He stayed quiet for a beat. “Yeah,” he said on a heavy exhale that rocked the room. “I’m more open to love these days, Sunshine.”
I wasn’t brave enough to ask if that meant he was more open to lovewith me. But even if he wasn’t…if what was going on between us made him more open to love withsomeone else, I wanted him to be happy.
Either way, I had him for now, and I was going to enjoy every moment.
I sat up in bed, pulling the sheet over my waist. When I looked at Gabe, his expression was strained, as if his thoughts were as complicated as mine. Or maybe the issue wasn’t that my thoughts were complicated—I was just making them that way.
I rolled my lips. “Will you stay the night? Maybe we throw a frozen pizza in the oven?”
He rolled onto his side, reaching over and splaying his large palm on my thigh. His thumb stroked gently. “I’d love nothing more. C’mon, let’s clean up first. I’m not done with you yet,” he murmured, leaning over to press a hungry kiss to my hip, right where his touch had been.
Gabe, pizza, and sex. I didn’t need anything else.
I tried to quiet my racing thoughts and instead enjoy what had turned into one of the best nights of my life.
43
GABRIEL
Me
Happy New Year, man! Sorry, I didn’t respond last night.
Liam
No worries. Hope you had fun. You did have fun, right? You weren’t sitting in your room…alone…working…
Because that would’ve been depressing.
Me
You make me sound so lame.
Liam
Am I wrong?
Me
Usually not…
But this time, yes. I celebrated New Year’s Eve with Lily and her friends.
Liam
Oh…you were with Lily…
That’s what you should’ve led with!
Me
Don’t worry, I’ll call you later and fill you in.
Liam
You better. Beans and I are waiting.
*Attachment: Selfie of Liam and Beans on the couch*
