Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Oh no.” I close my book and place it next to me on the side table. “I know that look. You are up to something,” I accuse.
“If up to something means the same as I have a surprise for you, then yes,” he says cryptically.
“A surprise, huh?” This could go either way. “It’s not another pool party, is it?”
“No,” he quips. “You are actually going to like this surprise.”
Briggs closes the distance between us. Standing in front of me, he holds out his hand for me to take. I place my palm into his and let him pull me up to my feet. He keeps his hand in mine as he gently tugs me down the hallway to a part of the house I haven’t been in.
We come to a stop in front of a door. Briggs reaches for the handle and turns the knob. He pushes the door open, and I gasp when I see what’s on the other side.
It’s a beautiful, large room, lined with white large bookshelves filled with books. The walls are painted in a pale pink and a plush colorful rug brightens up the space.
But what really catches my eye is the brand new art station sitting in front of the giant bay window lined with hundreds of paint bottles, pencils, and brushes.
“What is all of this?” I ask, with my mouth gaping open. I haven’t even stepped into the room because it looks so picture perfect, I don’t want to disturb it.
“Come in and see for yourself,” Briggs urges. “It’s your new room, after all.”
“Mine?” I ask, perplexed, as Briggs ushers me into the beautiful space.
“Yes, I set this room up just for you.”
“How? I mean when?” We spend all of our time together. I’m don’t understand how he could have done this right under my nose.
“I have my ways… Maya helped,” he admits. I smile at the mention of my friend, though my friendship with Maya has been strained since Briggs and I officially started dating. She still has a special place in my heart, and I wish things between us were better.
“I’m surprised she agreed to help,” I say sadly.
“You know, the only reason she is pulling away from you is Tucker. You sit with us at lunch, you hang around us after school, and in your free time. She doesn’t want to run into him.”
“I think it’s more than that.” Maya has been acting weird around me, even when it’s just the two of us.
“Maybe invite her over here for dinner this weekend?”
“Okay,” I agree. That actually sounds like a good idea.
“Now, tell me what you think about your new room?”
“I love it,” I tell him honestly. “And I think I love you too,” I add in a small voice.
“Is that so?” he asks smugly.
“You don’t have to say it back. You’ve already told me what to expect from you, and I’m okay with it, but I still want to tell you how I feel.”
“What if I’ve changed my mind?” Briggs asks, surprising the hell out of me.
“What do you mean?”
“I think I love you too,” he tells me with a grin.
“You do?” I question, tears in my eyes from happiness. He nods and leans down to kiss me. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in closer.
By the time we break the kiss, I’m lightheaded.
“I can’t believe you’ve done all of this for me. Wait, why did you do all of this for me?” I really hope there is no catch.
Briggs gives me a megawatt smile that has my core tightening. “I wanted you to have your own space before you officially move in here with me.”
“Officially moving in with you?” I repeat, my eyebrows raised. “What about asking me?”
“Asking?” Briggs says as if the word is foreign to him. “You know I don’t ask. I take what I want.” He winks at me before pressing his lips to mine with a searing kiss.
I guess I already knew that. Briggs doesn’t waste time asking for permission. He takes what he wants, and he happens to want me. Now I’m his, he is mine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.