“Alright, sweetie, time for bed. I'll see you in the morning, okay?”
Jade nods, her eyes rimmed with sleep, and a yawn stretches her face.
“Okay, and Hazel?”
“Yes?” I hesitate as I get off her bed and move towards the door.
“Well, I just wanted to say that I really liked having you around this summer, and I can tell that Uncle Easton really likes having you around, too. You make him happy.”
My heart warms, and I get completely and utterly choked up. Nodding at her, I give a smile and then turn the light off.
“I've really enjoyed being around here, too, Jade. So much.”
When I finish putting Jade down, I let out a heavy breath and close the door behind me before going downstairs to the living room, where I know Easton is waiting.
I start heading for the living room, but then I smell something delicious coming from the kitchen, and I make a beeline in that direction.
As soon as I step into the room, I see Easton finishing up setting out our dinner. That warm feeling in my chest grows. Immensely.
Easton has created a beautiful arrangement with fancy plants and glasses filled with red wine. I am soincrediblymoved by how hard he's worked to do something nice for me.
In fact, he's been doing nice things for me ever since I started living with him.
Nervous energy still clings to me, but I have to admit it to myself that he's proven he’s willing to do anything for me over and over again.
He's been there for me when I've been terrified. He’s slept in my bed and not made a single move unless I asked him to. And I can tell that he cares.
I don't know how to thank him properly for everything that he's done for me, and it feels kind of silly, but it's like fate has brought him back into my life right when I really needed him.
“This looks beautiful.”
Easton perks up from setting down a fork. “Oh, this old place? Thanks. Everything should be pretty much ready to go. Are you ready to eat?”
I grin from ear to ear. “Yes, I am very ready for dinner. Thank you.”
When I look Easton in the eyes, I hope that it shows just how much I mean those two simple words. Because sometimes 'thank you' doesn't feel like enough.
Dinner moves quickly, and conversation is easy as we talk about where Easton wants to take his company in the next few years and the plans I have for my upcoming books. It feels effortless, and talking about the future just makes me picture him in it more and more.
“So you’re going to branch off into another series then?”
“Eventually,” I nod, “I mean, there’s still at least two books left in this one, but soon. I have big plans for the universe I’m building, and I want to start pushing the limits. I’ve never shied away from violence or dark themes in the books, and I’ve always had sex scenes and stuff, but I feel like I want to go darker. Just a little.”
Easton grins as he scoops up our empty plates and takes them to the sink. “Think that might have something to do with your current situation?”
“Yes, well, you know what they say. Write what you know.”
We both laugh at that and then I follow Easton to the living room. He grabs the remote, switching on the TV to choose something to watch.
“Hmm…how about…” As he scrolls, I’m not looking at the screen. I’m looking at him. His back, his ass, the way his auburn hair is a bit longer now that he’s not in the military. “…Knives Out?”
When he looks back at me, I try to pretend like I wasn’t just fantasizing about him and that life we talked about.
“Yeah. I love that movie.”
He sits next to me on the couch, and we’re close, so very,veryclose. Everything feels charged and tense, and I fiddle with the seam of his jeans by his knee.
Our touches get closer and more intimate. I look at him, and he catches me. Then, the same happens with him glancing at me.
