? Could you both make it?”
Evan said, “I’d love to. I have to work Friday, so I’m stuck in town anyway.”
“It sounds fun. I’m in.” Elizabeth’s expression turned thoughtful. “But why aren’t you going home, Chelsea? You usually do.”
“I think my mom has a new boyfriend. She canceled on me.” Ihadn’t spoken to my mom in a week, but she hadn’t changed her mind about wanting me there.
Elizabeth grimaced. She wasn’t the biggest fan of my mother. “Jesus. I’m sorry.”
Evan stood and gathered his trash. “Come on. We’ve got a hayride to cross off our list.”
“Your list of two items?” I joked.
Elizabeth shot me a warning glance. “We’re working on it.”
While they walked off hand in hand, Bas used his promise of hot apple turnovers to lure me toward the orchard where we procured a couple of baskets. Apples hung low enough that a child could pick them, which was why so many families were out on this chilly day.
Bas dropped a couple of apples in his basket while I admired how his sweater clung to his back, revealing his strong neck and shoulders, the way the fabric over his ass alternated between snug and loose whenever he reached toward a higher bough.
I stared into the trees, pretending to give a shit about the quality of the fruit. He stalked closer, snagging a red apple from a bough just over my shoulder, sliding behind me, taking for granted that I wouldn’t mind it when his arms caged me, when his lips brushed the nape of my neck. Public displays of affection were another first for me, and this was a custom-made setting for romantic gestures.
Here I was, being romantic.
I almost understood all the hype: the love songs, the Valentine’s Day hearts, the moon and the stars. It just feltgoodto let myself like someone. To have someone care about me. I could forget about my worries and lean back into the cocoon of his arms, warm, safe. When had he become so comfortable? Was I being brave or setting myself up for a fall?
“Look at us,” he said against my ear. “Who would have bet money you and I would still be seeing each other after all thesemany weeks?”
