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My family was ecstatic to say the least when they found out I was staying for a few more days. Even more so, when I explained that I was moving back indefinitely. Missy, my roommate, was equally unhinged in her reply when I’d told her what happened.

“I honestly never would’ve expected this,” she said over the phone, sounding amused and delighted for me in equal measure. “Good for you, George. Taking a chance on the unpredictable.”

The truth was, I’d never expected this either.

Falling in love in less than a week.

Abandoning my life—and all I’d known—to chase a fairy tale that shouldn’t have made as much sense as it did.

But…every time I saw Alex’s grin, I was reminded why being illogical might be the most logical thing I’d ever done. Because picking this “ending” for my story had meant that I was going to see as many of those smiles as I wanted .

And Christ, that was a gift.

I’d never forget the way he looked at me, standing in the rain. Drenched. Eyes red-rimmed. Defeat written over every inch of his large, drooping body. He’d looked so small. So needy, and so grateful to see me.

All it had taken was one glance at that tear-streaked, heart-broken face to know that I’d been right. Been right about everything. And I’d never been more glad in all my life that I’d taken a chance on something with no discernable outcome.

Alex needed me the same way I needed him.

We filled each other’s wells.

I’d never regret my choice.

Alex’s house was as messy-clean as we’d left it. The dishes were still sitting on the counter, dry now—a reminder of how quickly we’d left the previous day when we’d realized we were running late. Cum-stained and flushed, we’d abandoned responsibility in a way both of us rarely did.

This…didn’t feel like that.

Leaving behind my career.

Leaving New York.

It didn’t feel like a rash decision—even though it kind of was. Even though it was ridiculous, really. Even though by all rights it should make no sense. And yet…it did.

I was abandoning a miserable, monotonous life for the chance at one that could be everything I’d always dreamed. There was nothing more logical than that.

“Are you going to come back home?” Mom asked when I’d called her next. Alex and I were still warm from the shower we’d shared. We’d warmed up in other ways too. Ways that involved mouths, and fingers, and the bottle of lube that Alex apparently kept in his shower.

Another round of that syrupy slow, delightful sex we’d shared in his bed yesterday morning .

More kisses.

“What do you mean?” I asked, shaking away the inappropriate memories.

“For dinner, before you leave,” Mom explained.

“Maybe.” Alex’s hands were on my feet, kneading the arches, his blue eyes watching me hungrily—like even though he’d just had his dick so far inside me I could still feel his cum leaking out—he was ready for another round. “I need to hunt for an apartment. Alex said he’d—” I bit my lip as he pushed his thumb in deeper.

“Alex is helping you?” Mom’s voice quivered with amusement. “Of course he is.”

“Anyway. I’ll um. I’ll be back permanently soon. If we can swing by later, we will. But we’ll be pretty swamped apartment hunting in Columbus for the few days I’ve extended my trip—and afterward, Alex took time off to come with me to New York to get my life packed up.”

When I’d told Missy about my plan to live there a few months while she’d found a new roommate she’d immediately shot me down. Apparently, she already had someone in mind, and didn’t think it was necessary for me to drag out the inevitable. Plus, and I quote, “That way, Lord-Ass-Face can’t beat your door down now that he knows you’re leaving.”

She’d never liked Brendon.

A fact that brought me glee now that I was well and truly over him.

“Sounds like you’ve got it all planned out,” Mom said, again, delighted. “And you’re…”

“Happy?” Alex’s smile curled at the corners, his eyes drifting up my body, settling on my mouth as I spoke. “I’m very happy,” I confirmed.

It felt odd to admit that.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d said such a thing.

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you,” Mom said. “I could not be more proud.” Mom’s voice was full of acceptance, of blatant affection—and relief, almost. And suddenly, any lingering anxiety I might’ve had over her reaction to the news was gone. Just like that.

“We’ll come to dinner.” We were busy, yes. But…

“Monday?” Alex offered. “I’ll drive us.”

I’d make time.

“Monday,” I repeated.

“I’ll make your favorite,” Mom promised. She went quiet, her words muffled as she turned from the phone to yell at someone. Presumably Joe. “That goes in the other truck!” When she came back on the line, her voice was sugary sweet again. “I gotta go, sweetheart. Joe’s making a mess.”

“That’s okay, Mom.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Tha—”

“I swear to god.” Mom hung up as she started yelling again. I set my phone down with a laugh, amused—and relieved , now that I didn’t have anyone else to call.

“Feel better?” Alex dug into my arch again. I sighed and nodded, slipping low onto the couch, foot pushing into his grip. “You look like you feel better.” He sounded entertained.

“I feel like I can breathe,” I confessed, eyes flitting to the high ceilings, my heart skipping a beat. “Is that…weird?”

“No.” Alex’s hands walked up my legs, rubbing at my thighs as he hummed thoughtfully. “I think that’s a good thing.”

“I just willingly chose to uproot my life,” I said—once again, managing to sound giddy about that, rather than upset.

“And you’re smiling .”

“I am?” My hands slid up, phone abandoned so I could brush along the shape of my smile—memorizing the feel of it, because it was simply that foreign. “I am.”

“You are.”

“I’m happy about it.” Even though I’d admitted that to my mom, it still felt odd to acknowledge out loud. “Are you…happy?”

I knew realistically that he was. His rain-soaked declaration had been far prettier than my own. Way longer too. Like the dam had broken and all his thoughts had spilled free. I was still reeling from some of the things he’d said—and some of the promises we’d made.

But still…

June’s words haunted me, even now.

And I needed confirmation that Alex was as happy as I was.

Alex stared at me for a second.

It was a new expression.

Like he’d never been asked a more stupid question in his life.

I couldn’t help but giggle. Giggle, and then squawk, when his annoyance meant those big warm hands yanking me up—and across—and into his lap. “Of course I’m fucking happy, Georgie Porgie,” he sighed. “My cat came home.”

And then he kissed me.

His mouth was hot and needy, this kiss lingering long enough to make my toes curl.

With hair damp from the shower, Alex was as delicious as he ever could have been.

Delicious, because he was as mine as I was his.

“Ask me if I’m happy again, and see what happens,” he murmured threateningly against my lips, hand cupping my throat to hold me still.

I laughed—and he laughed too, the sounds vibrating between us.

“Alex—” I started.

“Don’t you dare.” The hand on my throat squeezed a fraction. “George—” If he was trying to intimidate me, he was going to fail. I wasn’t scared of him. And that realization, along with the others, only seemed to make the love I had for him expand in my chest.

All my life I’d wanted to be enough for someone.

And as Alex’s chest rumbled against mine, as his eyes spoke truths, truths about our future, about his feelings—about the absurdity of all of this, and the rightness of it too—I couldn’t help but recognize that I was.

Not because he’d said so.

But because he showed me.

With everything he did.

If there was one thing falling in love with Alex in such a short time had taught me, it was this: sometimes the worst, most illogical, most impractical, most unbelievable bad decisions were the best decisions of all.