Page 104

“Here,” he confirms.

“You and me?” I probably sound like an idiot, but I’m fairly certain I’m in shock.

“You and me.” His smile widens.

“I...” I do a full three-sixty spin, taking in the relatively large space. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You can start by telling me how you feel.”

“About you moving here?” I force myself to meet his gaze, having not expected to find doubt swimming behind those incredible green eyes of his. “I’m...” I close the space between us in an instant. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”

“For us.” He tips my chin, tilting my face up to his. “Unless it’s too much. If it’s too much, I can—”

“It’s not too much,” I cut him off. “It’s... perfect.” I throw my arms around his neck, my feet leaving the floor seconds later asRiver lifts me off the ground, his arms wrapped around my back so tightly it’s almost hard to breathe, not that I mind.

Burying his face into my hair, he takes an audible breath.

“Is that a yes?” he asks after a long moment, lowering me to my feet.

“Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes,” I repeat, sliding my cheek against his before my lips find their mark at the corner of his mouth. “Yes. Yes. Yes,” I repeat, moving to cover his mouth fully with mine.

He deepens the kiss, his fingers splaying across my spine as he holds me firmly in place.

“Wait.” I pull back abruptly. “Lyric knew about this?” I don’t know why, but the realization takes much longer than it should to dawn on me.

“She did.” He sweeps his thumb over my bottom lip. “Who do you think helped me?”

“That brat.” I pout. “I can’t believe she didn’t say anything.”

“To be fair, I made her swear on her life not to tell you.”

“I can’t believe you did this.”

“But you’re happy I did?”

“Are you kidding me?” I stare up at him. “This is... Everything. When do you move in?”

“I signed the lease already, so technically, I can move in now if I want. Though, I do have some things to settle in North Carolina beforehand, so I’m thinking next week at the earliest. Though you’re welcome to move in today if you want.”

“Maisie’s going to kill me,” I say as I realize it. “First Lyric, now me. We’re abandoning her one after the other.”

“I think Maisie will enjoy a single room more than she’ll let on.”

I think on that for a moment, realizing he’s probably right, given the lack of privacy having a roommate gives you. Especially when said roommate basically locks you out everyweekend when her out-of-town boyfriend comes to visit. Sorry, not sorry. I smile to myself.

“I think I’ll wait until you move in before I do. I don’t want to stay here by myself.”

“Okay. But will you at least stay here with me tonight?” His grip on me tightens. “We could order food. Set up a picnic on the floor. Spend the night christening every imaginable surface.” His lips brush against mine.

“I think I like the way you think, Mr. Parker.” I smile against his mouth.

“Is that a yes?”

“A thousand times, yes. To all of it.” My fingers once again find his hair, diving into the thick strands as anticipation lights up my body like a freaking Christmas tree.

“Fuck, I love you, Red,” he grumbles against my lips, deepening the kiss.

“I love you more.” I slide my tongue against his, desire pooling low in my belly.