Cora brushes it off, not good with too much emotion. “If by ‘took care of her,’ you mean I got her trashed on red wine, then yes, I’m a class act.”
I laugh, kicking off my shoes and shedding my coat, then waiting for Reeve to do the same.
“We’re gonna watch a movie, keen to join?”
She shakes her head. “I’ve got a girlfriend to call. See you two tomorrow.”
I don’t tell her that he isn’t in fact staying over, because that would lead to all the questions. Instead we smile, saying our good nights.
“So, what about Goodfellas?” I wink at Reeve, sprawling across the couch, making myself comfortable.
“You don’t have to watch that, Em. I know guns and violence isn’t your thing.”
“Pssh.” I wave him off, already finding it on Netflix. “I love me some Joe Pesci.”
“You mean you love you some Home Alone Joe Pesci,” he responds, lifting up my head so it can sit in his lap.
“I’ll have you know, Home Alone is a cinema classic. I will hear no slander of it in this house, Reeve Sawyer.”
Laughing, Reeve presses Play on the movie. He runs his hands through my tangled curls as I get comfy, no place feeling better than right here with him.
And despite us wanting to do more, wanting him to stay over, we sit like that for the whole film. And when that film ends, Reeve kisses me good night and takes off in his rental car back to his flat. And you know what? It is the best fucking date I’ve ever had.
As Reeve and I continue to explore every aspect of our newfound public romance, the weeks slowly slip by, Lottie’s due date fast approaching. February blends into March, my deadline for my work coming and going, with positive feedback and praise from the hotel. The whole process was more underwhelming than expected, but I manage to get the names of a few of their clients from Ms. Brown. Before we know it, Reeve and I have been together for a month, our relationship smoothly fitting in with our group dynamic, not tarnishing like Reeve feared.
Our days are spent working, while our nights are for the two of us, with the occasional group invasion. It’s time spent getting to know one another again. Reeve reconnects with his mother, too, and there are promises of me meeting his father when he’s in town in the future.
Life continues to move forward, and for the first time, we move with it. Our future, including marriage and babies, is freely talked about, with the knowledge that one day we won’t be living separately, but will fully come together as a unit. I don’t have it in me to leave Cora just yet, as much as I miss having Reeve in my bed every night. And on the topic of every night, neither one of us managed to stick to the “no sleepovers” rule for very long. We lasted two weeks, which if you ask me isn’t terrible, all things considered.
Although everything is now out in the open, that doesn’t mean we have to share our monthly Sunday roast dinners. Some things are supposed to be between just us. Now we can just have them in the open more frequently.
Last week, Reeve came to my place and cooked for us. Cora conveniently had a date with Lara in Newcastle, so she was away for the weekend.
That’s how Reeve and I ended up here, tangled beneath the covers, my body sprawled across his as he sleeps. It feels natural, almost too normal, as if this space were created just for now, just for this moment.
I’m tempted to run my hands through his tousled hair, but the risk of waking him up is too high. I’d rather just continue to stare at him.
So I do. For another ten minutes, I eat up every aspect of his angled face and dark lashes. There’s a slight stubble that’s grown over the past few days that he’ll no doubt shave off today, as Reeve likes to keep things clean-cut, precise.
“See anything you like?” he mumbles, eyes still closed, startling the shit out of me.
Laughing, I nudge his side and bury my face into his neck. On instinct, his arms circle around me and pull me closer to him.
“How long have you been awake?” I ask.
“Not long,” he replies before pulling me away to try and kiss me. I dart my face away from him, his lips briefly drifting across mine.
“Morning breath!” I yell like an alarm. He laughs in response, his bright eyes now open and locked onto me. I peck him on the cheek, then slip out of his embrace, taking the bedsheet with me.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll just freeze to death!” he calls out as I slip into the bathroom, going straight for my toothbrush. Even as the bristles swish back and forth across my teeth, I can’t seem to pull the grin I’m wearing away. This here, this simplicity, it’s all I’ve ever wanted. All with Reeve Sawyer.
I feel his presence behind me, and I grab his toothbrush and hand it to him on instinct. It’s the most natural thing, but it means everything to me. Look at the stark difference a year can make—before, Reeve was practically running from my flat as if it were on fire, but now I can’t seem to get him out of bed.
“Someone’s happy,” he remarks as he spreads paste across his brush.
I wink before rinsing out my mouth. “I think we deserve to be, don’t you?”
I catch his eyes in the mirror, the lightness behind them telling me all I need to know.
I brush my hair as he finishes up, and I’m about to leave the bathroom when he stops me, his hand on my arm.
“You deserve the world, Emilia. And I’ll try every day to give it to you.”
“You deserve it too, Reeve. Don’t forget that.” I walk closer to him, my arms going around his neck. “So why don’t we just agree to give each other the best of everything we possibly can. Hell, I’ll even take your worst, as long as you stick around to give it to me.”
His hands snake around my legs and hoist me up to sit upon the sink. I disregard the wet bench as I look into his eyes.
“Deal. I’m not going anywhere,” he confirms.
I don’t waste a second, leaning in to finally give him a good-morning kiss. He meets me halfway, as I knew he would, his lips locking onto my own. I dig my hands into his silky locks as his grip tightens on my hips.
It’s a ten-minute frenzy of back and forth, my hands searching while his hold onto me for dear life. His kiss is explorative and exciting, never a dull moment between us. I bite at his lip, a low growl erupting out of him, and I can’t hold in the giggle.
“I love you,” he says to me between kisses, warming my insides in a way I never knew possible.
“Love you more,” I whisper back, my voice breathless.
Making sure I’m secure, he lifts me up, then carries me into the bedroom as my phone begins to ring. Our swollen lips break apart, and I don’t bother to hide my groan.
“Ignore it?” he asks, and I nod, deciding to go back to him.
Eventually the phone silences as I pull his shirt over his head, but as soon as it stops, the ringing starts again.
“Fuck,” I mutter, slipping out from under him. Of course, as I get to it, I see two missed calls from Stana and half a dozen messages.
“Holy shit!” I yell, already looking for some clothes to put on. Reeve jumps up, eyes wide with panic.
“Em, what is it?”
“Lottie’s gone into labor!” I reply, pulling off the boot I’ve just put on the wrong foot. Reeve doesn’t waste a second. He gets into action, dressing himself and helping me with my shoes before grabbing my bag and pulling me out the door.