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Lacy looked down at her feet. He had this apartment so he didn’t have to live with her anymore. Tears choked the back of her throat. Maybe he just wanted to explain why he didn’t want to be with her anymore, but she didn’t want to hear the words.
Suddenly Jonah stood in front of her, tipping her chin until she looked at him. His touch sent a shiver of longing down her spine. “I wasn’t just looking for a new job. I was looking for a home. Some place I could stay and finally have all the stuff you collect over a lifetime. And I found that in you, Lacy.”
She couldn’t pull away from him. The dust in her chest pulsed back to life.
“You are my home. The only reason I’d ever leave here would be to follow you. I know I fucked up. I know I hurt you. I hurt myself too, thinking I was doing right by you. I don’t want to sneak around anymore. I love you, little bird.”
A tear slipped out of her eye to trail down her cheek. He reached up and captured it with his fingertip. She could barely breathe. He reached into his pocket.
“We aren’t to the point of marriage yet, but you are still all three choices for me, Lacy.”
Warmth filled her cheeks when she remembered kiss, marry, fuck. He opened his hand and she looked down at it. In it was a single brass key.
His blue eyes sparkled with a hint of fear but also love. “I signed a year lease. It’s a one bedroom, one bath apartment close to work. If you are willing to share, I want you to be my roommate, my friend, my lover.”
She covered her mouth as her heart swelled against her ribs.
“Hang your bras in my bathroom. Clutter my room with all your memories. Watch your teen romances. Pick off the veggies on your pizza. Be my little bird day and night.”
She couldn’t speak. This was too much. He’d left her, but he came back. Tears ran down unchecked over her cheeks. He came back.
“What do you say?” Jonah’s eyes glistened slightly. “We could also wait a few months and see how things go. Do the normal dating thing. But I really love living with you.”
He called her his home and said he loved her. What the hell was happening?
“This doesn’t happen to me.” Lacy shook her head and ignored the rush of tears down her face. “I fantasized about guys who would never notice me. I’m the girl no one wants.”
“I want you, Lacy.” Jonah closed the distance between them. He lifted his hand to brush her hair behind her ear. His blue eyes captured hers, holding her. “I have from the moment I met you. I love you.”
She swiped at her tears. Her heart pounded so loud he had to hear it. “I love you.”
He swept her into his arms and his mouth caught hers. Jonah pressed tight against her. His kiss was tender and perfect. When he lifted his head, she stared into his eyes, dazed. He loved her.
“So,” Logan’s voice dragged out the sound, “should I let the others know it’s okay to come up now?”
Lacy buried her face in Jonah’s shirt as her cheeks flushed with heat. How much had Logan heard? Jonah stroked his hand over her hair and pressed a kiss to her head.
“I wanted the office to be here for you.” Jonah tipped her chin up. He grinned down at her. “Just in case you told me to go fuck myself again.”
She chuckled as he brushed away her tears with his thumbs. “They can come up.”
Logan smirked. “I’ll be right back.”
When the door closed, Lacy sighed. “You don’t want to live at our apartment anymore?”
“I wanted to put down roots. I wanted to prove to you that I was fully committed. To you. To the job. To making this work. I’ll still pay for the sublease.” Jonah stroked her cheek. He leaned down and his lips pressed against her ear as he said, “I want to be able to fuck you on the kitchen island without worrying about Sophie coming home.”
Her cheeks flushed with heat. Her eyes strayed to the island and that storm whipped around inside her. “We should probably try actually dating before I move in.”
“Anything you want, little bird. I’m all in.” Jonah’s smile went straight to her heart as he leaned in and kissed her again. “Since I don’t have any furniture yet, I’ll be coming home with you tonight.”
She grinned. “Sophie is out of town if you want to—"
“So, I’m guessing the copy room door didn’t accidentally lock.” Claire’s voice pulled them apart.
Everyone laughed. Lacy could feel her face growing even warmer, but her heart felt too big for her chest. Jonah still had his arms around her and didn’t seem to want to let her go. Not that she wanted to leave his arms ever again.
She pressed her cheek to his heart as she looked at her coworkers smiling at them. Jonah rested his chin against the top of her head. Her arms locked around him. She wished they could try out the new island, but the peninsula at home should work later. She’d even wear her heels.
Phoebe moved into the space and started working on drinks and passing them out. Everyone filled in around the island.
Lacy pulled back and looked up at him. “Very important question.”
Jonah kissed her and looked at her with love in his eyes.
“When I move in with you, will you make me coffee in the mornings?”
His thumb traced over her lower lip. “Always.”
