Page 100 of Actually Yours

I sigh. She’s right. In the weeks after we first got together, Robby’s behaviour had been as expected. Tantrums, silenttreatment, blow-ups. But once he realised that me and Amelia were here to stay and he was the expendable one in my life, he came around. Somewhat. Amelia has been amazing through it all, playing peacemaker, trying to get us both to be reasonable, and I know it’s because of her that my brother and I are on decent terms, even if I had to end our roommate agreement. It was too difficult having Amelia and him thrown into the same space constantly. Robby had to go.

“Fine, let’s meet them early so we can get home early.”

She laughs, wagging her finger at me. “I can see right through you. You’re pretending it’s because you want to get away from your brother, but really you want to get home in time to watchThe Bachelor.”

Busted.I don’t trust us to not get spoiled if we don’t watch it live. A fact that amuses Amelia endlessly.

“Well, it’s your fault for getting me hooked,” I grumble. “I need to know who Zac picks.”

She throws her head back with laughter and I marvel again that she’s mine. This shiny, glorious woman in front of me, who lives her life in multi-colour, actually wants to spend her life with me.

“Fine, let’s have a quick bite to eat and then get you home in time for your reality TV fix.”

Decision made, I make my way to her bedroom, where most of my clothes are hanging in her small closet. Everything about Amelia’s place is small, meant for just one petite woman, and I’m more than ready for the day we can move into a place that we own together. So far, we’ve been happy having our separate places to retreat to, and when I say we, I mean Amelia, because I’d move in with her in a heartbeat. In fact, that’s something I need to talk to her about. I just need to make sure I sweeten the deal a bit.

“Are you busy tomorrow?” I yell the question down the hallway while I change into a casual pair of blue jeans and a green cashmere jumper that is suitable for the cooler autumn climate. Amelia loves it when I wear green, something about my eyes looking like emeralds when I do.

“Nothing much,” she replies. “I’m working in the afternoon. Why?”

I don’t answer her, hoping to keep my plans for the morning a secret. Over the last six months, Amelia has grown so much emotionally. She’s now closer with her dad and his family, has worked through a lot of her issues with her mum and has started therapy. I’ve gone to a few sessions with her, knowing it’s important for our relationship for me to be a part of her journey to healing. Her ability to open up and trust in herself, her feelings and emotions, and most of all her trust in me, have only gotten stronger with time. So much so that I think she’s ready for the next step. The next two steps, in fact.

“I’ve also been busy making secret plans.”

She lights up with pleasure and she sashays over to me, a determined look on her face.Uh oh, she’s going to get the information out of me. I’m a sucker for this woman.

“Tell me.” She purrs at me, her face inches away from mine.

I shake my head, rolling my lips into a tight line.

She brushes her lips over the pulse point on my neck.Oh, she’s playing dirty.

“Please?”

I pick her up and move her away from me, seconds away from cracking and telling her all my plans.

“Come on, Jake. You know I hate secrets!” She pouts at me and I can’t hold back my smile. It’s a known fact that she hates secrets, surprises or anything where she can’t have an input. It’s one of the many things I love about her.

“Fine.” I make a big show of giving in, when in reality I knew that I was going to tell her everything the minute she asked me. “Ruin the surprise, why don’t you?”

She pulls me to the couch and turns her body to face me, an empty packet of Tiny Teddies on the coffee table next to us.

“Go!”

I take her small hand in mine, marvelling at how something so delicate holds my whole life in its palm. “I’ve been thinking…about our future.”

Her expression grows serious, and she scoots closer to me until our knees are touching.

“What about it?”

“We’ve been together for how long now?”

“Six amazing months,” she answers instantly.

“And it’s been the best six months of my life.”

She plants a soft kiss on my lips. “Mine too.”

“So, I’ve been thinking about us taking the next step.”

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