The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

            “I know I’ve screwed everything up, Hal,” he said as he pushed her wet hair off her forehead. “But I miss you so much I can hardly breathe.”

            “Me, too,” she repeated.

            “And I know I didn’t say it the right way, but I am so in love with you. And not just in love with you, by the way. I also like you more than anyone else in the world. You’re funny and smart and beautiful, and whenever anything happens to me, funny, awful, or wonderful, you’re the first person I want to tell.”

            She laughed as her eyes filled with tears again. “Oh, my God, did our ‘its’ get switched?”

            His face came closer, his eyes seeming to get brighter as he, too, remembered their conversation about what they’d been looking for in a partner. He said, “Well, that would mean that you feel like I complete you.”

            She wasn’t going to say it, but she raised her chin. She looked into his dark blue eyes and said, “Yeah, it would.”

            He made a noise that was somewhere between an exhale, a laugh, and a groan before he softly placed his fingers under her chin, raising her head as he lowered his. It felt like coming home when his lips were on hers and she was breathing his breath.

            It turned hot fast—teeth, tongues, and wild, seeking mouths—and Hallie was down for all of it as the rain continued to pour around them. She raised her arms to his shoulders and she pressed her rain-soaked self against him, needing to be closer. She was lost in every little bit of Jack Marshall. He pulled back slightly, looked down at her, and said, “There’s a great little taco place down the street. Do you want to grab a bite and talk?”

            She nodded. “I’d like that.”

            He pointed to the Urban Outfitters across the street. “Can I buy you a dry outfit first?”

            “That would be lovely.” Hallie grinned as he grabbed her hand, and they stepped back out into the rain and started walking in that direction. She yelled over the rain, “Thank you.”

            “Anytime,” he replied, also yelling over the downpour.

            “I’m buying a dry outfit for you, too,” Hallie said, “and you have to wear whatever I choose, okay?”

            He didn’t answer as they sprinted across the street, and she assumed he hadn’t heard her over the deluge. But as soon as he threw open the door to Urban Outfitters and they both got inside, he pulled her to a stop. His mouth slid into his wide, full-throttle smile as they both pushed back their hair and wiped their dripping faces, and Hallie felt herself warming from the inside out when he said, “Hallie Piper, I am yours. Dress me however you see fit.”





Jack


            “I don’t think you can be mad at me ever again.” Jack took a sip of his beer and gave the Taco Hut waitress a polite smile. She was looking at him and openly laughing as she set down their food. “I think I’ve earned your eternal forgiveness.”

            Hallie shook her head seriously, but her eyes were dancing when she said, “You think just because you’re wearing that, we’re square?”

            He stood, just so she could look again at what she’d done. Animal-print workout pants, crop top, fuchsia pashmina, yellow Chuck Taylors, and a red fedora with a patch that said EAT ME. He did a spin and held up his hands, waiting for an answer, and Hallie started laughing again.

            “I can’t believe you wore it.”

            “Of course I wore it,” he said, sitting back down and giving her a look. He seriously would dress like that every day if it meant he could have her. “I love you.”

            She rolled her eyes and teased, “Are you sure, though? Maybe you just think you love me.”

            As hard as it had been for him to get his head around his feelings, everything—just like that—had become crystal clear. Maybe it was her absence in his life for the past couple of weeks, but he suspected it was common sense kicking in after being late as fuck to the party.

            “Listen, Tiny Bartender.” He grabbed the plate of nachos and slid it in front of her, because they both knew she loved selecting the first chip. “You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love you three times. Please tell me my hands are cold so we can get on with our lives already.”

            She picked a chip that was dead center, covered in beef and cheese. As she carefully lifted it, trying not to lose any of the red onions (but she always did), she said, “But what if I only think your hands are cold, Jack? I mean, how can I be sure?”