After a moment, Lorenzo pulled her at arm's length, his eyes searching hers that was now red and puffy from crying. His chest squeezed again, tight and aching.
"You've been crying a lot lately, girlfriend," he said softly. "You're still very cute, but it breaks my heart."
Ashley's heart skipped at the way he called her that—girlfriend. It wasn't the first time, but somehow, it sounded different this time. Like something had shifted in their relationship.
She loved it. How could she not?
"And what are you going to do about that, boyfriend?" she teased through soft hiccups.
Lorenzo smiled. God, how could she still be this cute after everything?
"Why do I love the sound of that so much?"
He gently brushed her tears away with his thumbs, then stood.
Ashley looked up. "Going somewhere?"
"You asked what I was going to do," he said, flashing a mischievous smirk. "Let's find out."
Before she could ask what he meant, he pulled her to her feet and scooped her into his arms.
