“Sorry to interrupt, ladies,” Elisa said with a knowing smile, tearing Roni from her lustful thoughts. “It seems this fine young gentleman didn’t want his girlfriend or her bestie to go hungry.”

Angela gave Roni an I told you so look as they went to him.

“Sorry to bother you, babe.” Quincy held up the bag he was carrying from the bookstore’s café and said, “Two salads and croissants. Hope that’s okay.”

Elisa said, “I’ll leave you three to chat.”

“Thank you, Elisa,” Quincy said. “Next time I’ll bring enough for you, too.”

“Such a sweetheart,” Elisa said. As Quincy turned his attention to Roni, Elisa gave her a thumbs-up.

Reveling in her approval, Roni said, “Thank you, Quincy. You didn’t have to bring us lunch.”

“But we’re glad you did!” Angela exclaimed. “Thank you.”

“I won’t stay. I know you’re busy, and I have to get back to work. I’m sorry to just show up, but I missed you, and I thought you might say you were too busy for me to stop by. I didn’t want you to go without eating.”

“Yeah, right, like she’d ever say that,” Angela said with a laugh. “Why don’t you give me the bag, and I’ll take it into the kitchen so you can smooch your girl.”

He handed her the bag, and as she walked out, he said, “Best friend ever,” and drew Roni into a sweet kiss, stirring those butterflies that seemed to live in her belly these days.

“I’m glad you’re here. I was missing you, too,” she said. “I’d never tell you not to come see me unless I was teaching.”

“Good because apparently I can’t even go a few hours without seeing you. I don’t know what you’re doing to me, but I hope you never stop. What time can I see you tonight?”

The air rushed from her lungs. “Thank goodness.”

“Why do you sound relieved?”

She looked up at him, feeling silly for worrying, and said, “I thought you might not want to see me tonight because you hadn’t said anything about it.”

“Babe, how can you think that? I’ll have to try harder to show you how I feel,” he said with a sexy smirk.

“That’s definitely not a problem.” She felt her cheeks flame. “I know how much you like me, but I don’t know what’s normal in relationships. I only know that when we’re apart, I can’t wait to be together again, and I didn’t want you to think I was too needy by asking about it.”

“That’s not needy, babe. That’s being into me.” He lowered his voice to a whisper and said, “I fucking love that.” He gave her a quick kiss. “I don’t know what’s normal for other people, but I know what I’d like our normal to be. Seeing you seven days a week sounds perfect to me.”

She laughed softly, sure he was kidding, though his words filled her with joy.

“I mean it, Roni. I want us to be a given, not a question. What do you want?”