Page 123 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

“You would have gotten there eventually.”

“But I’m glad you got me there a lot faster.”

She kissed me and tucked herself against me once again.

“I was so scared to tell Melody,” she admitted. “Scared to make it real. But now that I have, I can move forward. I can start building this dream without feeling ashamed of it or like I have to hide it.”

“Never be ashamed for doing something for yourself,” I said.

“Now I can invite her into it. Share it with her instead of keeping it separate.”

I clasped my hands behind my head and just listened. I let her talk about the wedding tomorrow, about how excited she was for Melody and the speech she’d written and rewritten a dozen times. She talked about being an honorary aunt and the things she was going to teach him or her.

“You’re really good at this,” I said.

“At what?”

“Loving people. Taking care of them. Making them feel seen.”

“It’s what fills my cup.”

“Your cup?”

“Yeah. My soul.”

“You’re a good person.”

“Thank you.” She yawned. “We are going to be dragging ass tomorrow.”

“Coffee. Lots of coffee.”

She kissed my chest and relaxed her body. I finally closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

A crashing sound startled me.

“Cash!” Finn’s voice came through the door. “Move your ass!”

I jolted awake. Disorientated. Confused.

“Cash! Get your ass up!”

Shit.

Cleo shot upright beside me, eyes wide, hair everywhere. “What time is it?”

“Almost nine.”

“What?” She scrambled out of bed, looking around frantically. “I’m supposed to be downstairs! The girls are getting manicures at nine! Melody is going to—oh my god, where are my clothes?”

“Cash!” Finn pounded on the door again. “We have appointments! You’re late!”

“Coming!” I called back.

Cleo found her skirt crumpled on the floor. “This is a disaster.”

“It’s fine. You’ll tell them you overslept.”

“In your room?”