Mom seems to gather herself first. “Well, how nice. I’m assuming that means we’ll get to see more of you, Sebastian. It’s been far too long.”
Sebastian smiles softly. “Yes, Mrs. Reid.”
“Well, dinner is almost ready. I’m just going to check on a few things.”
Mom leaves us and heads to the kitchen. Walker and Dad are watching the game again, and I lean into Sebastian’s side, his arm wrapping around me.
“That wasawk-ward,” I say.
He chuckles, and I feel it as his chest vibrates.
“It was a surprise. What’s really going to be awkward is our after dinner conversation.”
I swallow. Sebastian and I decided it was best to tell Mom and Dad after everyone had eaten dinner about his buying the cabin. I have a feeling my dad won’t take it very well, and being able to leave the table and even the house could be a good thing.
When Mom calls us for dinner, we know it’s the moment of truth.
TWENTY-SEVEN
SEBASTIAN
Never in my life did I think I’d be telling my girlfriend’s parents I secretly bought property from them so I could turn around and gift it to their daughter. But here I am. Anxiety races through me as I slowly eat my dinner. The energy around the table is awkward. I’m not sure if it’s from my presence, that Annalise and I are dating, or something else. I nod as everyone speaks, acknowledging I’m paying attention, but contribute nothing. Someone nudges me under the table, and I’m not sure if it was Annalise or Walker, as they’re both looking at me. I push my nearly empty plate forward and clear my throat, all eyes turning to me.
I tell them the same story I told Walker when he arrived at the cabin, reiterating that Annalise and I had already decided to give this a shot before I gave her the title to the cabin. The air is eerily still, it’s as though everyone is holding their breath. Mr. Reid is the one to break the silence.
“Thank you, Sebastian. I’m glad it’s staying in the family.”
I’m not sure if there’s more that he’s not saying, but I decide to not press my luck and just nod. Mrs. Reid leaves the table, returning with dessert. The tension in the air slowly subsides, never fully leaving. When Annalise yawns, I use that as a reasonfor the two of us to say our good nights and head back to my place. Annalise makes plans with her parents for us to come back to celebrate New Year’s, and we walk to her car. I text her my address and the code to get into my building.
When I insert my key into my apartment door, anxiety suddenly fills me. Annalise is about to see my apartment, which means she’ll see the final secret I’ve been keeping. I slowly push the door open, allowing Annalise to go in first. I flick the lights on, and we both blink, acclimating to the brightness. She slips her shoes off and slowly makes her way into the apartment, taking in every inch of it. Once she reaches the living room, she stops, and I know exactly why. I join her and take in one of my favourite rooms in my place.
The entire left wall is covered in Annalise’s photos. Landscapes of the city, people watching, animals, anything that let me see the world through her eyes. Her website is bookmarked on my laptop, and when I can’t sleep, I tend to browse and add something new to my collection.
This isn’t the only room with her art. My favourite of her landscapes is in my bedroom, over the head of my bed. She spins and stares at me, wetness in her eyes, and I immediately cup her face, wanting to wipe away her tears.
“You have so many,” she whispers.
I nod. “They let me feel like I was close to you, getting to experience the world the way you do.”
She blinks, a single tear falling, and my thumb immediately wipes it away. “Tell me it’s too soon,” she whispers, and I shake my head. I know exactly what she’s asking, and I’m not letting her pull away now.
“How can it be too soon if it’s been there this whole time?”
She stares back at me, and I see all the emotions in her eyes. I stroke her cheek, and she leans into my touch. If she’s not ready to say the words, I am, and hopefully, she’s ready to hear them.
“Loving you is as easy as breathing. It often feels as though that’s why I was put on this earth. Even when we weren’t speaking, I still loved you.” I shake my head softly again. “It’s not too early. In fact, I feel like I’m far too late in telling you.”
Her tears fall in earnest now, my thumbs unable to keep up with them. She sniffles and takes a step forward.
“I hope you’re right, because I don’t think I can not say it anymore. I love you, Sebastian Hayes. I don’t think any time apart would have changed that, and I’m glad we found our way back to each other.”
My grin splits across my face. I tuck a free strand of her hair behind her ear and dust my lips over hers. “I love you, Annalise Reid. There’s no getting rid of me now.”
She grins back. “Good, because I don’t want to.”
Our kiss starts soft and intimate, hands holding each other close, like a single inch apart is too much. It slowly evolves into exploring hands and teeth scraping across sensitive skin, pulling moans out of each other. The next thing I know, I’m carrying Annalise with her legs wrapped around my waist to the couch. Her lips trail across the exposed skin of my jaw, my throat, and when that’s not enough for her, she pulls at the neckline of my shirt, exposing more skin.
I reach between us, grabbing the hem to pull it over my head and tossing it, not caring where it ends up as her lips touch my skin again. My hands roam up her sides, gripping her hips, loving the way they feel in my hold. She rolls her hips, causing my head to fall back, and she takes advantage of the newly exposed area under my chin.
