Page 58 of Kiss Me Forever

“I don’t think she has a problem with that.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to Bella.”

“As long as you don’t keep secrets or lie, I don’t think Bella’s going to care.”

“Damn it. I don’t know.”

“Better figure it out. You’re a dad now. Things get complicated.”

And that seemed to be an understatement.

“You know, if you put the sticky wallpaper or drawer inserts on the back panel before you nail it in, it’s like a backdrop.”

“Really?” Bella asked, eyes wide.

I resisted the urge to groan. “We’re not going to add pink and sparkles are we?” I asked as Gage laughed at my side.

“I’m not a pink girly,” Bella said sarcastically.

“I have a couple of samples in my car. Mostly because I couldn’t help myself. I knew you were doing bookshelves today, and you know me, I love a project. Yay, crafts.”

“Really? Thank you. Can I use them, Reece?” Bella asked.

“Anything. Seriously. As long as you say thank you.”

“Thank you, Brooklyn. Seriously. Thank you.” She threw her arms around Brooklyn again, and my heart slowed.

“I would have those talks soon,” Gage whispered.

This time I didn’t elbow him, because he was right.

We were going to have to have so many fucking talks.

“I can go get them from your car if you want. And that’ll give you and Reece more time to make out.” She winked as she said it, and took Brooklyn’s keys, leaving me slack jawed, and both Brooklyn and Gage laughing their asses off.

Well, it seemed at least one conversation might have been tabled.

By the time the bookshelves were in place—complete with a sage green and gray pattern background, it had been dinner time, so we ordered in, and enjoyed dinner out on the back porch. It was a little too hot for it, but Gage had set up some fans and had told countless stories to make Bella laugh. Then all four of us had ended up in a water gun fight, because why not, plus Uncle Gage had brought some over. Apparently he’d thought I had an eight-year-old son instead of a preteen daughter, at least as a joke, but in the end, it had been the perfect gift.

Gage had left soon after the fight, and after Bella had showered, she’d fallen asleep hard, the day full of activity.

That left Brooklyn and me in my bedroom, the door closed, and a question on my lips.

“I should probably go,” Brooklyn whispered.

I moved forward and cupped her face. “You don’t have to. Bella knows that you and I are...”

Brooklyn’s lips quirked into a smile. “That you and I are what?”

“That we are what we are. And she doesn’t seem to mind.”

“I guess she doesn’t. Do you mind?”

“I want you, Brooklyn.”

“I want you too. And it sort of scares me.”

I ran my thumb over her lips. “It scares me too. But I guess we’ll figure it out just like we are everything else.”