Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
An hour or so later, as soon as everyone leaves, we christen the kitchen island and the shower. Then I grab us drinks so we can hydrate in the living room. Which we’ll christen next.
“You’re staying over tonight.” I move Bea to straddle my lap.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed the absence of the word sleep in that statement.”
I run my hands up her thighs. “You should bring some clothes over and leave them here.”
“I literally live across the street,” she points out with a smile.
I finger the hem of her shirt. “Yeah, but I left a couple of empty drawers in my dresser for you, and the closet is freaking massive, so you should help me fill it.”
Her grin widens. “Okay. I can do that.”
I squeeze her thighs, working up my nerve. “You’re welcome to move in any time you want.”
Bea runs her fingers through my hair. “You’ve been here for a handful of hours. How about you take a little time to get settled, and we can enjoy being a couple while that happens?”
I swallow past the thickness in my throat. “You don’t want to move in with me?”
“It has nothing to do with wanting to.” Her eyes grow soft, and she leans in to rub her nose against mine. “Because I absolutely do. But we’ve only been officially official for a couple of months. And your place is still full of unpacked boxes. Toronto is having a great season, and you’ll be traveling on and off until June.”
“If we make it to the playoffs,” I add.
She nods but doesn’t say anything else about that. We’re having a kickass season, and as long as we keep playing like we are, we have a good chance of making the playoffs this year. “When you’re in town, I’ll be spending most of my nights in your bed.”
“You can stay here even when I’m not in town.”
“I know. But it’s nice having a roommate and girlfriends to hang out with. I need the support system, especially with Essie in Vancouver for the foreseeable future, and because your job has you on the road so much. It makes sense for you to settle in, and we can date, and I can sleep over when you’re in Toronto for the next few months. Then I can fill your place with my crap and put my throw pillows everywhere.”
“They should be called throw-me-away pillows,” I grumble.
She laughs. “Besides, it’ll be good for you to have your own space too. No cleaning up after Flip. And then you can appropriately appreciate how awesome it is to have me around to take care of all the things like meal prep when I finally do move in.”
“I already appreciate those things about you.” I finger the end of her ponytail. “But it makes sense that we wait until the end of the season. You’d be alone half the time, otherwise.” Bea and Hammer get along well, and while she’s not a replacement for Essie, they’ve become close friends over the past few months. All those girls have.
“Once I move in, you’re stuck with me.” She runs her fingers through my hair.
“More like you’re stuck with me. I’m the clear winner in this arrangement.”
Her smile softens. “I don’t know about that. You’re proving to be a pretty awesome boyfriend.” Her fingers drift down my cheek. “You’re thoughtful, sweet, and giving.”
“Especially in bed,” I add.
“And out of it.” She brushes her lips over mine. “You’re a catch, Tristan, and you’re all mine.”
“And you’re mine.”
“All yours,” she agrees.
I can see my future unfolding with Bea. For the first time in my life, I understand what home feels like. It’s not a place for me; it’s her. She’s where I want to be.
She has my heart.
Bea is the person it beats for.