Any and all arguments I’d ever had against that sentiment had melted away as soon as he held me. Instead, much to my dismay, I burst into tears.
“Calla,” he said softly, wiping my tears away. “You’re such a crier.”
“Shut up,” I said, wrapping my arms around his waist and squeezing tightly. “I just really missed you.”
His quiet chuckle sounded relieved as he buried his face in my hair. “I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere ever again, even if you beg me to.”
“I’m done pushing you away. It hurts too much,” I whispered.
He pulled back slightly and held my face in his hands. “Can I kiss you now?”
I nodded and his lips were on mine. It started out slow, tentative, but built as we let out all the months of pent-up desperation and longing. His fingers tangled into my hair and my arms wrapped around his neck as I pulled him as close as possible.
“Wait,” I said, breaking away.
He regarded me with uncertainty. “You can’t take it back. It’s too late.”
I smiled through my tears. “I love you too.”
He grinned, relief completely settling over his features. “I know,” he said before kissing me again.
One Week Later
“Crap, I forgot my toothbrush again,” I groaned as I closed the medicine cabinet.
Eli popped his head into the bathroom. “You know, forgetting basic things like a toothbrush and a change of clothes could be easily avoided if you just moved in with me.”
He walked in and planted a kiss on top of my head. “Or it could be avoided if I just bought a second toothbrush to leave here.”
He stroked his chin and pretended to think about it. “I like that solution a lot less.”
Eli had been joking about me moving in pretty much ever since that first night I’d spent at his townhouse a week ago. While I appreciated that he wanted me around, that step felt a bit premature.
“I told you, it’s way too soon to be talking like that,” I insisted, brushing past him and entering the massive walk-in closet off his bedroom. He’d completely cleared a side for me and I’d brought over a few outfits to make our almost-nightlysleepovers more logistically sound. “Although, this closet space is tempting.”
“And I told you, we met on reality TV. Our relationship is already a completely different ballgame,” he called from the bathroom. “Should I shave? I don’t want your mom to think I’m a scrub.”
I smiled as I pulled on an old sweater. Today was the day Eli was going to finally meet my mom. We were headed to her place for dinner, and it was absolutely adorable how nervous he was. He was also nervous to face Piper again after everything that had gone down. I’d assured him that they might give him a hard time, but they would likely favor him over me soon enough.
“You look fine, don’t worry about it. We have to go soon, anyway.”
“Fine,” Eli said walking into the closet. “At least help me decide what to wear—” He paused as he took in a poster I’d hung on my side of the closet. “What the hell is that?” he asked, pointing at it.
I grinned. “What? You don’t like it?”
He took in the poster of himself at sixteen. Now that we were back together, I had, of course, done some extensive research on his old movies. When I found out he’d been a bit of a teen heartthrob back in the day, I’d really had no choice but to purchase this poster of him with highlighted, straightened hair, pouting at the camera.
“I look ridiculous.”
“Will you autograph it for me?” I asked sweetly.
Eli shot me a look before reaching to tear down the poster, but I stepped in his way. “Hey! Leave my artwork alone.”
He dragged a hand across his face. “Where did you even find that?”
“I found it on eBay.”
He looked at me incredulously. “You paid for that?”
