Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO

Claudia

We have a fun night at Johan and Sloane’s house. The food is good, there’s a lot of wine, and the small intimate crowd is fun. Felix didn’t come, but Aiden is here, and he and Hana seem cozy. Sloane and Johan have started decorating the nursery for their baby, and we all ooh and ahh over the sea glass color scheme and the ocean theme.

I’m nowhere near ready for a baby, but if I was, I’d have to consider something similar because the green and blue hues are beautiful.

“We’re not finding out the sex,” Sloane says as we gather on the patio for dessert. “We want to be surprised.”

“When the time comes, I’ll need to know,” Eden admits, glancing at Decker. “I’ll lose my mind if I can’t plan accordingly.”

Decker chuckles. “Up to you, my love. And I’m ready whenever you are.”

She playfully elbows him. “Not yet . We’re busy with our careers.”

“I’m just putting it out there.”

Sloane and Johan look at each other with obvious affection.

“I thought we were busy with our careers too,” she says. “But it feels like things are working out the way they’re supposed to.”

“Absolutely,” Johan responds. “I didn’t know how ready I was to be a father until those little pink lines showed up.”

Sloane covers his hand with one of hers and they smile at each other. Then he leans over and presses a soft kiss on her forehead.

I love watching how in love they are. Seeing this kind of emotional intimacy used to make me uncomfortable because I believed it wasn’t in the cards for me. Now I can appreciate it because not only do I want my friends to be happy, I’m also on a date with an incredible man who makes me feel things I never thought I’d feel. Who basically told me he was falling in love with me on the ride here. Who’s been touching and kissing me all evening. Who makes me feel alive and sexy and confident, all of which are new for me.

“You ready to get out of here?” Anders whispers in my ear, as if he senses my disinterest.

“So ready,” I murmur.

Our eyes meet and we share what feels like a secret smile.

He doesn’t know that I’ve decided to give him the green light tonight, but somehow, he instinctively understands my need to be alone with him. And I’m fairly certain he wants to be alone with me just as much.

It wouldn’t be the first time we’re completely in sync.

We hang out a little longer, making small talk and finishing our wine before Anders finally stands up and reaches out a hand to me. “I think we’re going to take off,” he says casually. “I promised Claudia a moonlight drive along the beach, and we only have a couple of days left to do it.”

“Aw, young love,” Aiden says with a grin. “It’s cute.”

“I guess,” Hana says, playfully making a face. “But I’m not sure I believe in it anymore.”

“Sure you do,” Sloane says. “You’re just waiting for it to be the right time and the right guy.”

“But then when it hits you, you’ll fall hard and fast.” Aiden winks at her.

Anders shakes his head. “Don’t make fun—it will be you one day and then payback will be a bitch.”

Aiden laughs. “Absolutely. Just probably not any day soon.”

“That’s what we all say,” Decker murmurs. “Then bam, you’re proposing and planning a big-ass summer wedding.”

It takes a few more minutes to say goodbye and gather up our things, but finally, we’re in Anders’ Corvette.

“Are we really going for a drive on the beach?” I ask him.

“We can if you want to, but I just used it as an excuse for us to escape.”

“Very crafty, Mr. Nyberg.”

The look he gives me is filled with passion and promise and something I can’t quite decipher, but it’s enough to make me lean over to press a quick kiss to his cheek. “We can go for a drive tomorrow night,” I say softly.

“Yeah?” This time when he glances at me, there’s a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Any particular reason you’re in a hurry to be alone with me, sweetheart?”

I smile in what I hope is a seductive manner. “I think tonight’s the night.”

He has to know what I’m referring to, but he doesn’t respond right away.

“The night for…?”

“Come on. Don’t make me spell it out.”

“Oh, I need you to be very specific about this. It’s important.”

“I’m ready to try… you know. The thing we haven’t done.”

He rumbles out a laugh. “You know there are still about a thousand things we haven’t done.”

I lightly smack his shoulder. “Yes, smarty-pants. I do know. And you know exactly what I’m talking about. We can’t keep doing this everything but routine. It’s time for me to push past my fear. I have to know for sure, one way or another, that I’m okay physically.”

“Agreed. But you also have to be mentally and emotionally prepared.”

“I think I am.”

“Well, I need to know that you are one thousand percent ready to do it. There’s no universe where I make any assumptions about this particular sexual act. At least, not the first time.”

I take a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I’m nervous, but ready. I want you to make love to me tonight, Anders.”