Page 63 of Be Your Forever
“Asher…What the fuck is that?” She points to the boxes.
“Um, they’re your books. I knew you wanted to get rid of them, but I couldn’t donate them. I just knew you’d want them back one day, so instead of bringing them to Goodwill, I brought them back to my place. I’m sorry if I crossed a line, I just—”
Words lodge in my throat as Bri stands there, jaw unhinged in complete silence.
Shit, I overstepped. I knew I shouldn't have kept this a secret from her. I should have—
Mythoughts come to a screeching halt when Bri's body collides into mine. Kisses fall from her sweet lips onto my skin, peppering me in her affection.
Okay, so she’snotmad, then.
"Oh my God!!" she practically screeches. "I can't believe you kept them!” Each word is punctuated with open mouthed kisses across my entire face. Every press of her lips sends electrical shocks throughout my system and blood rushing south. "This is the most thoughtful thing anyone's ever done for me!"
“This is so thoughtful. I can’t believe you kept them. Oh my God.” Bri’s body shakes with tears, and I carry her to the couch, cradling her in my arms.
“Of course I kept them. They’re a part of you, and I just couldn’t bear to toss away something you love so deeply. We can load my car up and bring them back to your place, if you want.”
“Our place.” Her words catch me off guard.
“What?” I ask.
“I want you to move in with me. It’s not home without you in it. I want you in every corner of my house. I want to make a home with you. I miss you like crazy when you’re not with me, so do you want to?”
“Hell yeah, I do. Home is wherever you are. This place is just that, a place. I hate the days when I don’t wake up next to you.”
Bri straddles my lap before kissing me. I tilt her head back so I can deepen the kiss further. We’re so lost in the moment that I forget about the books on the floor.
“Hold on, Bri. We have to do the book exchange.”
“Oh, yeah. Although, with both bags being identical and on the floor, I don’t know which is which.”
“I guess we’ll just have to pick whatever bag, and if we pick our own, we can just switch.” Bri leaps off my lap to grab both bags. She hands me one before sitting next to me.
“On the count of three?” she suggests.
“One…two…three.” We pull the books out simultaneously, and then I see we picked out the same book. We look at each other and keel over with laughter.
“Why doesn’t this surprise me?” Bri asks.
“I guess we just know each other so well.”
“We can buddy read it together now. Ah, this is so exciting. I’ve never had a boyfriend who likes to read. I can’t wait to lay with each other and read this ridiculous book. I mean, robot sex? How does that even happen?”
“That’s what I thought when I saw it. And how thick of a cock can a robot have? Make it make sense.”
“Seriously, it’s ridiculous. I think this book will look perfect on my shelf. Um.” Bri shifts in her seat, tossing nervous glances toward the boxes that litter my floor. She looks uncomfortable, but I remain silent, knowing she’ll say what’s on her mind when she’s ready. “So, this may sound like it’s random, but I think it’s time I talk to Max. I miss my brother so much, and I hate that I’ve kept him in the dark. He built me that bookshelf, and just thinking of putting the books back on my shelf has me thinking about my relationship with him.”
“That’s great, Bri. Do you want me to come with you? Or is this something you need to do on your own?”
“I’d really like you to be there. Maybe not in the same room when I’m having the conversation, but just knowing you’d be there makes me feel better about it.”
“Then I’ll be there. Oh, hey, I talked to Gage about possibly stepping back and starting a new venture. He’s down with it, so let me know when you’re ready to start planning everything.”
“This is happening for real then, huh? It wasn’t something you said because you thought it’d make me happy?”
“Of course it’s real. I want to do this with you, and I’m not doing this just to make you happy. Doing this with you will make me happy, too.”
“Well, I should probably formally quit my salon job before we do anything. My boss has been incredible with everything, letting me take leave while I recovered from everything. As long as you’re doing it with me, then I’m all in.”
