completely reliant on each other. Tonight, we’re going to sulk and curse the world, but tomorrow you need to reach out to your sisters at least.”
He sighs. “I’ll call Leita. At least I think she’ll be okay. God—” He rubs his forehead. “I don’t think I could survive if I never saw my nephews again.”
“That won’t happen.” I squeeze his hand tighter, hoping I’m not just talking out of my ass. “And Piper?”
“Yeah, I don’t know. But I guess this thing just happens one day at a time.”
“Exactly.”
He lets out a long breath as he hangs his head back. “I feel so sick.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Because I’m kind of relieved as well. There’s no hiding anymore, and if I know my mom, she’ll already be on the phone talking about it so … yeah. I guess it’s done.”
Unfortunately, he’s probably right about that. Lori Taylor, Joan Everett, and Brenda Harvey are like the town criers when it comes to spreading news.
I reach over and trace the tattoos on Rowan’s hand. Nerves settle in my gut as I consider what I’m about to offer. “You can probably, you know, pick a bedroom or something while you’re here. Not tonight though—I want you in here. I just mean if you have nowhere else to stay and you wanted to, like, move in, but not in a moving in together kind of way …” That thought needs to immediately stop before I sound like even more of an idiot. “Sorry, rambling.”
He chuckles. “It’s cute. You’re not usually a rambler.”
“I don’t usually ask my boyfriend to move in with me though either.”
He doesn’t immediately respond, and when I look up, his eyes have gone all wide.
It hits me.
Oh no, I dropped the b word. Well freaking done, Circus, you damn animal.
“I didn’t mean—”
“I think I’m in love with you.”
Now it’s my turn to look like I’ve been hit in the face with a frying pan. “You … what?”
He nods. “I love you. And I want that.”
I’m still in shock. “To … move in, or …?”
“To move in, like, in a separate room, of course. And to be boyfriends.”
“Not roommates?”
He shakes his head. “Some dumb idiot told me roommates never works.”
“He sounds wise.” I push up and climb over Rowan’s lap so I’m straddling him. “Do you mean it?”
“Yes.”
“And you love me?”
He goes to look away, but I quickly grab his face. “Yes.”
“Good. Because I love you too. And this time, there’s no running away.”
The buzz of my phone comes entirely too early for my liking. I blink open my eyes, and the first thing I see is Circus’s naked form stretched out beside me. Everything that happened last night comes rushing back.
I still feel sick, of course, but I wasn’t lying when I said there was relief there too.
With a quiet groan, I roll toward the side table and retrieve my phone.
Piper: Are you okay?
Circus is snoring quietly, and I’m growing to love that sound. But instead of pulling him close, like armor, I climb out of bed, pull on some underwear, and head for the opposite side of the house.
It’s sort of surreal waking up here. The house is luxurious and not what I’m used to for sure, but it also feels right. Circus built this place for his future family, and hey, maybe one day that’ll be me.
I start up his coffee maker once I get into the kitchen, then snap a photo in front of the same view Circus is always posting. It’s weird thinking that a few months back, I was looking at his photo in the exact same spot, wondering whether I should say good morning like the countless other people were.
Now I get to say it in person.
I post the photo, then open Piper’s message again.
I finally text back.
Rowan: I really don’t know
Piper: Yikes
Rowan: Yup.
Piper: I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.
Rowan: Of course you didn’t. I kept it to myself as much as I could.
I pour myself a cup of coffee and take a sip, needing the caffeine before I get into the rest of the conversation.
Rowan: How were things after I left?
Piper: Umm … tense. Which you’d probably guess.
Rowan: Yeah, I figured. Do I want to know what was said?
Piper: Not really. It was mostly Grandpa, if I’m honest. I don’t think Gran said anything at all, and Mom and Dad were just … I don’t even know.
That doesn’t make me feel any better. At all.
Rowan: Anyone even try to stand up for me?
Piper: By ‘anyone’