Project Produce(82)

What if he didn’t like it? Any of it? The food, the furniture, my taste in music? Oh, God, this had been such a bad idea. He had to live here permanently. I didn’t. He’d probably move so he wouldn’t have to be reminded of me and what a mess I’d made of his life.

I jumped up off the couch and picked up the phone to dial his cell. If I could stall him, then I could get his cousins to help me put everything back the way it was.

Too late.

The door rattled as the key turned in the lock, and then the door swung open. “Mac, I’m home, and something smells awesome.” His voice trailed off and he came to a stop in the middle of the room, taking it all in with his full lips slightly parted.

I hung up the phone and swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry. I can change it all back, I swear.”

His eyes met mine, and he blinked as though just noticing me. “Are you kidding? This is so cool, so me.”

I bit my bottom lip. “So you like it?”

“I love it. It’s like you crawled inside my head and took a picture. You’re amazing. You really have a talent for this.”

A warm feeling swept through me. No one had ever made me feel this good. Ever. “Thanks. I’ve always loved playing around with colors and fabrics, I just never gave much thought to doing anything with it.”

“Well, you should. You should seriously consider being an Interior Designer.”

“Maybe I will.”

“Thank you.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me squarely on the lips. “I have a surprise for you, too.”

“You do?” I cleared my throat. I didn’t like surprises, because in my case, they were usually bad.

He went back to the door and picked up a bag he’d dropped when he first came in, then handed it to me. “Open it.”

“Dylan, you didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to.”

I pulled out a big box and opened it, then gasped. A brand new spring coat. Only this had not come from Mr. Dump Ster, of that I was sure. It had “expensive” written all over it. I pulled on the heavenly brown leather and sighed. So soft and lightweight, yet nothing bulky about it. My sigh turned to a groan. “This is too much. I can’t accept it.” First his credit card, and now gifts. What did it all mean?

“Sure you can. It’s not nearly enough to make up for all you’ve done for me. And I’m not just talking about the decorating.” He slipped off my coat and hung it up. Then he came back and took my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it, his goatee tickling my skin.

“Well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He kissed my hand again. "Let’s eat. I’m starved, and something smells fantastic.”

“Just a little something I whipped up.”

“Mac and cheese, right?”

“How’d you guess?”

“Let’s just say I’ve gotten to know you pretty well, too.”

Note to self: You are thoroughly screwed! And NOT in a good way.

***

I printed off the last page of my paper and stapled it together just as Dylan walked into the bedroom.

“What’s that?” he asked as he tied his hair back in his usual ponytail and tucked his T-shirt into his Levi’s.

My heart sped into overdrive. I clutched the sheets to my chest. “Just a paper for the class I’m taking.”

He arched a sleek, black brow. “Really, what’s it about?”

I wanted to tell him, I really did, but I knew he would be angry. He would think I’d only been using him all this time, when that wasn’t the case at all. I just wasn’t ready to deal with that right now, so I said, “Nothing important.” Please, please, please don’t ask to read it.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Oh, you’ve helped more than you know, but thanks.” I smiled.

He shrugged, then turned away, and I breathed a sigh of relief that he didn’t press the issue. My last day of class. I couldn’t believe our time together was nearly over. Part of me was glad that I wouldn’t have to skulk around him much longer carrying this secret, but my heart ached just the same. I didn’t want my time with him to end. But I didn’t want to get hurt, either.

“Okay, then, I have to run some errands, but I’ll be back by dinner. Don’t cook, I’ve ordered something special. I have a surprise planned.”

“Great.” Yeah, great. I really did hate surprises.

He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek, and I clutched my papers even tighter. He just chuckled and shook his head as he walked out the door. As soon as he was gone, I grabbed my new coat and headed for school.

May. Flowers blooming, sun shining, a warm breeze blowing. A beautiful time of year. A time for new beginnings. I sighed.