Together, we devoured our dinners and then had a small slice of cake because Myla said she didn’t want to feel too bloaty. But watching her lick frosting off her fork wouldn’t have stopped me if she was bloaty. She was intentional with her tongue and how she made eye contact with me. She even caught me staring at one point and joked about it. How could I not stare? She was treating that fork like it was my dick, and she was showing me exactly what she could do.

I glance down at my shirt and then back up at her. “Yeah, you think so?”

She’s curled into my side, turned toward me so one arm is on the back of the couch and the other is on my chest. “Yes. I love how tight it is. Shows off your amazing pecs.”

I smirk. “Laying down the compliments, are we?”

“Yeah, why not? I’ve never heard my mom compliment my dad by telling him how attractive he is or how she likes what he wears. There’s never been open communication like that. I saw this clip on Instagram a while ago, a relationship expert. He said it’s all right to gas up your partner and make them feel wanted, sexy. And that resonated with me because I never heard something seem so easy, actually done. So yeah, I’m giving you a compliment because I think you’re extremely hot, and I want you to know that.”

“That’s a great way to see things, actually. So how about this? Moving forward, we make a valiant effort to, as you put it, gas each other up.”

“I like that.” Her fingers dance over my chest. “Seriously, though, you might have the sexiest arms I’ve ever seen. I know I make fun of you for your weightlifting videos, but Ryot, they’re so enticing.”

I smirk as I tug a strand of her hair and start twirling it around my finger. “Well, then. That means I need to make more.”

“More wouldn’t hurt. Let all the women marvel at the wonder that is your biceps.”

“There’s only one woman’s opinion that I care about, and it’s yours.”

With the hand draped behind me, she plays with the short strands of hair on the back of my neck. “Good answer, not that I needed it. I understand your loyalty.”

“I’m glad because dating a professional baseball player isn’t going to be easy. My schedule is demanding. Normally, I’d have a night game, and I wouldn’t be up on a rooftop with you.”

“I might not know a lot about baseball, but I do know that schedules are tricky for everyone. Also, I was there when you were called up, remember? I know how important it is to be where you are right now in your career and how hard you’ve worked. I’m not going to get in the way of that.” She smirks. “But when you have some free time, I better at least know you’re thinking about me.”