“Oh God. Sorry!” I cry again, turning to dart out of the room, but my eyes are still covered, and I run straight into the wall, tumble backward, and land flat on my back, knocking the breath out of me. “Ow.”
“Liv! Are you okay?” Ellie asks.
“Jesus, fuck,” Penn mumbles.
The next thing I know, I’m being lifted up and carried away.
I take a seat in the hallway, my face ten shades of red and only getting hotter when Ellie emerges from the room. “Travis is in the shower,” she says.
Penn heads inside to get his stuff while Ellie stands in front of me, no sign of shame, only embarrassment—for me.
“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I didn’t know that you’d be…”
“It’s fine. I should’ve told you, but it, uh, just kind of happened.” She takes the spot next to me.
“I guess the benefits are back in your friendship.”
She heaves a sigh. “I don’t know.”
I frown.
She shakes her head. “This was just the right place at the right time, kind of thing.”
I nod as if I understand. Their relationship, or whatever you want to call it, is too much for me to wrap my head around.
Penn comes back with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder. “Ready?”
I glance over at Ellie, wondering if she wants to talk more.
She waves me off. “Go. I’ll meet you at the house.”
Once we’re back at the Airbnb, we crawl into bed. Dread fills my stomach as we stare at each other. I miss him already, and I haven’t left yet. “What are you thinking?” he whispers, tracing my lips with his fingertip.
“How proud I am of you.”
Watching them last night was unreal. They went from playing tiny bars to a massive festival, and the crowd loves them. I’m not saying that because I’m biased. Their live performances are head and shoulders above all the other bands I’ve seen.
I’m watching his dreams come true right in front of me, and I can’t think of anyone else more deserving.
“Move in with me.”
My eyes snap to his. “Huh?”
His hand glides to the side of my neck, his thumb dragging along my jaw. “Move. In. With. Me.”
I open my mouth and take myself by surprise because the answer comes so easily, I don’t even have to think about it.
“Pl—”
“Yes.”
His eyes widen when I cut off his unnecessary plea. “Really?”
“Yes. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be,” I confess.
Ellie will be bummed, and it’ll be hard leaving her, but I’ve found someone I’m not willing to leave behind. Our time together is precious and fleeting. I need all the seconds with him.
He leans in and drops his forehead to mine with the most infectious smile. I close my eyes, soaking up the moment. I’m jumping headfirst, all in with him, like he is with me. I think he has been this entire time.
