He takes my hand and leads me to his bedroom. He lies down on his back on the bed, and I do the same, tapping my chest so he can come snuggle, like we always do. But he surprises me by tapping his chest, and his mouth tips into a cute little grin.
“You want me to lie on you?” I question, I haven’t even tried that since the first time I pressed my weight into him, and I saw the panic flash in his eyes.
He nods, eyes open and honest. “Yeah, I want to hold you.”
I roll toward him, slipping my arms around his middle and placing my head on his chest. His hand runs along my spine, and I settle in further. He lets out a contented sigh. My heart swells, feeling him under me. Knowing what it means.
He kisses the top of my head, soft lips and a warm ghosting of air. I’m floating.
“I was thinking,” he says, voice a little uncertain, “about rearranging the stock room in the shop a bit? I was originally thinking of a coffee station there, but maybe I could make space for a proper office instead. I need more room for packaging and stuff with online orders.”
I kiss his chest through his sweater. “You know,” I start, “we live in a two-bedroom apartment.”
“Yeah...?”
“I was thinking, maybe you could use my room for that stuff? Then you can still do a coffee station down the line.”
I feel him tense up, and for a long time he says nothing, so long that I have to lift my head to look at him, confused by his reaction. I wonder if I’m too heavy, or maybe lying on top of him like this is too much for him.
Gabe blinks, his expression flickering with something I can’t place. “Oh,” he says quickly. “Right… The gym’s doing great. So… Yeah, obviously you want your own space, then…if you’re moving out, I could just—”
“Wait, what?” I laugh, leaning up. “No. No. Definitely not that. Gabe, you would need to have me removed by force.” He laughs at me, but still looks unclear about what I’m saying. “I was thinking your room could becomeourroom. I don’t even remember the last time I slept in my room. It’s been months. And I like waking up next to you. I want to keep waking up next to you.”
His face goes crimson. “Oh.”
“Yeah,oh.” I chuckle into his cheek, nuzzling against him. “Adorable,” I murmur, leaning in to kiss him. “That okay with you?”
He nods quickly, smile beaming, that dimple on show again. It’s coming out more and more these days. “Very okay. I’d like that.”
“Good,” I say as I snuggle back in. “Gabe?”
“Yeah?”
“Read to me?”
His soft laugh vibrates against me as he reaches forThe Wayfarer’s Star.
53
GABE
“I’m taking some leftovers with me for lunch tomorrow, that okay?” Abbie asks over her shoulder from the kitchen.
“Yeah. Take whatever you want.” I lean my arms on the island.
Aiden and Noah are on the sofa, talking about some high-protein… something.
“Thanks,” she says. “I’ve already packed all my cooking stuff away for the move.”
“I can’t wait for you to live within walking distance,” I tell her, a smile splitting my face.
“Me too! Also means I can have more than one glass of wine at book club, because I won’t be driving.” She gives me a mischievous grin.
“I have a feeling these meetings are gonna get out of control.”
She waves me off, then calls over to Aiden, “Thanks again for getting me those landlord details, your apartment block is so nice, I can’t wait to move in.”
“No problem,” he calls back.
