Page 77 of Under One Roof

Well, hell.

When she puts it like that…

Yeah.

That’s exactly where my fear comes from.

She sits up and turns to straddle me, but there’s nothing sexual about it. She hugs me, crossing both of her arms behind my neck, pressing us together. I squeeze my arms around her middle and keep the confessions coming. “It’s why I get so frustrated with Roman. I’ve seen him spiral, seen him push everyone away.” I pause to brush my lips over Andi’s shoulder. It’s so much easier to talk when I can comfort myself by touching her. “It’s infuriating. He had everything, more than Ian, Taryn, or I ever had, and he threw it all away. Every opportunity and offer of help, he fucking wasted it.”

“I can understand, but I think people can only accept help when they’re ready.”

“I fucking know that,” I say, harsher than I mean to, and she unwraps herself from around me, and I’m instantly regretful.

“Did I make you mad when you came home and saw me drinking?”

“No. Not at all, and I’m sorry for snapping at you. I just get…”

“You love your brother,” she fills in for me. “And it’s hard to see someone you love mess up.”

I nod.

She nods too, and smiles sleepily, moving to lay her head back on my shoulder, and I know I’ve got to put her to bed. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

“I have to clean up.” She shifts as if to get off me, but I stop her.

“I’ll do it tomorrow,” I say, bringing her back in close to me, so I can lift her up, one arm under her back, the other under her knees, and she yawns, loud and long, then mumbles something I don’t catch.

“What was that?” I ask, amused, and she relaxes into me when I start walking, completely at ease with me. Like she knows she doesn’t need to worry about anything.

This time when she repeats her words, they’re clearer, though she keeps her eyes closed, half asleep already. “You take such good care of me. That’s why I love you.”

My heart clangs inside my rib cage, and I hope she doesn’t hear it or feel it.

Andi Halton loves me?

Andi Halton fuckinglovesme.

I look down at her, but she’s already asleep, her lips slightly parted, her lashes dark against her cheeks.

She’s perfect and beautiful and mine.

I carefully carry her upstairs to my bedroom. She doesn’t stir when I lay her down but does wake up for a few seconds mumbling about taking her bra off. I silently laugh as I admire her, the golden color of her skin next to her soft pink bra and underwear, then carefully remove it for her so she’s comfortable and get her into one of my T-shirts. She’s a rag doll in my arms and seems to be in a deep sleep by the time I pull the comforter around her.

In the bathroom, I fumble with my toothbrush like a kid getting ready for his first date, but Andi’s drunken confession has made me feel that way.

She lovesme.

She choseme.

And I can’t move fast enough to finish up. I slip into bed in my boxer briefs and wind myself around her. She sighs and yawns and makes a cute smacking noise with her lips before settling again, and I place one last kiss on her shoulder.

“I love you too, Andi,” I whisper, even though she can’t hear me. I’ll tell her again tomorrow when she’s fully awake, and I drift off to sleep, knowing she won’t be leaving me.

Chapter26

Griffin

With Andi still sleeping in my bed, I fit a quick workout in then pop out to the store for a few items. It doesn’t take me long, and when I get back and check on her, she’s rolled over to her stomach, face mushed in the pillow, so I place a glass of water, Gatorade, and two aspirin on the night table for when she wakes up then head downstairs to fry up breakfast.

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