But he wouldn’t. Devin was ready for someone to swoop in and sweep him off his feet, he just needed the right person to come along.
I was so glad I’d found mine.
“You can look at the notebooks if you want,” I murmured as we all settled at the table, Kieran helping mom bring things over. “I don’t mind. Might be funny.”
“I’d like to see,” Carter admitted. “I think you’re the only person who’s ever wanted me forme.”
“Doubt it,” I said. “And even if I am so far, it’s just because I’m the only person who’s seen the real you. You’re incredible. I’ll have to step up my boyfriend game if I wanna keep you.”
“You really don’t.”
“You’re not interested in foot massages and breakfast in bed?” I teased.
Carter licked his lips. “I didn’t saythat,” he mumbled, cheeks glowing.
I loved him.
And sitting here, surrounded by my family—Carter included—I couldn’t remember being happier.
Whatever it took to keep this, I was up for the challenge. It was too good to let go.
“A little birdie told me you were planning on starting with your dad’s company,” Mom said.
I turned to stare wide-eyed at Carter. He hadn’t mentionedthat.
He’d been making the trip back here two nights a week and staying over on weekends. I’d offered to travel down to the city for him, but he’d insisted that he was the one with the car, and he needed to get away from the place anyway.
But this was news.
“Oh.” Mom looked between us. “Oops.”
“The little birdie has to be my dad. He’s the only one who knows,” Carter said.
Mom blushed. “His partner is very charming,” she mumbled, helping herself to the potatoes while everyone else was distracted.
There was a better than even chance that she’d intentionally been trying to distract us so she could get to them first.
“Is that… a decided thing, or are you just… talking about it, or…”
“I’d planned to talk to you first. Since, uh. I’ll need a place to stay, at least for a little while,” Carter said, fiddling nervously with his napkin.
Adorable.
Mine.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, standing up from the table and heading into the hall to rifle through my jacket pockets. Which one was it in? I would’ve remembered if I was still wearing it.
I laughed as my fingers curled around what I was looking for, and headed back into the kitchen.
“I was planning on giving this to you later tonight,” I said, holding the tiny object tight in my fist. “But… since we’re talking about it now…”
I held the key I’d gotten cut—in teal, Carter’s favorite color—earlier in the week out to him.
The key to my apartment.
“Wanted you to be able to come and go whenever you wanted,” I said, hoping like hell he’d accept it. “Offer still stands. Whenever you want. My space is your space.”
Carter was still for another moment, gaze burning into the key in my hand. Then, slowly, he reached out and took it from me like it was a fragile antique and not a brass door key.
