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Vince
Maia and I stroll through the apartment door as she sucks up the last bits of her milkshake. I love seeing her happy like this. She’s been smiling all afternoon, but it’s hard not to notice that Braden was the reason for a lot of that. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it’s the first time I’ve seen them share a closeness like that in nearly a year. And it’s definitely the first time since we’ve been together.
And I hate the feeling it’s awakening. Actually, feeling might be the wrong word. Insecurity. I never thought I’d feel this with Maia, but it’s hard not to. She and Braden are going to therapy together. They’re working through their shit. He’s doing better. What if those feelings for him return?
Fucking anxiety. I hate this.
In my heart, I know how she feels about me. I know the depth of our connection. But my brain—or wherever my anxiety is coming from—doesn’t care about that. Forcing a deep breath, I know what I have to do. Hopefully, I won’t come across as a jealous ass.
“Hey, Mai?”
She throws her cup in the kitchen garbage, then turns to look at me, still smiling. “Yeah?”
“I noticed you and Braden seemed close today.”
My voice comes out high and raspy.Great.
“Yeah. We were.” She tilts her head, taking me in. Her brow furrows, and she walks over to me, putting her hands on my chest. “You’re worried.”
I run a hand over my head as I sigh. “Not… exactly.”
She takes both of my hands and leads me over to the couch. “Sit.” She doesn’t actually give me a chance to sit before pushing me onto the couch and sliding onto my lap. Then she gives me an intense emotion-filled kiss that makes my body and my heart go haywire.
When she pulls back, her eyes are soft and encouraging. Her fingers gently brush my cheek. “You’re right. Braden and I have been getting closer again. Asfriends.” She emphasizes the word.
I swallow and will myself to say it. I know if I keep it in, it’ll be worse. “You were friends before, and then it became more. I wish I could say it doesn’t scare me, but—”
“Braden’s more himself now. I understand why you feel that way, but Braden could be the best version of himself ever, he could check every box on my list of wants, and it still wouldn’t matter. Because there’s one box he could never check. One thing he could never be.”
“What’s that?”
“You.” Her voice is a whisper laced with passion and love. I want to record it, and listen to it for the rest of my life.
“I want you. I choose you. For so many reasons, I can’t even begin to explain them all. That said, I know this isn’t easy for you. I can imagine how hard it would be if you were so close with one of your exes. So, I will reassure you as often as you need. I love you.”
In typical Maia fashion, her words calm my anxiety, warm my soul, and make me want her more than anything.
“Now, I think I should tell you what we were talking and laughing about today.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Actually, I do,” she says with a smile. “Because it has to do with you.”
“With me?”
“See, I was telling Braden about this life change I want to make, because it affects Harper, and I thought he should know. Then he was bugging me about it like only Braden can.”
I squint at her, extremely confused. “What life change?”
She smiles again, but it’s not the wild, exuberant one from earlier. It’s quieter, softer, more focused and meaningful. Her voice is low and her eyes are locked on mine as she says, “I want you to move in with me.”
Oh.
Well, damn. I’m a fucking idiot. Here I am worrying about our relationship over nothing when she wants me to move in with her.
“Re—really?” I choke out.
She giggles, and it goes straight to my crotch where things start tofirm up. “Yes, really. You sleep here pretty much every night, anyway. I love waking up in your arms and spending time together and doing chores. All the simple, boring, mundane stuff is better when I’m doing it with you. And I’d really love if my bed was your bed and you didn’t have to go back and pack more clothes and—”
