Page 73 of To the Chase

“I wasn’t aware I was making a long-term commitment.” I stared down at him for a long beat then reluctantly rested a hand on his side. “I can’t move if you fall asleep on me.”

He yawned and closed his eyes in response.

Bea laughed. “Just accept that you belong to him.”

I raised my head, catching her gaze. “Do I belong to you as well?”

She pursed her lips but couldn’t hold back a little smile. “Well, we’re kind of a package deal, so…yeah.”

My chest settled with a deep, solid certainty.

“That’s good. I intend to keep it that way.”

No matter what I had to do.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Bea

Ihadneverbroughtanother man to my house, so I hadn’t pictured what it would be like to cuddle in front of the TV with someone. It was strange how comfortable it was to have Tore here. And he was surprisingly snuggly.

After letting Benjamin out to use the bathroom and getting him settled in his bed, Tore had opened his arms to me, and I had tucked myself against him. We’d put on a movie, but neither of us was really watching it.

I played with his ring, and he buried his nose in my hair. For a while, we stayed like that, quiet, comfortably close, finally taking a breath after a wrought, tension-filled dinner. I wanted to check in with him, see how he was feeling, but I wasn’t sure he wanted to talk about it. Or if it was even my place.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I shifted a little, just enough to look up at him. “I was just wondering the same thing about you. I’m fine, but how about you? Are you okay?”

His eyes flicked down to me, thoughtful. “I am.” A pause. “Better now.”

I nodded, brushing my thumb over the back of his hand where it rested on my hip. “You hadn’t expected that—what Sam had done at dinner.”

I might not have understood exactly what had gone down, but it had been plain as day Sam had overstepped very clear boundaries. With what Tore had told me about the start of their relationship, how Sam had convinced him to change hisname, I wondered if Tore pushing back was a new thing. He certainly hadn’t been happy with Tore shutting down the conversation he’d wanted to have.

Tore’s fingers tightened slightly, like he was sifting through his thoughts before offering one up.

“It’s hard,” he said finally. “Seeing things differently…feeling like I missed something I should’ve seen coming.” His voice was low, scratchy. “That kind of dissonance between Sam and me…it’s not something I’m used to, and it grates.”

“I bet you’re not looking forward to what Monday will bring.”

He scoffed. “No. Conflict is not my favorite, but I don’t avoid vital conversations. Sam and I will have to talk, but it’s good we have time to cool down before that happens.”

“He isn’t happy with you.” As far as I was concerned, Sam could suck it, but it was obvious Tore had to take a different approach. I might not have liked Sam, but they worked together and shared a long history. I just hoped fixing their problems wasn’t detrimental to Tore.

“He hasn’t been for some time now. I don’t really blame him.” He rubbed his cheek against my hair. “I’m a difficult person, Beatrice. You need to know that.”

“I’ve been a waitress for a decade. I know difficult people, and you’re not even close. I’m sorry anyone has ever made you feel that way.”

“You’re being sweet.”

I laid my head on his chest again, a secret smile curving my lips. “No one has ever called me sweet.”

“Then they’ve thought it.”

I sincerely doubted that, but I was in no mood to argue. “Do you still like planes?”

If I hadn’t been plastered against him, I wouldn’t have heard his low, sharp intake of breath. “I do. You remember that?”