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I turn toward the sound of Bain’s voice as he leans out his door. He glances down at the luggage at his feet and then back to me.
“Hi,” I say with a wave.
It’s easy with his long legs to step over the suitcases and head my way. He stops and grabs my tennis shoe and when he reaches me, drops it in my hand. I look up at him sheepishly.
“What is all this?” he asks.
“Well,” I say as I work my foot back into the Nike. “I’m moving in.”
Bain’s eyebrows shoot sky high, his eyes almost bugging out of his head. I don’t know how to take that reaction, but at least I don’t see fear.
I quickly gather up my unmentionables and tuck them back in the bag before closing it. Bain’s hand takes my upper arm and he helps me stand.
“Let’s get this all inside and I’ll explain.” I stare at him expectantly, daring him to deny me entry.
He looks at me in shock so I push past him, hauling my suitcase along with me. I march right up to his condo door, which is still open, and manage to right all my luggage and push each one inside. I glance back at Bain who watches but doesn’t stop my progress.
I follow the last bag in and can feel Bain right on my heels. I whip around as soon as he crosses his threshold, stopping just inside the doorway.
“I have something to say to you.” I point at the door. “You might want to shut that as this could get heated.”
One of Bain’s eyebrows rises but he reaches back and shuts the door. Crossing his arms over his chest, he says, “Okay… what do you want to say? And I hope it involves an explanation about why you have suitcases with you.”
“Not much to say. Like I said… I’m moving in.”
“And why would you do that?” he asks.
I scrutinize his face, but I can’t tell a damn thing about what he might be feeling. His words are even and calm.
“Because,” I say, but then my words falter. Fuck… I can’t just come out and tell him I love him. I’m a coward, so I chicken out and lift my chin. “Because if we’re going to go back to being fuck buddies and have wild monkey sex all the time, then I think we need to be in closer proximity.”
Bain chokes as his eyes bug out, but it’s the tiny gasp I hear from behind me that causes my face to flame hot. I turn ever so slowly and see Bain’s parents sitting at the kitchen island.
“Oh my God,” I mutter before clapping my hand over my mouth. Bain’s dad is grinning and his mother is staring at me in shock. My head whips back to Bain who still has his arms crossed over his chest, but his head is lowered to hide the smirk I can still see well enough.
I can’t think of a single intelligent thing to say and it’s pure self-preservation that has me rushing past Bain. I manage to dodge my suitcases and whip open the door, flinging myself out into the hallway in a mad sprint for the elevator.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Bain says as I feel his hand latch onto my arm. He brings me to a complete stop and turns me his way. “You are not leaving after saying that to me.”
I don’t even give it a second thought, instead walking right into Bain to press my red face into his chest. “I’m so humiliated. Why didn’t you tell me your parents were here?”
To my surprise, Bain’s arms come around me and I feel his lips on top of my head. “If it makes you feel any better, my parents are super cool and they won’t think badly of you for divulging that we have wild monkey sex.”
I groan and bang my head on his chest. “I’m such a dork.”
Bain chuckles but then leans back, his fingers under my chin so I’m forced to look up at him. “As cute and utterly hilarious as that was, why are you really here? And don’t give me that line about sex. We had sex just fine without living together.”
I’m still so embarrassed, I’m not thinking straight. My fight-or-flight response still has me in defensive mode. “Truly… I just thought it would make things more convenient.”
“Kiera,” Bain says, his voice low and oddly dad-like. It saysyou better tell me the truth because if I find out some other way, I’m not going to be happy.
“I just…” I glance down the hall, fixated on the elevator. I should leave.
“Kiera,” Bain says again, this time gently. My gaze comes back to him. “You can tell me anything.”
I close my eyes, inhale slowly and then let it out. When I open them again, I give it to him straight. “I love you. And I don’t want to be fuck buddies. I wantyouto be in love with me too. If you can’t do that, I’ll take fuck buddies but my heart will be broken. So please, maybe be willing to take a risk and jump off the ledge with me into a real relationship where we love each other for eternity. I can’t take a broken heart when it comes to you.”
“Wow,” Bain says… actually, more like wheezes. His expression is one of blindsided incredulity. “You love me?”
