the eye. “I can’t promise you nothing is ever going to change, because this is still new, but I don’t want to leave you. You make me happy in a way no one else ever has. I can promise that if you’re good for Noah, I’d never cut you out of his life.”
“But you might cut me out of yours?”
“No!” She squeezed my hand. “I’m not going to. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I want you guys to move in with me.” I hadn’t planned to say it, but it just kind of came out.
“What?”
“I don’t want to just be part of your life a few days a week. I want to be all in.”
She moved away slightly. “We can’t just move in with you.”
“Why not?”
“Child care. Our sitters and his daycare are in Wilmington.”
“You’re still going to work there. You can take him to the same daycare. And we can find sitters here. I have the space. Yeah, you’d have to drive further to work, but wouldn’t it be worth it?”
She didn’t say anything for a minute. “Isn’t this a little fast?”
“Not for me. Besides, you’re trying to save money. With the money you’d save on rent, you’d be able to pay for school in no time. Or you could just let me—”
“No. Absolutely not. You’re not paying.”
“Fine.” I decided not to bring Austen up. It wouldn’t help.
“I don’t know. It’s a big decision, and I need to think about it.”
“Think about it. There’s no expiration on the offer.”
She smiled. “Okay, I’ll think about it.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Maybe for something sweet. It’s Halloween, and I haven’t had anything yet.”
“I’ve got that brownie ice cream you like, and Noah made bank trick or treating tonight.”
“Did he get any Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?”
“I’m sure he did.” I hopped off the couch and searched through his bag until I found the orange wrapper.
“Perfect.” She took a bite. “What time do you have work tomorrow?”
“Nine. We can sleep in as late as Noah does.”
“Good, I’m exhausted.”
“I bet.” I moved behind her so I could give her a shoulder rub. “You’re so tense.”
“I know.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
She moaned. “That.”
I assumed she meant the back rub and continued.
She moaned again. “I could get used to this.”
“I’ve given you these plenty of times before.”
“Yeah, but not after a long day of work.”
“You know what my reply to that is going to be.”
She laughed. “What, that I can have one every time I come home?”
I let go of her shoulders and pulled her back against me. “Every single time.”
“Do you also cook and clean too? I mean if you’re trying to sell the opportunity.”
“You know I cook. And clean…this is as good as it gets.”
“Are there any other services I should know about?”
“Yeah, and I’d be happy to demonstrate those if you’d just follow me into the bedroom.”
“That sounds appealing, very appealing, but I’m going to take a shower first.”
“I’d ask to join you, but I’m going to be responsible and say I’ll listen for Noah so you can actually enjoy your shower stress free.”
“And you’ll be rewarded for your thoughtfulness.” She brushed her lips against mine before heading into my room.
She may not have actually agreed yet, but I knew she was going to say yes. Emily’s maybes could mean either, but you could always tell. She wanted to say yes, but was too scared. I’d just have to give her some encouragement. I hadn’t actually planned on asking them to move in, but once the idea got planted in my head I needed it. Things were moving fast, but I didn’t see any reason to slow them down. I’d never been surer of anything in my life.
I heard the water turn off and listened at Noah’s door before turning out the lights and heading into my room. I left the door open a tiny bit so we could still hear Noah, but I had a feeling we’d need the privacy. I pulled off my t-shirt and slipped out of my jeans. I lounged on my bed waiting for her. We’d spent tons of nights together, but I was ridiculously excited to have her in my bed again.
She came out of the bathroom a few minutes later wearing one of my Clayton Falls Mustangs t-shirts from high school. It was worn out and faded, but damn it looked so good on her. “I like the pajamas.”
“I didn’t remember to pack any. I’m going to borrow a pair of your shorts too for