Page 105 of Until Summer Ends

And that was that.

Zoe spent last night at Keira’s, which gave us a slow morning—although all mornings have been slow this week. We’ve probably indulged a little too much in make-up sex. I still need to go back and pack my apartment, but I don’t have to do that just yet.

“Don’t you have this big event tonight to prepare for?” I ask him now as he plays with the drawstring of my pajama pants while kissing around the band.

“I’ll call in someone to replace me.”

“You can’t keep doing that.” He’s already taken four “sick” days in the past week.

His gaze is lust-filled when he flicks it my way. “Watch me.”

I snicker, then pull his head up so I can kiss him. I feel his smile against my lips. “What happened to the man who wouldn’t dare ask for anything two months ago?”

“He figured out there was something more important than pleasing others.”

“Which is?”

Eli traces my jaw with his thumb. “Pleasing you.”

I keep a straight face for a second before I burst out laughing, tugging his face to my neck. “Think you’re being sly, Grant?”

He chuckles, his breaths sending goosebumps down my body. “I don’t know, is it working?”

“Yeah, it is.”

He kisses me once more, this time tangling his tongue with mine as he begins pulling my pants down.

I pull away. “However, we do need to get out of this bed. I need to get going on finding a job.”

He groans. “I just want to have you all to myself for one more day.”

I don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing these kinds of words from his mouth.

“I can’t live off you forever.” I sit and tug one of Eli’s T-shirts over my head.

“No?”

“No.” I lean down to kiss his cheek, then walk to the bathroom to wash my face. Eli appears behind me a minute later, his naked chest still on full display in the mirror. I suddenly regret leaving the bed. He seems to realize where my gaze has landed because he smirks as he brings his arms around me.

It still feels surreal, that this is my life.

“Do you want me to come with you today?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I can’t stay cooped up in here or with you forever.”

Worry is etched across his features, and while I understand where it’s coming from, I don’t want him worried about me every time I leave the house.

I turn to take his jaw in my hands. “I’ll be okay. I need to face these people at some point. Better get used to it.” Do I want to see my father again? See my high school bullies? Not one bit, but it will happen whether I want it or not, and I’ll have to slowly but surely become okay with it.

His throat works on a heavy swallow. “You’ll call me if you need anything?”

“Yes, chef.”

“You’re not going anywhere?” he whispers, forehead dropping against mine.

It makes my heart ache to see and hear the doubts that I instilled in him, but I’ll spend the rest of my life showing him I’m all in on this.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

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