Page 122 of One Good Puck
“I was panicking,” he says. “I thought you’d freak out at hearing me call you my girlfriend.”
I shake my head and lean away so I can look at him.
“I wasn’t freaking out. I was stunned. And so happy.”
His mouth curves up in the most beautiful smile. “I’m crazy about you, Abby. I have been for a while.”
I’m grinning so hard, my cheeks hurt. “I feel the same way about you.”
Intensity flashes in his eyes. Like he’s happy and overwhelmed all at once.
A million thoughts swirl around my brain. I close my eyes and shake my head, then look at him again.
“I’m tired of pushing aside my feelings for you,” I say. “I want to be yours.”
A fire burns in Gavin’s eyes as he gazes at me.
“I know this is crazy. I mean, we’ve only been more than friends for a handful of months,” I say. “And I know I’m supposed to move out soon and get my own place for Emma and me. It’s probably terrible for us to start a relationship this way.”
“Says who?”
I open my mouth, then shake my head and laugh. “It’s just a little unconventional. We were friends, then roommates, then friends with benefits, and now we’re in a relationship. That’s not how things are supposed to go.”
The corner of his mouth hooks up in a confident half-smile. “Who cares? If it feels right to us, then what does any of that matter?”
He says it so confidently, without doubt or hesitation.And that’s when I realize that he’s right. As long as we’re both happy and comfortable with each other, nothing else matters.
I run my fingers through his hair. “You’re right,” I say softly. “Nothing matters but us.”
His mouth curves up in a gentle smile before he drops a soft kiss to my mouth.
“I don’t want you to move out,” he says.
“You don’t?”
He shakes his head. “I mean, I would understand if you want to. If you want your own space for you and Emma while we officially start dating, I get it. But I love having you both at the house. It doesn’t feel like a home without the two of you there.”
My heart bounces around my chest. He’s being so open and vulnerable with his feelings for me, and it means the world.
“Okay. We’ll stay.”
He grins wide.
“I think we should keep our own bedrooms through, at least for now,” I say. “I think it’s important to have our own space.”
He nods. “Yeah, of course.”
“I want to tell Emma about us too,” I say. “Until I do, is it okay if we keep things the way they are? No PDA or staying the night in each other’s beds? I know that’s not ideal, but…”
He pulls me close. “Of course that’s all okay. Your daughter comes first, always. I’m okay with doing whatever you think is best for her,” he says. “I don’t need anything to change between us, Abby. I just want to know that you’re mine and I’m yours.”
Emotion surges through me. This man. Beyond amazing.
I cup my hand over his stubbled cheek and stare at him. “How did I get lucky enough to find a guy like you?”
“I’m the lucky one, sweetness.”
He leans in and pulls me in for a slow, teasing kiss. Tingles fly all over me as his tongue teases mine. I claw at his suit jacket, my pussy aching.
