Page 67 of Choosing a Forever
“What?!” Harper shrieks. “No! Absolutely not. It would be mortifying to be rejected and have to see him every day. To date someone in the cast and then break up and have to see them every day for the next two years? Talk about awkward.”
I nearly laugh. Yeah, it is fucking awkward. It was so difficult, I almost quit theatre and choir because of it. I don’t want Harper to go through what I went through.
Tal shrugs. “Not every relationship is meant to last, but I think they can all be a learning opportunity.”
“Can we please change the subject?” Harper mumbles, shuffling her food around her plate, cheeks still red.
Tal’s dimples peek out as he smiles. “Sure thing. Let’s talk about how things will be different now with me living here—and before you freak out, I’m not trying to be your parent, okay? I just want you to know I’m here if you need me. Any dinner or snack requests, you let me know because I’ll be taking over some of the cooking duties so Mack can have some free time. I don’t want you guys to feel like I’m encroaching on your space, okay? I’m just an extra set of hands to help out.”
“We have really busy schedules, so family dinners like this might not happen often,” Kinsley hedges.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not expecting big family dinners all the time. But I want to earn your trust, and that comes from spending time together sometimes. Deal?”
The twins share a look, using their twin-telepathy to have a conversation before they both look at Tal and nod.
“Thanks for being so cool with how quick this was, ladies. I hope I won’t disrupt your lives too much. There may be some nights I come in later because we rotate our shifts, but I’ll try to be as quiet as I can so I don’t disturb you.”
“Does Siren always go to the station with you?” Kinsley asks, looking over to the dog bed on the floor behind the couch.
Siren perks up at the sound of her name. She’s been really calm all day, probably because while Tal was fixing the grill, she ran around the yard like a maniac. It was adorable.
“Yeah, she usually comes with me. But you’re more than welcome to snuggle or play with her when she’s here. If you want to give her treats, just make sure you limit them. I don’t usually give her human food unless it's for special occasions, so just make sure you run things by me, okay?”
Kinsley and Harper nod rapidly.
After the girls and I cleaned up dinner and they played fetch with Siren, we put her in her crate and went our separate ways for bed.
Tal and I both work tomorrow, so we took turns showering—I didn’t forget my clothes in the bedroom this time—and now we’re lying in the dark trying to fall asleep.
I’m wearing another long-sleeved shirt and sweats, and I’m sweltering. I don’t have any blankets on me, but I still can’t get comfortable. I’m trying not to toss and turn too much, so I don’t disturb Talmage.
It doesn’t help that I can't stop thinking about what Tal’s body might feel like pressed against mine without the barrier of fabric. I’m still thinking about our almost-kiss in the kitchen earlier and wondering if he would have kissed me nice and slow or if there would be an urgency to it. Would he ravage my mouth and take what he wanted, or would he let me lead?
“Mack,” Tal whispers in the darkness. “Are you okay? You don’t seem comfortable.”
I let out a sigh. “I’m a little hot. I don’t usually wear long sleeves and pants to bed.”
“You don’t have to change the way you dress on my account. Go put on what you usually sleep in, I want you to get your rest.”
I want you to put your mouth on mine.
Ugh. Why can’t my brain function? I must be ovulating. That’s the only reason I’m so horny for my fake husband.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Do you want me to change into what I usually sleep in? Will that make you feel better?”
No. Yes. Fuck, I don’t know.
“If you want. I want you to be comfortable, too.”
Tal pats my shoulder. “I’ll go change in the bathroom, and you can change in here, then we’ll both feel more comfortable and be able to sleep.”
“Okay.”
He rolls off the bed and heads to the bathroom, then I get up and grab my tank top and shorts from the dresser and quickly change into them.
The cool air kisses my overheated skin, a nice reprieve from the suffocating heat I was experiencing. I might be able to get some rest, after all.
