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But we’re back together now.

Fate was funny like that.

***

Over a month passed, and a lot changed. I eventually started staying back at my house, but for the first week, I’d been a wreck, waking up from nightmares and convinced someone was in the house. Gray had been there for me, though, holding me, kissing me, and reminding me that everything was okay.

Grayson and I were closer than we’d ever been.

Every day, we fell more in love. Yeah, we still bickered, but each argument ended with him pinning me to the bed and fucking me so good I sometimes pissed him off just so he’d do it. He’d most definitely caught on to that, too.

We hadn’t made it official or anything yet, but he’d pretty much moved in with me. Most of his stuff had found its way to my house, little by little, and we hadn’t spent a night apart since the kidnapping.

The sneaky bastard.

Leaving the news station, I rolled down the window and breathed in the summer night air. Although he was still an asshole, Rick hadn’t given me any issues since I’d returned to work. Not to be conceited, but I was the most popular anchor he had, and he’d be a dumbass to do anything to make me leave.

I’d gained even more popularity after the serial killer incident. Reporters had wanted interviews, and I’d tried to be as brief as possible with my answers. I’d even received book offers from big publishers, wanting me to write a memoir or some shit about my experience. I declined them, though. I didn’t want to get rich off my tragedy.

The theme song toAncient Alienssounded, my ringtone for Brysen, and I answered my phone.

“Hey, B.”

“Can you put a plastic bowl in the microwave?” he asked, “or will it melt? Asking for a friend.”

“Yes, you can,” I said. “But not for more than five minutes. Heating something up is fine.”

“Okay. I’ll be sure to tell my friend.”

“Everything okay? You’re not scared at your new place, are you?”

Kyler had bought a small house in Addersfield for when he visited, and he’d invited Brysen to live there, too. He said it was so B could take care of the place for when he wasn’t there, but I knew better. I’d told him about Brysen falling behind on bills and having to stay with me for a while, and he knew Brysen would’ve never taken a handout. So he’d gone about it in a smart way.

The house was paid off. All Brysen had to do was pay the utilities—and Kyler had set reminders on B’s phone so he wouldn’t forget. It gave him extra money per month for food and anything else he’d like to do.

“I think the house is haunted,” Brysen answered. “Sometimes I hear random pops.”

“That’s probably the house settling. It’s not haunted.”

“I’m gonna burn some sage just in case.”

“Whatever makes you feel better,” I responded, chuckling. “Just don’t burn the house down.”

“I won’t. But guess what?” Brysen’s voice was higher in pitch, telling of his excitement. “I want to be a ghost hunter now.”

Brysen had changed his dream career a shit load of times. Chef, actor, stunt man, marine biologist, rock star, and now ghost hunter. Kyler was the reasonable one and shot down his dreams sometimes—only because he knew Brysen got sidetracked and jumped from one thing to the next super fast—but I didn’t have the heart to do that.

“Do what makes you happy, B.”

“I will,” he said, as a beeping sounded in the background. His food must’ve been done heating. “Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Grayson’s car was in the driveway when I got home, a sight I’d never tire of seeing. I loved knowing he was waiting for me. I pulled into the garage and went inside, coming in through the door beside the kitchen.

“Hey, Charming.” Grayson welcomed me with a hug before snatching hold of my chin and capturing my lips.

I returned his kiss, feeling my chest flutter. No matter how many times we kissed, it never failed to warm me from the inside out.