A bright smile takes over his face, pure joy pouring off of him.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. But we need to promise to talk, to be open about everything and anything. If you’re anxious or I’m feeling distant—” I barely get the words out before I’m silenced by a bruising kiss.
His lips capture mine, stealing the very breath from my lungs.
Suddenly, I feel little paws trying to climb up my leg. I break away and look down as Roo goes wild between us. Kane leans down and picks him up, making Roo look even smaller in those big arms of his.
“I promise. So should we adopt him?” he begs, petting him all over while Roo covers his face in kisses.
“Let’s fill out the paperwork, and when we pick where, we’ll take him home for our first night together.” I beam, my face almost hurting with howhappy I am.
“Hey,babe. Have you finally come up for air from your Kane bubble?” Morgan asks as I walk into the kitchen that night to see what she’s making.
“Ha-ha, very funny.” I roll my eyes and prop my hip against the counter to face her. I’ve been dreading this conversation since Kane and I decided yesterday that we’re moving in together. Unsure where we are even going to live, I know I need to talk to Morgan first.
“Look, babe, I’m happy for you. It was about time you two got your heads out of your asses and figured your shit out. I, for one, am so glad it finally happened and you can stop moving around here like a corpse.” She smirks at me as she stirs a delicious-smelling sauce.
“I should be thanking you for all your meddling.”
“You should, yes. I accept flowers or chocolates as a thank you. Maybe make Kane buy me a new car with his fancy trust fund?”
“Don’t you also have your own trust fund?”
“Pssh, beside the point.” She shrugs, grabbing two plates and plating her famous spaghetti for us. Her Nonna made the recipe and handed it down through generations, and I still have not had such an aroma-rich sauce. The garlic-to-spice ratio is perfect.
We sit down at the table in our respective places, across from each other so we can have maximum yapping between us.
“So why are you here instead of sucking face with your super-hot boyfriend?”
“Uh, I live here?” I moan as the flavor hits my tongue.Morgan was always the cook between the two of us, learning young from her father’s mother.
She looks at me and rolls her eyes, her eyebrow raised as if she’s waiting for me to keep going. I take a few moments and eat a few more bites, trying to get up the courage to tell her.
“But,” I start, placing my fork down and putting my feet up on the chair. “Kane did ask me to move in with him.”
“About time,” is all she says, then goes back to eating, dipping her garlic bread in the leftover sauce on her plate.
“That’s it?” I falter.
“Well, yeah. It’s about time you two do it. I’m shocked it didn’t happen years ago.”
“You’re not upset with me?” I ask softly, ducking my head a bit, not wanting to see the anger she probably has on her face. She reaches over and places her hand on top of mine, her perfectly manicured pink nails staring back at me, a stark contrast to my unpainted ones—desperately in need of some TLC.
“Babe.” A soft smile graces her face. “Why would I be mad? You’re in love, and you want to spend every day together. I’m happy for you. No, I’m thrilled for you. You two are meant to be together, and who am I to be mad that you’re trying to follow your heart? After everything you two have been through these past couple months, you deserve this.”
“But that means we won’t live together anymore?” It comes out more like a question than a statement.
“Well, good luck getting rid of me even if we are apart. I know your parents left you, but you’re stuck with me, babe. For life. We’re still going to talk every single day. I will sleep over here and kick Kane to the couch, and you’ll come stay with me. This doesn’t change anything,just addresses.” She squeezes my hand as tears well in my eyes.
Morgan has always seen me more than anyone else. The second we met freshman year of high school, she got me. We have been each other’s person since, and the thought of being so far away from her is hard to comprehend.
But the thought of moving in with Kane of sharing our life together—I want it so much.
“Thank you for being supportive of this. It’s a big step, and, well...I’m scared. After the past few months, what if we don’t make it work?” I grasp her hand back, resting it between us on the table, food long forgotten.
“I think it’s normal to be scared, but it also means you’re doing the right thing. Change is scary, but change can also be exactly what you need. You two are meant to be together. You talk, communicate, and if he closes himself off again, well, I took karate in sixth grade, and I think I could take him,” she proposes while coming around to hug me while I bury my head in her chest. Her ample cleavage almost suffocates me as I let her hold me. She pulls back and stares at me.
