Here goes.
“When I asked you to move in with me, I should have told you this first, and I’m so fucking sorry I messed up.” He goes to speak but I put a finger over his lips. “I should’ve told you how I felt. That I know it might seem sudden, but I feel like we’ve been moving towards this for the last few months and that Idoknow you, Reed. That I don’t want you to move out, because I want to go to bed every night with you beside me and wake up in the morning wrapped around you, with three cats and a dog wedged alongside us.” He chuckles, and I swallow down the nerves making my mouth dry. “I should’ve told you that I love you.”
I have one second to worry that I’ve fucked up again and then he surges forward and kisses me. It’s not soft or slow, or anything like that. It’s blinding heat and wild passion, and he presses me into the cold brick behind me like he can’t get close enough and my heart soars at what this has to mean.
“Fuck, Jerry.” He’s beaming as he pulls back enough to look at me. “I love you too.”
I kiss him again. I need to after that declaration. And I don’t care about anything else. Because with those four words, I realise it doesn’t matter whether he wants to move in with me properly or not. Whatever happens, we’ll be okay.
The cold manages to creep between us, and I shiver violently as I’m reminded that we’re outside in fucking winter and I’m only in a shirt. “Come back inside.” I wriggle out from between him and the wall and go to walk inside, but Reed tugs me back.
“What about the rest of it? What you asked me before I left?”
I shake my head. “Whatever you decide is okay, Reed. There’s no rush. My offer doesn’t have a time limit.” I shiver again and it snaps him to attention.
“Come on, let’s get you back inside before you freeze.”
The warmth of the pub hits us like a furnace, but it’s got nothing on the warmth I feel inside, knowing that I’m not alone in this.
Vic and Sean wave us over, and Sean must be able to tell by the huge smile on my face that things are good, because he immediately pulls me into a hug and whispers, “I’m so fucking happy for you. For both of you.”
Yeah, so am I. “Thanks.”
We take our seats, Sean sliding a pint over to Reed, and Vic immediately engages him in conversation. I reach for Reed’s hand, smiling as he doesn’t hesitate to take it. I’m happy, really fucking happy, content to sit back and let their conversation wash over me, but Sean has other ideas and scoots his chair a little closer.
“You know you have me to thank, right?”
“For what?”
He nods at Reed. “If it wasn’t for me?—”
“Oh my god, are you really going to sit there and remind me that you and Reed used to date? When yourfiancéis sitting right there?” I add, quietly though, because I don’t really want Vic to hear.
Sean cringes. “That’s not what I meant, but... yeah, forget I said that.” He sneaks a quick look at Vic, but both him and Reed are engrossed in conversation. “But still...” He grins, and I flick beer at him making him laugh. And that’s how the rest of the evening goes: fun and laughter as we say goodbye to the last year.
We’reall sat at the bar as it nears midnight, when Pete wanders over to wish us a happy New Year. He takes one look at Reed’s hand on my thigh and gives me a wry grin.
“I see things worked out for you two then.”
I grin back at him. Pretty sure I’ve not stopped smiling all night. “Yeah, they have.”
“That’s great.” His tone is wistful, as his gaze flicks between us and Vic and Sean. He pats me on the back and leaves to join his sister at the other end of the bar. Pete’s a great guy, and maybe it’s because I’m in a fucking awesome mood, but I lean over to Sean. “Pete needs to find someone.”
“What?” He strains to hear me over the music and chatter.
“Pete,” I say. “He needs his special someone.”
Sean hums and looks around the pub. I didn’t mean rightnow, but we both look up as a guy enters the bar.
A stranger.
Ahotstranger.
All dark and broody.
Perfect.
Sean and I share a look, but before we can attempt any sort of matchmaking, Hailey appears in front of us.
