Page 131 of I Knead You Tonight

Things between us haven’t been magically easy, especially throwing my surgery and recovery into the mix, but we’ve been putting in the effort to make it work.

She enrolled in culinary school, leaving her less time to work at Slice, which means I had to step up and really get my photography business off the ground.

At first, she was against me starting the business. It wasn’t because she didn’t believe in me, because she always has, but because she thought I wasn’t doing it out of sincere desire. I finally sat her down and showed her the thousands of photos I’ve taken over the years and even laid out the business model I’ve had saved since before my accident but never took the initiative on.

She understood then that the only thing that was holding me back was my own fear and basically told me how dumb I was for not believing in myself.

She’s lucky her candor is a total turn-on.

With how hard I’ve been hitting the grind—and through Drew’s constant encouragement—I’m already looking to turn a profit with Daniels’ Digitals in the first year.

It’s weird how sometimes what we fear the most ends up bringing us the most joy.

I can’t believe there was ever a day when I was scared to take my love of photography to the next level.

I’m good at what I do. I know that—I’veknownthat, but I never thought I was good-enough-to-have-a-waitlist kind of good.

These last few months have proven me wrong.

I pull into my driveway and take the stairs two at a time.

“Hey, I’m here!” I say, throwing open the front door.

Drew’s standing with her arms crossed, glaring at me. “Were you flirting with Susan again?”

“What can I say?” I grin, crossing the room and sweeping her into my arms. “She’s hot for an old broad.”

I capture her lips in a kiss.

It’ll never get old, coming home to her.

Sure, we’d been living together for a while before officially calling this what it is, but it didn’t feeljust rightuntil we stopped being afraid and took that next step.

Now, it feels like Drew was always supposed to be here with me, like us being together was the plan all along.

Drew begins to melt into me but catches herself at the last minute, pushing away.

“Winston, wecannotbe late.”

“Then stop assaulting me so I can go shower.”

“Youkissedme!”

“Then stop being so damn kissable.”

She shoves me toward the bedroom. “Go. We have to leave in less than ten minutes!”

“All right, all right. I’m going.” I pull my shirt over my head in the middle of the living room. “But just so you know, this”—I wave my hand over my body, making my pecs jump—“is what you’re missing out on.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, the lint stuck to your belly button hairs is getting me so wet right now. Moister than a damn oyster.”

I glance down. “Well, fuck.”

“Go shower. And for god’s sake, clean your damn belly button.”

She shakes her head, heading down the hall to finish getting Riker ready, muttering the whole time about how she can’t believe she’s actually dating me.

I beeline to the shower, jumping in and out in under five minutes.

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