“No.”
He’s so confident, so sure in this decision that I want to test him a little bit more, because my answer is on the tip of my tongue, but I want to make sure this is what he truly wants.
“We just got back together like twenty-four hours ago, and you want me to move in?”
“Yeah, because it feels like we’ve been together forever. You’re the one I want everything from, Em. I’m giving you my heart and soul and . . . my apartment.” He glances around my tiny studio. “I can’t have you living here, not with the hooligans outside and the lock that barely works on your door. I was fucking worried sick, knowing this is where you live. It’s not safe, and I need you safe for my own peace of mind.”
I hold up the keychain thing. “And I’m guessing your place is safe?”
“Very.” He winks. “Plus, it has amenities.”
“This place has amenities.” I point to the floor. “Did you not see the easily accessible deli below?”
“Uh yeah, I can smell the meat, babe.”
I shrug. “You get used to it.”
“Come on, move in with me, give me the gift of waking up next to you every morning.”
Well, how on earth can I say no to that?
“You’re not going to change your mind in a few months, realize there’s someone better out there for you?”
“No, because I’m looking at her. You’re the girl I’ve been looking for that’s better than anything I could dream up. You’re it for me, Em. You’re it.” He leans in, his lips inches from mine. “What do you say, be my roommate?”
I twist my lips to the side, pretending to mull it over.
“What kind of roommate are we talking about here? Do we share a bed? Do you cook? Clean?”
Moving in closer, he whispers, “I clean, can’t cook for shit, but I know how to fuck my girl, and that will make up for it, I promise.”
“So that’s a yes on the bed sharing?”
“That’s a hell yes.” He presses his lips to mine and pulls me onto his lap, his hands reaching up the back of my romper where he starts to unzip it. The sleeves fall down my arms and instantly my boobs are exposed and his hands are all over them.
“You know I didn’t say yes, yet.”
His head lowers and his mouth takes in my nipple, and between sucks, he says, “I’m making the decision for you.”
I chuckle and then gasp when he bites down.
This man is going to be the death of me.
I pull away and scoot down his body until I’m sitting between his knees. “If that’s the case, I think I’m going to make a decision for the both of us. It’s about time you see what else these lips can do.”
His eyes narrow. “Jesus Christ, I think I just came in my pants.”
I begin undoing his jeans while saying, “I sure hope not, because in your pants wasn’t where I was planning for you to come.”
He leans back on the couch and spreads his legs, pure joy pulling at his lips. “Goddamn, Emory. I’m so fucking in love with you.”
I don’t know how this happened, how I possibly reconnected with Knox Gentry, but I know one thing for sure: I’m going to be one selfish girl, because there’s no way in hell I’m ever letting him go again. This decision to stay is the perfect one.
Epilogue
KNOX
“Thank you, again. This means so much to me.”
“Well deserved,” Coach Disik says, shaking my hand one more time. I remember the first time I met him, how intimidating he was, but now, I don’t get a small quiver when I see him. But then again, since I’m no longer on his roster, he’s eased up.
I squeeze Emory’s hand and ask, “Are you ready?”
She nods and waves to Mrs. Flower. “It was great seeing you again.”
“You too,” she replies coldly. I don’t know if the old coot has ever been able to lighten up.
“Take care, Gentry. And I’m counting on those tickets.”
“I got you, Coach.”
I give him a quick pat on the back and hop off the stage where my mom gathers me and Emory into her arms. To say my mom was over-the-moon excited about me reconnecting with Emory is an understatement. We FaceTimed her together and I swear, she nearly had a heart attack. It was the best thing I’ve ever witnessed. After she screamed for what seemed like ten minutes, we told her we just rekindled our old flame—Emory’s words, not mine—and we’re now living together. My mom was on the next flight out. She spent a week fawning over Emory, taking her out to do girly shit, and bonding with my girl. It felt good knowing how much she’s still accepted in my life.
Carson and Holt were just as shocked as Lindsay and Dottie. We had everyone over for one big party to celebrate. Got fucking wasted and ended up having a giant sleepover. Emory kept saying it was like her dorm days, while Carson was on the verge of tears about the loft years. What a fucking douche.
“I am so proud of you,” my mom says. “My baby is in his college’s hall of fame, and I can’t believe it.” Taking a deep breath, she continues, “I knew you were meant for great things, Knox, but honestly, the greatest thing you ever accomplished was landing this girl right here. You gave her your heart and soul. No one will ever mean more to him, Em.” My mom takes Emory’s other hand and holds tight. “I could not be happier to call you the mother of my grandchild.”
I glance at Emory’s small but growing belly.
Yeah, I couldn’t be happier either.
When Emory first found out she was pregnant—drunk sleepover night, yeah, someone forgot a condom—she was so nervous to tell me, but fuck, I cried. I cried so damn hard that I felt like my mother. We’re having a baby. We made a living thing, and the girl I’m madly in love with is the mother. Yeah, I’m fucking pumped.
“Thank you, Mama G. But this day really is about Knox.”
She waves her hand in the air. “He’s had his moment. Let’s talk about you now.”
“Or, I can show Emory something and we can meet you at The Hot Spot in thirty minutes. Grab us a table?”
My mom concedes, gives us both a kiss, and then takes off.
“You want to show me something?”
“Yeah, they hung a picture of me. It’s hot, and I want you to get all kinds of turned on.”
“There’s something seriously wrong with you.”
Not caring that she thinks I’m weird, I tug her hand and lead her away from the event center space and down into the narrow hallways of the stadium, straight to the locker room. Thanks to Coach, I have a workable key, but he told me to keep it in my pants. I just laughed him off.
When I open the door, I go to pull Emory in, but she plants her feet.
“You have got to be kidding me. Are you really taking me into the locker room?”
“Come on, babe, just go with it.”
“I’m not having sex with you in here.” I tug her into the space, ignoring her statement.
“How else am I supposed to guarantee you’ll be mine for life?” I say as I pull her into my chest, right in the middle of the room where I hold some great memories.