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She smiled up at me. I’d taken to calling her Blondie since everything. “We’re almost ready.”
“I’ll go see if they need a hand.” Bryan gave me a small nod.
“Xander…” Peyton moved in front of me and narrowed her eyes. “What did you do?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you!”
“I just reminded him that you’re important to me.”
Her scowl melted away. “Yeah? How important?”
Chuckling, I dipped my head and brushed my lips along her neck. “Very important.”
“Hmm, I like the sound of that.” Peyton’s fingers twisted into my sweater as I sucked her skin.
“Xander… don’t start or I’ll never want to leave.”
“Kind of the plan.” I smiled. But she wasn’t buying it, slamming her palms into my chest. Straightening, I pouted.
“What am I going to do with you?”
“I can think of a few things.” My brows waggled, earning me another scowl.
“You are so bad. I should go.” A beat passed, the air turning thick around us. “It’s only three days, right?” she murmured, and I saw a flash of hesitation.
“Three days,” I repeated.
“We can totally do three days.”
“Totally.”
“Okay, then. I’ll call you when we get there.” Peyton worried her bottom lip.
“Come here, Blondie.” I hooked my arm around her waist, tugging her closer. “I love you, so fucking much.”
There had been a time those words terrified me, made me want to run in the other direction. I hadn’t ever believed myself worthy of love. Of someone like Peyton.
But love didn’t always play by the rules, and I was so fucking grateful I’d stumbled upon her that night down by the river. I’d saved her, but she’d saved me too.
“I love you too, Xander.” She gazed up at me. “More than I ever thought possible.”
“Yeah?” I grinned like a fool.
“Yeah. But I really need to go, so you’re going to have to…” She gave me a pointed look and then dropped her eyes to my arms still wrapped around her.
“Fine. Go. And have fun.”
“I will.” Walking backwards, she mouthed, “I love you.”
And like the pussy-whipped guy I was now, I mouthed them right back.
Peyton
“This is the life,” I said, leaning back against the hot tub edge as the warm bubbles frothed around me.
“Right?” Lily sighed. “I feel so relaxed.”
