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“But I couldn’t. It might have been the goodness you put out in the world, or the way you took every day as a joy and a challenge, but it all equated to me wanting to be around you and absorbing even a tenth of your happiness. After our first kiss, I wondered why I became so obsessed when it appeared you forgot about it the minute it was over?—”

“No, Connor. I wanted to be in your life, and I thought that if that meant friendship, I’d take it in a heartbeat. The kiss meant… everything.”

I leaned closer and pressed my mouth to his, breathing him in and loving the closeness we shared.

“For me, too. While I struggled with not doing everything to sweep you off your feet, I somehow understood a big gesture wouldn’t impress you the way I wanted. And the time away in Vancouver wasn’t ideal, but when we talked every night, it gave me hope each time you lit up when you saw me on screen. The powerful notion of finding the right person hit me harder than I expected.”

Ollie sighed as he slotted his face against my neck.

“You’re not mad at me?”

I regretted the words when his head snapped up and his brows furrowed as he studied my face.

“Why would I be mad at you?” He asked, confused.

So, I gave him my honest answer. “Because if I learned about someone else touching you, the jealous rage beast inside my chest would trigger and I’d howl at the knowledge.”

“Are we boyfriends?” He asked.

“Of course we are.”

“Are you planning on cheating?”

The answer was immediate. “No! I would never do that to you!”

He cupped my face and kissed me, and I relaxed as the tension drained from my body.

“The decisions you made throughout your life led me to you. And I know I matter to you with every gesture and word you speak. You communicate with me whether it’s something big or small. I trust you, beautiful. And…”

I lifted my eyebrow, waiting.

“Don’t get me wrong, I can choose to be jealous because other people have seen you naked. But we’re together now. And jeopardizing our relationship for a trivial moment in the past would hurt us in the long run. We have a future together and holding onto resentment for a time before we got together is a waste of time and energy. I’m with you wherever life takes us.”

Unable to stay away, I leaned forward and kissed him. Only to pull back when my mobile rang with my mama’s ringtone. The smile that lit up my boyfriend’s face at the familiar sound allowed the swell of happiness to surge in my chest.

“Hey, mama,” I answered.

“Do I have a grand baby out there?”

“No, mama. Trust me, if Ollie and I decide to have kids, you’ll be the first person we tell. And trust me, that’s the only way you’d get grandkids from me. All of what the tabloids are reporting isn’t true. Maggie and Maisie will clear it up.”

Ollie gasped, and I sent him a wink, which brought out a delicious blush on his cheeks. Then I paused, since mama was never one to listen to gossip or read about celebrity news. “Wait, how did you find out? I only learned about it.”

“Landon.”

“What?” I asked.

There was a rustling sound, and Landon came on the phone.“That was hilarious. You know mama doesn’t pay attention to gossip. I thought you’d freak if she called.”

“Bro, do you need me to sit you down again and give you the safe sex and consent talk? I know it’s been a while since Sam gave his presentation, but we can recreate it.”

A loud whine came through the phone.“That was so embarrassing. And detailed. And gross. Come to think of it, it was Sam, so we couldn’t expect anything less.”

I laughed, because our eldest brother would never take something as important as sex so lightly. But no one needed a slideshow of closeups of the effect of STDs straight out of a medical textbook.

“Wait, did you believe?—”

“Come on, Connor. We know you better than that. Even in your wildest days, you never allowed yourself to put anyone in danger, much less expose yourself and becoming a father before you were ready. You’re one of the most honorable people I know, bro.”