Page 100 of A Minute More

“I’m fine, really. Just a bit of a mishap with some wiring and an out-of-control machine.”

I huff a laugh and then run a hand down my face. “Well, that’s it then. I’m moving in.”

Simon’s mouth falls open. “What?”

“I’m moving in. You’re incapacitated. I almost lost you.”

Simon smiles softly. “You didn’t almost lose me. I’m fine.”

“Yes, but I could have. And that makes it even worse. Icouldhave lost you. So I’m done waffling. I’m getting my shit this weekend and moving in.”

“Wesley,” Simon says, but I can see how happy this has made him, his hands trembling slightly as he tugs on his ear.

“No arguing. We’ve waited long enough. You’re it for me. That’s all there is to it.”

I kneel beside him and kiss him fiercely, and he kisses me back, his hands threading through my hair.

“You’re it for me too.”

EPILOGUE

SIMON

Wesley has moved in, and I couldn’t be happier. He’s a bit of a mother hen even though my ankle is much better now, but I’m glad that I fell, glad that I twisted my ankle. Only because now I have him with me all the time.

Like I said. He is it for me.

I don’t want another.

I’m so fucking relieved that he’s here with me. It’s like all the puzzle pieces have fallen into place. Everything worked out like it should have.

“You need to sit down,” Wesley says, his mouth pulled into a frown. “I told you I’m cooking dinner.”

“I’m fine,” I say and he huffs in annoyance.

“But the doctor said to take it easy.”

“And I have been. You’ve made sure I’ve done nothing else.”

He folds his arms across his chest and then his face softens and he pulls me into him, kissing me gently.

“Please sit, baby. Let me take care of you.”

I melt and hobble over to the stool that is tucked under the counter. Wesley tuts around me like a meddling old grandmother before moving back to the stove and working on finishing what I started.

“So I was thinking about this kitchen and what I’d like to do with it.”

I roll my lips between my teeth and my heart flutters in my chest. God, I love him. I’ve loved him for months and now he’s mine. All mine. I get to fall asleep with him and wake up with him. I get to live my life with him for as long as I want.

I want forever.

As I listen to him ramble on about all the upgrades he’d like to do, what he wants to do himself, and what he’d like to contract out, I find myself overcome. Interrupting him, my cheeks on fire, my entire body warm, I blurt, “I love you.”

Wesley stops mid-sentence and blinks at me, looking confused. “What?”

“I…well, I love you. I just love you, Wesley. I’m in love with you.”

His lips turn up in a wide smile, and he sets the spoon down that he was using to stir the pasta.

“That’s good,” he says as he walks toward me and steps between my legs. “Because I love you too.”

He leans down and kisses me softly, and I melt into him, pulling him as close as he can get and just holding him there.

“Forever?” he asks when we finally pull apart, our breath mingling, our hearts beating as one.

“Forever.”

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