“Of course. I should have admitted this earlier, but I’m falling in love with you. Which doesn’t happen to me flippantly. I’m not going anywhere no matter what.”
“You’re falling in love with me?”
“Like you didn’t know. Just like I know you’re falling in love with me.”
I grin up at him. “So sure of that, huh?”
“I am.”
“You’re right.” I cuddle closer, loving the way it feels to be in his arms.
It hits me that as much as I feel like Rex has been there for me, I’m there for him, too. I hope he plans to hang tight to me, just like I do.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chloe
“I’m nervous.”I admit, pressing a hand to my stomach.
“You know what it’s going to say, just look.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t rush me, Rex. This is a big deal.”
He rolls his eyes and snatches the object out of my hand. “I’ll look.”
“No!” I shout, stopping him. “No. I can do this. I need to do this. Just, hold my hand while I look?”
He doesn’t make fun of me for my dramatics or tell me I’m being ridiculous. Even though I kind of am. He’s right. I know what it’s going to say when I look, but knowing and seeing are two very different things.
“Ready?”
I scrunch up my nose and glare at him, take a deep breath, squeeze his fingers and look down.
Paul:I’d love to come for dinner. Thank you.
Ethan:Yup. Us too. Liv wants to know what to bring.
“See? I told you it wouldn’t be a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? Are youhigh? It’s a huge deal, Rex! My brother and his father are coming over for Christmas Eve dinner!”
He chuckles and abruptly quits when he sees the expression on my face.
“I’ll be here and it will be great. I promise.”
“Are you cooking? Because I don’t know what I was thinking with this shit when I invited them over. I’ve never made an entire Christmas Eve dinner in my entire life!”
“So let’s order it premade from the store. Or make pizza.”
“I am not ordering Christmas dinner, Rex! I am not an animal. What kind of message would that send to Ethan and Paul, huh? That I’m not willing to cook for them?”
He presses his lips together tightly. Poor guy is doing his best not to laugh in my face but he’s not succeeding very well. “Christmas doesn’t have to be a specific menu. It’s not about the food. It’s about family and spending time together.”
“Well aren’t you poetic,” I sneer, cranky.
“Testy, testy.”
“Don’t mess with me, Rex. I’m…”
