He takes another bite of his cereal that he never finishes and listens to me and gathers his stuff.
After he grabs his laptop bag that was sitting on the counter, he stops by me for a kiss. “Go back to bed. You barely slept, and there is nothing you can do about your house right now.”
My lips press together, listening but not believing.
Keats’s affection is only soft and sweet for a few moments before he playfully slaps my ass as he moves on. “It’s an order that you need to follow, otherwise later there will be consequences.”
He isn’t even joking.
Nor am I when internally I want the words to roll off mytongue that I’m not worried about my house because I only think about him.
Hailey pourswine into my tumbler as we stand in the kitchen, preparing a snack plate for everyone outside.
“You and Keats,” she says in a melody.
I give her the death stare. “Here we go.”
She grins and sips on her white. “What? Am I crazy for asking? It’s like night and day. Before you two hid your attraction behind a mask of fury, and now, you don’t hide a single thing. In fact, I would say you’ve long moved on from just flirtation.”
Popping a cube of cheese into my mouth, I ponder for a few seconds. “We have,” I agree. “In our own blurred lines kind of way.”
Hailey throws her hands together and squeezes them near her heart with a beaming smile. “Happy to hear. You two look good together. His eyes move so possessively over you, and you can tell how much he cares for you. It must be great to have a guy who knows what he wants.”
My face puzzles. “You’re talking about me, right?”
She looks flustered. “Totally,” she squeaks.
I place my wine glass down with aggravation. “Screw the brother’s-best-friend rule and just go at it like rabbits already, okay?”
Hailey shakes her head in frustration. “It’s not that easy. Besides, Mr. Hotshot Lawyer can make a move, but he doesn’t, which means he is a coward. I deserve better.”
“Keep saying that to yourself and maybe one day you will be convinced.”
She throws a cracker at me. “No diversion. Back to youand the guy you are living with. This isn’t like one of those living together getting close situations, and then poof there are feelings, is it?”
Glancing outside the window by the sink, my eyes catch with Keats’s, and he holds his beer bottle up with a soft smile.
“What if I said I think it’s more? Or rather, I have an uncontrollable feeling that maybe a life that you share with someone can all come true?”
Hailey smiles brightly at me. “Lucky you then. You’re getting something you deserve. My friend is in a relationship that is heading somewhere.”
My mouth opens to protest, but the words get stuck because it would be a lie. “I think so, too,” I confidently agree. Still, I don’t want to jinx myself because we’re still unconventionally living together, this isn’t a permanent arrangement, and maybe the novelty will wear off. But in the pit of my stomach, I don’t believe it will, nor do I want it to fade.
Never in a million years would it have crossed my mind that I would end up in this very spot with feelings new to me. They’re consuming me, too.
We’re having fun but are not afraid to confront each other about aspects of our life.
Damn it, why did I wait so long to give in to him?
The squeal of a child draws our attention outside, and my insides turn into a puddle.
Summer and Bo have just arrived. Keats’s nephew wobbles his way, clearly excited to see his uncle who is leaning down to his level with open arms. Summer trails behind carrying a grocery bag since Bo has only one destination in mind. Keats hugs his nephew then picks him up. Watching him is an image, the way he holds his nephew onone hip when he stands, holding his beer bottle in his other hand. It’s not for the faint of heart, either.
“Damn, you’re drooling.” Hailey giggles.
I glance seriously to her. “Do you not see what I see?” I gesture outside where Summer leaves her son in good hands and heads our way to drop off the bag.
“Oh, I do, but it’s my friend seeing a flicker of a longer timeline. A preview, if you will.”
