Page 79 of Love Story

“Do you want to?”I asked, feeling nervous.“I mean, it’s not that big, and maybe you’d rather go to Harriet’s first or—”

Ben cut me off with a decisive shake of his head.“Nope.You said it now.I’m moving in.”

Ryan let out a whoop.“Called it!I’ll help you unload, but only if you promise to keep the PDA to a minimum.”

Ben grinned, leaning into me.“No promises.”

When we pulled into the driveway, seeing Conor and Haider standing outside the house made me pause.They leaned against Conor’s truck, coffee cups in hand, chatting with my parents.

“Well, look who decided to come home!”Conor called, pushing off the truck and heading toward me.

“Thought we’d get here before you did,” Haider added, his tone smug as he followed.

I climbed out of the truck, barely managing a greeting before Conor wrapped me in a bear hug.“Good to see he’s come back with you,” he said, thumping my back with enough force to rattle my ribs.

“Me too,” I muttered, though I couldn’t hide the smile tugging at my lips.

Haider was next, a little less aggressive but no less sincere.“Whoop!”That was all I got from him, and it summed up everything.

“Hey, Ben!”Conor strode over, pulling him into a hug before he could protest.Ben was surprised but didn’t pull away.“Welcome home, buddy.”

Haider joined in, wrapping an arm around Ben’s shoulders.“Knew you weren’t going to break Sam’s heart.”

Ben flushed under their attention.“Thanks,” he managed, overwhelmed.

Mom, of course, had to make her presence known.“It’s about time you boys got here,” she said, hands on her hips but smiling.“I was just telling Conor and Haider they’re not allowed to slack off while you two settle in.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Mrs.C,” Conor said with a mock salute.“We’re here to work.”

“And to ensure these two lovebirds don’t get sidetracked with all the kissing and the mooning,” Haider added, earning an exasperated groan from me and a laugh from Ben.

“Seriously, though,” Conor said, his usual teasing grin softened as he turned to Ben.“Sam’s always been happy, you know?But now?Now, he’s not going to be lonely anymore.And, bonus, I don’t have to marry him.”

I groaned, rolling my eyes.“Again, with this?”

Ben, bless him, was confused.“Can someone explain this?”

“Sam and I had a pact,” Conor explained with a dramatic shrug.“If we hit thirty and neither were married, we’d just marry each other.Practical, right?”

“‘Practical’?It was a joke,” I said, glaring at him.“And for the record, I was never serious about it.”

Conor smirked.“Well, I’m officially off the hook now.”

“Likewise,” I shot back, though my lips twitched with a suppressed smile.

Ben deadpanned, “Glad I could be useful.”

That broke the tension, and Haider laughed, clapping Ben on the back.“You fit right in.”

Conor grinned and pointed at Ben.“You keep him happy, all right?”

“Or you’ll have me to answer to,” Haider added, then thumbed toward Ryan, who’d stayed out of the teasing so far.“Well, when I say me, what I mean is that I’ll set Ryan on you.”

“Jesus, Haider,” I muttered, earning another round of laughter.Ben just shook his head with a small smile as he leaned into me.

Ben glanced at me, then he turned back to Conor and Haider, a genuine smile spreading across his face.“I’ll keep him happy,” he said.“I love Sam.”

He snuggled into my side when he said that, and my heart felt so full, and emotions pricked my eyes.I turned him in my arms, tipped his chin, and kissed him.“I love you, Ben.”

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