Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy(88)

It was true. I wasn’t upset simply because of a misunderstanding with the man I was sleeping with. I was upset—this upset—because I loved him. And I didn’t want this to be the end.

My friends had known. They hadn’t badmouthed him or made plans to burn the things he’d left at my house or told me I was so much better off without him. They’d simply let me feel my feelings, knowing that I needed to process them. Knowing I was going to figure it out sooner or later.

Hoping against hope that Dex had finally texted me back, I checked my phone.

Riley: Can you come outside please?

Disappointment flooded through me. Not that I wasn’t happy to hear from Riley. I’d been more than a little bit afraid that Dex wouldn’t let her talk to me. Her text was reassuring, but I still desperately wanted to talk to her dad.

As soon as I opened the front door, music surrounded me. It was a love song from a movie and it wasn’t coming from a car parked on the street, nor was Phil using it to power through his shake weight workout.

It was Dex.

He stood on the sidewalk outside my house, dressed in his usual t-shirt and jeans. The music had attracted a few of our neighbors. Phil came outside, as did several other people from down the street.

Dex held a stack of white poster boards in his hands. Another love song began, emanating from the Bluetooth speaker he used when he worked out—had he made a playlist?—and he began turning the poster boards over, one at a time.

Nora, I’m so sorry.

I never should have doubted you.

You’re the most loyal, loving, badass woman I’ve ever known.

I know I don’t deserve you.

But I’m asking you anyway.

Please forgive me.

I love you.

Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes and my throat felt thick. I stepped down from the porch just as the sky opened up and it started to rain again.

I didn’t care. Fat drops splashed everywhere as I rushed to Dex. He dropped the poster boards and caught me in his arms.

Vaguely, I was aware of the applause of our neighbors. Dex held me tight, his face buried in my neck.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, close to my ear. “I should have known it wasn’t you.”

“I forgive you.”

He let out a long breath and moved back to look me in the eyes. “I love you.”

Water streamed down my face and dripped from his hair. “I love you, too.”

Cupping my cheeks, he kissed me. His lips were warm and wonderfully familiar. I sank into his kiss, my body melting against him.

“Did you just say you loved me?” he asked, the corners of his mouth lifting.

“I did.” I glanced up, blinking at the rain. “Are we really declaring our love for each other while getting soaked in a rainstorm?”

He grinned. “We sure are.”

I groaned. “Dex, this is the worst.”

“I know.” He kissed me again. “Don’t worry, a little romance won’t hurt you.”

“Fine, but I’m not swooning.”

“That’s okay. I’ll be sure to ruin your lipstick later.” His eyes darted to the side. “But there’s one more thing.”

Down the sidewalk, Riley stood with a giant bouquet of red roses tucked in her arm and another poster board in her hands. She turned it over.

I love you, too.

With one arm still around Dex, I held my other arm out to her, laughing and crying all at once. She dropped the flowers and poster board and ran to us, throwing her arms around us both.

We stood in the rain, holding each other, just the three of us.

And it was perfect.

“I love you, too, sweetie.” I sniffed and water dripped off the end of my nose. “I love you both so much.”

“See, Dad? I told you she’d forgive you.”

I laughed. “Maybe we should get out of the rain. We’re drenched.”

Dex brushed a strand of wet hair off my face. “Yeah, let’s go inside.”

“Sorry for dropping your flowers.” Riley picked up the bouquet and her poster board. “I just got really excited.”

I took the flowers from her while Dex picked up his speaker and the other poster boards off the sidewalk. “That’s okay. They’re beautiful.”

“Dad said he didn’t know if you’d be into flowers but I said it didn’t matter. You’d love them anyway.”

I inhaled deeply of the fresh, floral scent. “You were right.”

Dex put one arm around me and the other around Riley, and led us inside out of the rain. His shirt was plastered to his body, as was mine. Riley had made out slightly better—she’d put on a hoodie—but her hair was dripping wet.

It didn’t matter.

We dried off as best we could. Dex changed into a dry shirt and gave me one of his to wear. He didn’t have a vase but I found a pitcher that was big enough and put the flowers in water. Riley winked at her dad as she excused herself to go upstairs and change. She seemed to be able to tell we needed a few minutes alone.

Dex brought me into the living room and pulled me onto the couch next to him. “I really am sorry. I jumped to a lot of very wrong conclusions.”

“It did hurt that you thought I’d write that.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have assumed the worst. And I shouldn’t have ignored your messages.”