With You Forever by Chloe Liese

Author:Chloe Liese [Liese, Chloe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Published: 2021-09-14T07:00:00+00:00

17

Axel

Playlist: “We’re Going Home,” Vance Joy

I blame the meddling man cubs for this. I blame Oliver for making me feel just a sliver of hope, and Viggo for that book he recommended that I might have read half of last night as I lay in my bed, on top of sheets and pillows that, despite enduring a few days of my brothers, still smelled like twilight in a meadow. Like Rooney.

I sound like a fucking creep, about the sheets, but let the record show, I didn’t do it on purpose—I just crashed on the bed after I cleaned up from dinner and started reading. Before I knew it, I’d fallen asleep, and then I was dreaming about what you’d expect after reading half of a hot romance novel while bathed in the scent of the woman you’re always hard for, always thinking about, always wanting.

Wanting so badly, you kiss her without asking the moment you see her, then you tell her things you didn’t even know you had in you to say.

The sheer, free-falling terror of that. It felt like Rooney caught me only a moment before I hit the hard surface of a brutal rejection. And then I felt weightless, because she said, I want you, too.

“Axel?”

“Hm?” I blink, drawn from my thoughts, and peer down at the kitten. Carefully, I scratch her chin. She’s out, arms up, sleeping. That dust ball is too cute. I’m just waiting for it to show its devil side. Something that adorable is too good to be true.

“Can we keep her?” Rooney asks.

We. The sound of that word makes a shiver bolt down my spine. But then reality rushes in, reminding me of what’s coming. How soon we won’t exist anymore.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I tell her, dropping my hand. “Considering we’re only a we until you leave in a few weeks.”

Rooney pouts. “You might love her by then. She could be best friends with Harry by then—”

“She could have a home by then,” I interject, “with Parker and Bennett because Skyler’s been begging for a cat.”

She lights up. “Really?”

I sigh heavily. “We’ll need to take her to the vet first. Get her used to a litter box.”

“I can do that,” Rooney says. “I’ll be responsible for her. Will you ask Parker and Bennett about adopting her once I’m—” She pauses and frowns, petting the cat. “Once I’m gone?”

Gone.

I used to count down the days until she’d be gone, because all I wanted was to survive them. Keep my head down, keep my mouth shut, keep my distance. But now, here I am, surrendering. I want to kiss her when I want—when she wants—and touch her and know her just a little, for a little while.

And then let her go.

Because someone so sunshine bright and outgoing will never want forever with a quiet, private grump like me, but maybe she could want me for a while. Long enough to enjoy what I can give her, to give her whatever she needs in her brief escape from the outside world.

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