Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
I give him both of my hands. He squeezes them and rubs the tops of them with his thumbs.
“It’s not over for me either,” I say.
“Good. Because I’d really hate to take you kicking and screaming to dinner. I can’t show up without you now. They may not even let me in.”
My laughter feels good.
The tension in my shoulders melts away. My eyes ache, and the exhaustion I’ve been fighting slowly creeps in.
“What does this mean?” I ask.
“What do you want it to mean?”
“Don’t answer a question with a question.”
“It means whatever you’re comfortable with as long as you know we’re together. As long as you don’t doubt us.” He sighs. “Eventually, you’ll associate love with happiness. I don’t know how long it’ll take me to get you there, but I will.”
My heart swells in my chest.
Eventually, you’ll associate love with happiness.
You’re already doing it, Jess.
I stand and walk around the table. He turns to the side like he knows what I’m going to do. I sit on his lap and study his handsome face.
He’s already been more consistent with his love than anyone I’ve ever known.
What’s the worst thing that could happen to you? You could die. But how does that happen? Because Jess loves you to death? Poor you.
I giggle. I’m quoting Banks now? What the hell is happening?
“What?” he asks, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Nothing. Just thinking of something Banks texted me today.”
His jaw drops. “Banks texted you?”
I nod. “I don’t know what to think of it, really, but we need to buy pop before we go to your mom’s.”
“Fucking Banks.” Jess laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. “Does this mean you’re going with me today? Or are we going to stay here and get inundated with calls and texts from my relentless family?”
I run my fingers through his hair.
My heart races. But the longer I think about it, the more certain I am.
“When do we need to leave?” I ask.
He pushes the side button on my phone and looks at the time. “Probably forty-five minutes at the latest. Why?”
“I need to do three things before we go.”
“What’s that?”
I smile at him. “I need to get dressed.”
“Okay.”
“I need to find some tape.”
“For what?”
“So my stuff doesn’t blow out of the boxes in the back of your truck.”
His eyes light up. “Really?”
“Really.”
He holds my face and brings his mouth to mine. It’s desperate yet controlled, demanding yet gentle. It’s perfect, just like him.
My tongue swipes his lips. He growls into my mouth. He cups my ass and stands, wrapping my legs around his waist.
He walks us toward my bedroom, our kisses growing frenzied. He tosses me on my bed.
“What’s the third thing?” he asks, stripping his shirt over his head.
I toss my top at him. He snatches it out of the air and grins.
“The third thing?” I shimmy out of my sleep pants and toss them to the side. “This.”
He removes the rest of his clothes and climbs onto the bed with me. Hovering over my body, he smiles. God, I’ve missed that smile.
It’s only. Been a day, but when you think you’re not going to see something again, that time feels like forever.
“I love you, Mr. Carmichael. And if you ask me to move in again, I’ll say yes.”
“Move in with me.”
“Yes.”
“Marry me.”
“Ye—whoa, wait.” I giggle as his grin deepens. “It really is too soon for that.”
He kisses me softly. “Fair. I’ll take what I can get.”
I’m sure he already knows that he gets it all. He already has it all.
32
PIPPA
I’ve never seen a house so full of life.
“If you get overwhelmed, just say the word,” Jess says as we step inside. “I’d hate to have a reason to go back to our house.”
I look at him and grin. He winks at me, making me laugh.
My God, I love this man.
“Did you bring the pop?” Banks yells from the kitchen table.
Jess holds up two twenty-four packs. “This cost about fifty bucks, I’ll have you know.”
“I had no idea,” Banks says, making it clear he absolutely knew that. “Hey, Pip.”
“Hi, Banks.”
“You made it,” Damaris says, coming around the island. “I’m so happy to see you, sweetheart.” She pulls me into a quick hug, kissing my cheek. “Do you like spaghetti?”
“Do I like spaghetti? Who doesn’t?”
“Good point.” She grins and heads back to the kitchen. “Have you met Ashley and Brooke?”
I wave at them. “I met Brooke at Honey’s. But I’ve only texted with Ashley.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ashley says, cutting up vegetables and tossing them into a gigantic salad bowl. “We missed you the other night.”
I ignore Jess’s eye roll. “I thought something inside me was broken. But I’m all healed up now.”
Jess scoffs, making me giggle.
“Moss is going fishing tonight. I’m going to watch girlie movies if you want to come over,” Brooke says.
“Yeah, that sounds fun,” I say. “Thanks for asking me.”