Page 62 of Forgotten Desires

His fingers make patterns on my back as we lie here. As if this marriage was real and we weren’t just playing house.

“I didn’t understand how someone could literally be everything I wanted in life. You were smart, unbelievably beautiful, funny, quick, and sarcastic. I didn’t even have to explain things, you just understood. I remember the one day I purposely said stupid shit to see if you were going to just be meek, but you weren’t.”

I lift my head. “You did that on purpose?”

He pissed me off so much that day.

“Don’t be mad, I was convinced you were a fantasy and that when I woke up, it was going to be painful.”

“It was the first day I thought that maybe you were an asshole who I should’ve kicked out.”

Crew smiles at me. “You stood your ground.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course I did. You were being an idiot.”

“I was, and the fact that you told me in about twenty different ways made me love you more. I wasn’t used to girls standing up to me. The girls that were around me knew who I was, so they wanted something. You just wanted me.”

I huff, laying back down. “Clearly there’s something wrong with me.” He tickles my side and I burst out laughing, squirming, and begging him to stop. “Oh my God! Crew!”

He stops and I work to catch my breath. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

I grin, staring into his beautiful eyes. “You’re right, it’s you who is a mess.”

“You’re not wrong, but you married me.”

“I wonder what that says about me?”

“That you are a kind soul who took pity on a poor man,” he says back.

“Poor?” I toss at him. “There’s nothing poor about you, babe.”

“Ahh, but am I rich in life?” Crew asks and I shake my head.

“Considering you have me as a wife now, I’d say so.”

Crew brushes his thumb against my lips. “You’re the best decision I’ve ever made, even if it won’t last.”

My heart pounds as the idea of not having him again hits me hard. This arrangement just started and already I’m sad thinking about the end.

“Are you trying to seduce me again?” I ask playfully, not wanting to think of sad things.

“Is it working?”

I grin and then lay my head back down. “Nope.”

“I guess I need to up my game then.”

I wrap my arm around him a little tighter and listen to the sound of his heartbeat replaying the good parts of today.

Like his face when he saw me as I walked toward him or the way he held me as we danced. I think of how his voice wavered when he made false promises to me and I repeated them to him.

All of it plays like a movie behind my eyelids and the one I watch the most is the kiss we shared on the dance floor . . .

Crew shifts under me, and I open my eyes to the sun blaring through the windows.

Crap. We fell asleep on the couch and slept with me practically on top of him.

“Are you awake?” he asks with his deep sleepy voice.

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