“Is ‘girlfriend’ better?” He ducks down to my height.
“Much better.” We haven’t officially labelled anything between us. Between how we met, all of the shit I’m working through, andAdam’s work, it just hasn’t come up. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about it. “And don’t insult brinner.” I point at him.
His laugher booms through my small apartment. If I could hear that sound every single day, I’d be one happy lady.
“I don’t want to go.” Adam nuzzles my throat, wrapping his arms around me.
“Then I’ll go without you, and you can stay here,” I muse.
“I gotta make sure my sisters don’t go wild.”
“I’m sure I can handle myself.”
“I know you can, but that doesn’t mean you have to handle everything on your own.”
We rock back and forth.
“I get the feeling you aren’t just talking about your sisters.”
“You’d be right.” We continue to rock together. “I’m here, Claire. Through anything and everything. I don’t want you to just be my girlfriend. Eventually, I want it all. Lean on me, baby. Let me be the rock through it all, okay?”
“Okay.” I whimper, tears already leaking from my eyes. “I’m really bad at that, though.”
“That’s okay. I’ll still be here.”
His hand caresses my belly as I curl up against his chest. All I can think about is how to keep this feeling, this man, for as long as I possibly can.
Luck may not have been on my side in the past, but maybe this time I get to stay lucky.
Chapter 32
Adam
Progress.
So much progress in the last month and a half.
The case hasn’t moved a ton, but things with Claire? They’re so damn good I’m afraid the smallest thing will crumble it all in a second.
That’s the real reason I don’t want to deal with my sisters tonight. I don’t want them to go wild like they usually do and scare her off. Although I know Claire can handle herself, I’m just … scared.
“Okay, before we go in there, I’m sorry.” We stand outside of my apartment.
“About what?” She smiles.
“About them.” I sigh. “They’re … wonderful, but they never stop talking.”
Her chuckle is cut off by my front door opening.
“Dick. You talk a lot too,” Autumn, the baby of the family, says with her hip cocked.
“Not like the four of you,” I mumble, ushering Claire in.
“Oh my God, we are so excited to meet you.” Daisy rushes over, holding Claire’s shoulder and looking at her.
Claire’s eyes are so wide I’d laugh if my sisters weren’t the ones causing it.
“Dais, chill out.”
