Page 112 of Until Then

“I will.” With a wink, she closes the car door and all but skips up the stairs to him, where he pulls her into his arms and angles in for a kiss.

They’re so in love it would be sickening if I wasn’t also head-over-heels for a man.

Via turns and waves as I back down the alley, and behind her, Reid lifts a hand while whispering in her ear. By the way she swats at his chest, I can guarantee his words were naughty.

They’re so insufferably cute.

At the gas station near the house, I run inside for slushies. I could curse Derrick for introducing me to my newest addiction. Anymore, I crave these more than coffee or matcha.

“Where’s your better half?” Greg teases when I set the cups down to pay.

“At home. Probably asleep on the couch.”

With a chuckle, he rings up the slushies.

“You’ve been good for him,” he says as he takes the cash I hold out, the statement shocking me. “Derrick’s always been a great guy, but he was more closed off before you came along. Now, he smiles all the time. You make him happy.”

The compliment makes my heart stumble a little. It means more to me than he’ll ever know.

“Thank you.” I tuck my change away, fighting a blush. “He makes me happy, too.”

Slushies in hand, I climb into my car and head home. As I pull into the driveway, I can’t help but think about how much Idon’twant to get my own place. It’s crazy. We haven’t been together long at all, but the idea of not going to bed curled around him or waking up at his side makes me feel a little ill.

On the way to the porch, I take in the street and the yard, marveling at the leaves already beginning to fall in beautifulshades of red and orange. Before I can reach the door, it opens, and Derrick appears in the glow of the porch light, Wonton under his arm.

The surge of love that flows through me is downright frightening. How is it possible to feel so much for another human being?

His smile morphs into an open-mouthed look of surprise. “Your hair. You cut it.”

“I did.” I shake my head, causing my hair to sway. “What do you think?”

With a step in my direction, he cups the back of my neck. Then he drags his fingers higher and laces them in my hair, scraping the strands into a ponytail.

“Still enough to grab,” he says with a smirk. “I love it.”

“Enough to grab, huh? What if I shaved it all off?”

With his forehead pressed to mine, he says, “It’s your hair. You can do what you want with it. I’ll love you no matter what, but I do love to run my hands through it.” He strokes the strands. “It’s always so soft.”

“I use a special rinse. You gonna let me in now?”

“Right.” He releases my hair and takes the Coke slushie from me. “You couldn’t drive by the gas station without stopping, could you?”

“You would have stopped too if you’d been dealing with Glenda all evening.”

His laughter rumbles through me when I pass him and step inside. He locks the door behind him, then sets Wonton on the floor. My furry little buddy immediately scurries over to me, jumping up and down on his hind legs for attention.

Squatting, I shower my best friend in pets and kisses. There’s nothing like the genuine, pure love of an animal.

When he’s settled, I stand and slide off my shoes. “How’d it go with Reid and Layla?”

Derrick stuffs his free hand into his pocket and rocks back. “Surprisingly well, I thought they might not want to see this house go. Instead, they seemed almost relieved to see me moving on.”

I close the distance between us. “They just want you to be happy.”

“I know.” His warm hand slides around my waist. “I missed you.”

I melt into him. The words are simple but so powerful. There’s something to be said about finding one’s person. About that special ache that hits when they aren’t near. It’s not as though I can’t be away from him. In fact, I needed a day with my sister. But I feel better when he’s around. It’s like before him, I wasn’t whole. And I didn’t even realize it. Now, though, when we’re apart, I notice the absence of that piece of me.

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