That stops my hands in place near my heart. "I want to be that."
"You will be." He traces his fingertips over my thighs. "The smartest move I've ever made was falling in love with you."
"You are finally goingto let me move in with you?" Tilly almost jumps into my arms. "I have been waiting for this day for years. We can have movie marathons and talk all night. When mom and dad come to visit, we'll let them stay with us, right. I don't want Frannie to. She can stay in a hotel."
I smirk. "What's the deal with you and Frannie?"
"Nothing," she answers too quickly. "I love her. When can I move in?"
I watch as she scans the living room of my apartment. She's already planning on rearranging the furniture to fit her stuff in. I can almost see her plotting it out as we speak.
"You can move in the day I move out."
She tilts her head. "You're joking. You're not moving out."
"I'm moving in with Julian." I start toward the kitchen. "On the stove, the back burner on the left doesn’t work, so don't bother with it. You have to set the dishwasher to a fast cycle or you'll be paying too much for water. The woman who lives next door has a dog. He loves to bark at night, but since you're a vet assistant, I'm thinking that won't bother you one bit."
"Maya, stop." Her hand on my shoulder stops me just as I reach the sink. "You're moving in with him? Is it that serious?"
"I love him," I whisper.
"Scream it then." She hugs me from behind. "Oh my god, Maya. Scream it to the world. You're in love. What could be better than that?"
I pivot to face her. "If you were in love too. That's what would make it better."
Her kind blue eyes glide over my face. "I'll find him one day, or he'll find me. You need to be happy for you. I sure as hell am."
"I am happy," I confess as I hug her back. "He's the one, Tilly. I'm telling you Julian is the one for me."
"I know he is. I can see it in your eyes."
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Julian
"Why didyou want to meet me here?" Maya sits on the bench next to me. We're in Bryant Park. The sun is high. The sky is blue. Life is perfect.
"My sister is having a baby." I turn to look at her. "She's known since the night of the launch party."
"Julian." She hugs me tightly. "You're going to be an uncle."
I am. It's a concept I can't quite grasp. When Brynn told me earlier today that she was expecting a baby, she cried. I held her and whispered to her how happy I was for her and Smith. I'm thrilled. I can't wait to meet their little one.
"And a godfather," I add. "I'll love that child. I love that child already."
Maya smiles as she trails her finger over my brow. "You're going to have so much fun with that baby. I have a blast every time I go home and see Frannie and her kids."
"I've never seen Brynn so happy before." I tug Maya close to my side.
She kisses my cheek. "When I saw her last week I told you she looked like she was glowing. Now we know why."
"She'll be an amazing mom."
She squints against the sun as she watches a woman and man pass by us. "I think so too. I don't know her well but from what I've seen she's patient and compassionate."
I shield my eyes from the sun with my hand. "Do you see that fenced off building over there?"
She glances to her left and the brick building that overlooks the park.
