Page 41 of Only Ever Yours

I pop my head back up to look in his direction. “Jaydon, they just got married and have a baby on the way… I can’t impose on them like that.”

“Fuck, that sucks… well what the hell are you going to do then?” he asks, studying my face.

“Gee, Jaydon, I don’t fucking know.” I snap. “If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here crying and stuffing my face with pizza and Sno-Caps.”

“The Sno-Caps are pretty good, though…” he winks, then his devilish, panty-melting smirk suddenly appears.

I huff loudly. “Yep… they are great,” I say, my voice defeated, and I lean back against the couch.

Only then do I realize Jaydon has his arm behind me—and I’m somehow snuggled right into the crook of his arm.

I don’t fucking move.

I can’t do anything at this point. I have zero fucks left to give.

“You’re never going to find something in two days, Ellie…” he throws out casually.

It's the truth, but it's harsh.

I’m off from work for the next few days and have to figure something out.

I stare at the wall as I grumble, “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Jaydon.”

“I’m serious… Do you really fucking think that you are going to find a place to stay in two days?” he presses further.

I sigh deeply.

I respond slowly, desperation evident in my voice, “I don’t know.”

A new tear slowly trickles out from the corner of my eye.

I roll my head to the side to stare at Jaydon.

Fuck.

My face is so dangerously close to his. I should feel uncomfortable with his sister watching our every move, but it's not like that this time.

I almost feel sincerity shining in his eyes. He intently studies my face while rolling his bottom lip into his mouth. His eyebrows pinch right before he suddenly speaks.

“You can just stay with me,” he says, his voice low and serious.

“What!?” Haleigh and I both blurt at the same time, stunned.

I push myself to sit up straighter.

“Until you find something else, just stay with me,” he adds with a shrug, like what he just offered is no big deal. “You can pay me whatever you can afford until you find somewhere else to live… do you have a better idea?”

Haleigh jumps in before I can respond. “That’s actually a great idea, Jay.”

“Wait, I didn’t agree to this yet…” I interject.

“Pea—” Jaydon starts, but I glare so hard at him, he cuts himself off, quickly correcting, “… Ellie.” He drags my name out a bit with a soft chuckle, he almost fucked up and called me Peachy. “It will be fine. I’m hardly there anyway. You probably won't even see me much. I have a bit of travel coming up in the next few weeks, and you will have the place all to yourself.”

I stare at him. I can’t believe I’m about to agree to this shit, but I have no other options.

“Okay,” I say reluctantly, still trying to think it all through in my head. “I guess it could work. We can discuss payment and rules tomorrow.”

“Rules?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow.

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