“We need to buy groceries.”
“Free show for everyone else in the store,” he grinned, finally gathering the strength to look at me. “You think I’m not serious? I’m serious.”
“No clothes until the second of January unless I need them to avoid arrest or frostbite,” I offered. “A compromise.”
“Fine,” Andy tutted as though I was a terrible spoilsport, ruining his fun. “You sure you don’t regret coming back with me?”
Ah.Thatwas what he really wanted to talk about.
“Positive,” I said. “Imagine what I’d be doing now if I hadn’t, hmm? Being forced to accept sympathy from Will while Mother made wedding plans in the background.”
Andy wrinkled his nose. “I wouldn’t have let you marry a guy calledFitzwilliam,” he said.
“No?” I asked, giving in to the temptation to toy with his hair.
I hoped he liked that, because I’d have trouble stopping myself.
“Definitely not. I would’ve showed up on your wedding day all dramatic, waiting for the celebrant to be like ‘speak now or forever hold your peace’ or whatever.”
“Ah, well, now I do feel the very slightest twinge of regret that I didn’t get to experience that. I would have run away with you instantly, of course. If I hadn’t already run away with you.”
“That is what you’ve done, isn’t it?” Andy asked, playing with the hem of my jumper and not meeting my eyes. “Run away.”
“I’d argue that I’ve run home,” I said, covering his hand with mine.
I didn’t want him to feel guilty about any of this, or as though I hadn’t done exactly whatIwanted.
Given the choice between a lifetime of meaningless obligations as the Duke of Hartsworth and a lifetime curled up in this bed with Andy, in our apartment, with snow falling outside and the promise of day after day of uncomplicated happiness, I would always have chosen Andy.
It’d just taken a little kick in the backside to make me see it.
“But… your family. Your inheritance. All that. It’s not just… is it just…”
“Well, I imagine we’ll be spared the horror of inheriting the Christmas tea set.” I smiled wryly. “Mother will either come around, or she won’t. I hope she does, she is still my mother, but if she can’t be happy that I’ve made a decision that makesmehappy and does no harm to anyone else, then… well…” I swallowed.
Andy linked his fingers with mine.
“I still have you,” I said, squeezing them.
“And your dad,” he said.
“I think we’ll have to share him, he’s very taken with you.” I smiled at him.
“Great taste runs in the family,” Andy said, a tiny smile playing about his lips.
“I don’t regret this,” I said seriously. “None of it. In fact, for the first time in my life, I feel truly free.”
“Yeah?” Andy asked, wetting his lips.
“Yes. A feeling I’ve only had glimpses of before. When I was just Kit, middling at best data analyst for a small non-profit, and I was with my funny, charming, kind best friend. You.”
Andy laughed as I kissed the tip of his nose, and I couldn’t resist his lips for the next kiss, humming happily as he let me take what I needed and shuffled closer on the bed.
“I love you,” he murmured against my lips. “I just hate to think I’ve ruined your life.”
“You haven’t.” I shook my head. “Not in the least. You’ve changed it, dramatically and for the better. I really wouldn’t have it any other way,” I promised. “Especially if you love me. I could get very used to that.”
“I love you.” Andy repeated, finally smiling the broad, cheerful smile I’d first fallen in love with.
