Page 57 of Always Been Yours

I pull back just enough for her to see the playfulness. “I have some ideas, but you’ll have to come along for the ride if you want to find out.”

She rolls her perfect hazel eyes and I choose to take that as ayes.

Without even thinking about it, I drop a kiss on her temple and shut the car door.

It’s a quiet ride after that, but it’s a comfortable silence. Like we both are just soaking in the presence of each other.

After a few minutes I test my luck at putting my hand on her thigh like I did at the game last night, reveling in the way she interlaces her fingers with mine.

The few times I’ve glanced over at Vivi, there’s a soft smile on her face as she looks out the window.

The drive to her place is coming to an end too quickly and I don’t have any reason to prolong it.

Our perfect bubble pops as I pull into her driveway.

She unbuckles herself but my hand squeezes her thigh before she can get out of the car.

“Wait.”

I open my own door and walk around to her side. She not only accepts the hand I offer as help, but she pulls me toward her front door.

I want to tell her how badly I want to go inside. How I want to fall asleep with her and wake up next to her, and everything else that may, or may not, happen would be an added bonus. I just want her in my arms for more than a few uninterrupted hours.

But instead, I follow her up the few stairs and decide not to make any assumptions.

She unlocks her door and starts to say ‘good night’,but I don’t let herfinish.

With one hand still laced in hers, because I refuse to lose the physical contact until the very last minute, I bring my other hand to her waist and gently push her up against her door frame.

She releases a sharp breath, looking up at me through her lashes.

We’re half in, half out of her foyer. I was so captivated by her earlier I didn’t notice much about her place. From where I’m standing, I can see her living room perfectly—her mismatched velvet armchairs and magenta couch, the shaggy boho rug and small coffee table with what appears to be stains from wine glasses, and the dozen of plants and books laying messily around any surface available.

I can’t help but think how perfectly our two styles would blend together under one roof.

My eyes cut back to her. She’s watching me take in her space, her teeth nibbling on her bottom lip and one eyebrow quirked.

I jerk my chin toward the room. “It feels like you.”

“Mmm,” she hums softly and glances inside. “I’m going to miss this house.”

“Are you moving?”

My mom hasn’t mentioned anything about it, and I know that Vivi loves her teaching position, so it doesn’t make sense why she’d leave. Maybe she decided to apply for a different graduate program. Either way, the idea of her leaving after we just reconnected has my anxiety ready to spiral.

The idea of her not telling me causes a streak of hurt to cut through the growing panic.

“In February. Lexi’s parents want to sell the lot—they get offers all of the time and have graciously let us stay here for way less money than its worth.” Her knee knocks into mine and she teasingly says, “Don’t worry, Grady Miller, it’ll be harder to get rid ofme this time around.” When I look at her, I don’t see any signs of joking on her face. I see insecurities and vulnerabilities battling in her eyes, begging me to calm them before they overtake her.

“Good.” I bring my face down to hers, until our noses are brushing against each other. “I don’t want to get rid of you.”

“You say that now,” she replies with a cheeky grin, but the usual glint in her eyes is absent.

She tries to take a step away from me, but I don’t let her. I’m not anywhere near ready to lose the feel of her body in my grasp.

My grip tightens around her waist, and I push her back into the doorframe. My eyes drop to her full lips at the same second her skin flushes, starting at her chest and moving up toward her cheeks.

“Not so fast. I’m not done with you.”

---