Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“You’re doing fine if that’s what you’re worried about?”
She chuckled and hugged her mother. “I better go. He’s waiting outside. I’m going to have to find a job as well. This is crazy.”
She said goodbye to her mother and to Eagle before rushing out to Alfie.
He slapped the steering wheel as he listened to some kind of rock band. “All set?”
“Yes.”
“You’re coming to live with me.”
“Yes.”
“No hesitation, I like it.”
She took a deep breath, running her hand down her thighs, and trying to think of all the right things to say.
No words came.
The only noise in the car came from the radio.
She licked her dry lips.
“You ever lived with anyone apart from your dad?”
“Nope. You?”
“Nope. You nervous?”
“A little.”
“Me too.” At least they could be nervous together, so there was that.
“You’re overthinking everything over there.”
“I’m not.” She snorted.
“I can hear you thinking. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“I’m just trying to organize an entire list of stuff I’ve got to go. You know, find a job, and that’s pretty much the top of my list.”
“For five years away, you didn’t exactly make much of a life for yourself.”
“I wasn’t trying to win any social awards. Are you sure we’re doing the right thing?”
“Yes.”
“This is serious, Alfie.”
“Look, Chloe, I know you’ve moved away, but I’ve had a long time to deal with my feelings. You’re my biggest mistake and the best decision I’ve ever made.”
“Okay, you do realize that makes no sense.”
“Being with you, was the best decision. Letting you go without a fight, that was the mistake.” He reached over, taking her hand. “We’re going to make this work.”
“I think our parents are already together,” she said.
“What? Nah, it’s not possible. I’d have noticed it.”
“You would? How?”
“I know my dad, and if he and Lily were dating, he wouldn’t hide it.”
“Unless he was giving her time. It’s the way they were together. He touched her knee and kissed her head.”
“Memories of their time together. Force of habit. When I’m with you I do the same thing.”
“I don’t know, it was just different.” Chloe sat back, frowning. “Huh.”
“You’ve got your thinking head on again. Let’s hear it.”
“It’s not much. Forgot about it. Honestly, it’s not worth it.”
“Now I need to know,” Alfie said.
“Do you think our parents are trying to move us together?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Mom never wanted me to come home for any of the major holidays. She always came to me, and I swear there were a couple of times she had a guy at home when she was talking to me,” Chloe said.
“You’re making it up.”
“Not completely,” she said. “Ugh, this is so frustrating. I wish you could have seen them.”
“Well, if their intention is to bring us together, we’ll find out about it soon.” Alfie pulled the car into the parking lot. “Time for you to move in.”
They climbed out of the car, and she helped him unload her bags. As she walked into the apartment building, her stomach started to tighten as her nerves hit her.
“There is a huge chance Ian or Riley, or both of them are here, waiting.”
“Oh, do they know you invited me?” she asked.
“I wasn’t planning on offering you a place. It just kind of slipped out.”
“A good slip or a bad one?” She really needed to get her confusion in check.
Alfie opened his door, and there was no noise inside the apartment. “Shock of a lifetime, no one else is here.” He put her bags on the floor and closed the door behind her.
In the next second, she was pinned to the door, both of her hands pressed up against the hard wood.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to be making up for some lost time. Keep your hands right there.”
“And I’m supposed to stand here?”
“You will enjoy it. I promise.”
Chloe waited as he slowly removed her clothes. She had no choice but to move her hands, but each time he was done, she’d place them above his head.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he said.
“Alfie, you had me not long ago.”
“No, I’ve missed being able to keep you. To have you as mine. Right now, I feel like someone should punch me or something so I know I’m not dreaming.”
There he went with saying those words that were just so dreamy to her.
“Now you’ve got me, what do you want to do with me?”
He skimmed his fingers up her body, gripping the back of her neck and drawing her toward him. His lips brushed against hers, lightly at first but by no means gentle. His tongue slid across her mouth until she opened up, and when she did, he plundered inside.
Letting her hands fall around him, she held on, not wanting to let him go for fear of falling.
The kiss was everything, and during it, Alfie picked her up, carrying her across their apartment, toward his room. He kicked the door open before pressing her to the bed. He followed her down onto the covers, and she stroked down his arms, toward his chest.