Page 99 of Actually Yours

“It’s just that I still have to go through letters H, I, J, K before I can date you. L is for lawyer…” I squeal as he lunges at me, pulling me to him and effectively shutting me up with another kiss.

“That damn dating plan,” he mutters as we break apart.

“It’s done now.” I run my fingers over his furrowed brow, smoothing his worried lines away. “You are the only man I want to date for now…”

“And forever,” he finishes for me. His voice was confident and sure.

I lean into him, feeling safe and content in his arms. Finally.

“And forever. After all, I’m actually yours.”

He smiles and kisses me again.

“Actually mine.”

Forever.

EPILOGUE

Jake

Six months later

“Millie, are you home?”

I hear a thump, followed by a grunt, and then see a flash of pink hair and a bright smile hurtling towards me.

“You’re here!”

I catch Amelia in my arms and she wraps her legs around my waist, kissing me like it’s been weeks instead of the mere hours that have passed since I last saw her. Not that I’m complaining. After wanting her in secret for so long, I relish every minute of the affection she so freely gives me.

“We’re getting better at this!” I laugh, planting one more kiss on her mouth before letting her slide to the ground.

“Our best run and jump yet,” she agrees. Having watched all seven seasons ofGilmore Girlsduring our first few months of dating, Amelia has moved us onto watchingThe Bachelorand now has us practising ‘the run and jump.’ It’s what the contestants do on this show every time they see the lead: hop, skip, and jump into his arms, where he’s waiting to catch them. It’s ridiculous, but it also means that whenever I see her, she’s launching herself at me, so I’m not complaining.

“How was your day?” She moves away from me, pulling her hair into a messy bun on top of her head. This week her hair is a light pink colour, reminding me of an Easter egg.Who knows what colour she’ll opt for next week?

“Boring,” I tell her while I loosen my tie. My hours in the office have taken a drastic hit since I started dating Amelia, something my bosses have been grumbling about. But what I don’t get done in the ten full hours they demand that I stay in the sterile, fluorescent-lit office building, I finish up after hours, cuddled up on Amelia’s couch. It’s a win-win in my book.

“I’m glad you’re here.” I follow her into her small kitchen, watching as she lovingly waters her cactus plant. The one she calls Callie.

She’s so adorable.

“Why is that?”

“Because we’re not eating here tonight,” she says, garnering a groan from me. Although we’ve been together for just over half a year, she still hasn’t dragged me out of my introverted ways.

“What have you committed us to tonight?”

She gives me her very best puppy dog eyes.Oh, I will not like this.

“We’re meeting Robby and his new girlfriend for dinner at that new Thai restaurant down the road.”

So, that’s why she’s got her pleading face on. She’s agreed to go out with my brother and whichever girl he’s tricked into dating him this month!

“Do we have to?” I pull her into my arms and nuzzle my nose into her neck, using my own ways of persuading her to stay in. “Wouldn’t you rather have a night on the couch?”

I feel her resolve weakening before she rallies. “He’s trying, Jake. We need to meet him in the middle.”

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