Page 89 of Topping the Jock

“Oh. Okay.”

I looked at his crestfallen expression and sighed, standing from the couch. “Come on.”

Monty grinned and hopped up with me. We bundled up in coats, and Monty let me wear one of his beanies to keep my ears warm, and then we walked outside. My house was more secluded than his, so I didn’t have many neighbors. Main Street was just a short walk away, though. We held hands and moved down the sidewalk.

Christmas lights twinkled in store windows, and the crisp air actually felt kind of nice. Nothing felt as great as his hand in mine, though. We had come so far since that faculty meeting in August. Four months didn’t seem like a lot of time, but I had fallen for him utterly and completely.

“After you,” Monty said, opening the door to the coffeehouse for me.

“Aren’t you sweet.” I walked past him, then shook my head when he swatted my ass.

The girl working behind the counter smiled at us. We’d been in there so many times that she had memorized our order since we got the same thing almost every time. Once our coffees were made, Monty grabbed my hand and led me back outside into the cold. He seemed like a man on a mission as we walked down the strip.

Then he turned left. And I knew where he was taking us.

The pier.

We approached the railing and stared out over the dark water in silence. Over the months, we had gone there often. It was our spot, the place where our relationship had gradually progressed. First time I’d met him there we had gone back to his place and fucked. The second time had been when we’d sat on the Ferris wheel and confessed things that had brought us even closer together. And so many small moments after that, all leading up to the one we were in now.

“Remember when you found me here on my birthday?” Monty asked after several minutes, his thoughts echoing mine.

“Yes.” I had seen him before he’d noticed me. Monty had stared out over the water much like he was doing now, and my pulse had quickened. With each step closer to him, I had felt the tether between us growing stronger. “I was so drawn to you, even then.”

“And you fought it so hard.”

“I’m not fighting it now,” I said, moving my hand closer to his on the railing. His pinky brushed mine before looping around it. “You make my heart whole, Monty. Before you, I didn’t even know it had holes in it. I didn’t realize how lonely I was.”

He smiled. “Do you think Franklin will ever find love again?”

I laughed and pressed myself closer to him. “I heard a rumor that he’s dating the coffee machine.”

“Lucky coffee machine.”

“I don’t appreciate you talking about your ex in front of me,” I said, then started to smile when his widened.

“I fucking love you, Specks.” He turned to face me, smoothing his hand along my jaw.

I covered his hand with mine, holding it to my cheek. “I love you too.” I then reached into my back pocket. “I was saving this for later… but I want you to have it now.”

Monty took the key from my hand. “A key?”

“To my house,” I said, battling the nerves that suddenly assaulted me. What if he thought it was too soon? “I want you with me, Monty. Every day. Every night.”

His lips twitched. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

“Maybe.” I swallowed the tightness in my throat. “Your lease is up at the end of this month, so I thought instead of signing another one, you could move in with me. So. What do you say? I know you’ll annoy me, and I might end up killing you. But… will you move in with me?”

“Hell yeah,” he answered, giving me a tender smile that left me breathless. Then he kissed me.

My eyes stung with tears as our lips melded together. I was so fucking happy.

Monty was silly, sexy, and sometimes irritating. He still had stupid, perfect hair and a smooth voice that he used to tease me with.

But I loved him, now and always.

THE END