19. Evan #3
The shock of the last hour had worn off, and now all I could feel was pure, unadulterated rage at Malcolm for everything he’d put Nick, my sister, and me through.
“He hurt you.”
“I hurt him worse.”
“It doesn’t matter. He knows me. And he knows what happens when you fuck with what’s mine.”
“You saying I’m yours?” He quirked his eyebrow at me.
“Of course you are.”
“I am? Since when?”
“Since…” I paused, some of my haze clearing. “I forgot to tell you, didn’t I?”
He put his hands on his hips and gave me an unimpressed look. “Um, yeah. So, is there something you want to tell me?”
“You’re mine.”
“That’s a good start. What else?”
I pulled him toward me and held him close as our chests bumped. “I’m yours.”
“Better,” he said quietly. “What else?”
“I love you.”
His breath caught. “You do?”
“Yes. I love you, Nick.” I looked into his eyes so he could see how true the words were.
He swallowed thickly. “I love you too. But you really need to work on your timing.”
“I know.” Chuckling, I bent to give him a soft kiss. “I didn’t expect this. I thought I was done with love and relationships, but then you happened and now I can’t imagine spending a single day without you.”
“You’re saying all that sweet stuff again.”
“And I mean every word. I love you, Nick. I want to build a life with you.”
“Are you sure? It’s only been a few months. How do you know you won’t get sick of me? Maybe you should take that back until you’ve had to put up with me for longer.”
“Nick—”
“I can’t do it. I can’t love you and be with you and then lose you because I’m me. I won’t survive it—”
I cut him off with another tender kiss.
“I love you, Nicky. I don’t care if it’s been two months or two years or two lifetimes. I.” A kiss. “Love.” Another. “You.” A third.
“So, are we like, real boyfriends?” he asked tentatively when I pulled back, his cheeks ruddy and his lips already kiss-swollen.
“Yes.”
He beamed. “I didn’t lie to everyone!”
“I’m sorry?” I asked, trying to keep up.
“My friends. I told them you’re my boyfriend and now it’s true, so I didn’t lie to anyone. But now I have to tell Aiden that you’re not just my sugar daddy. Ugh. He’s gonna be all I told you so because he did and he’s never gonna let it go.”
Circling my arm around him again, I tugged him down the hallway.
“Ev?”
“Yes?”
“Can I sleep in your bed tonight?” he asked, peering up at me through his lashes.
“You’ll be sleeping in our bed every night from now on.”
“Our bed?”
“Yes.”
I’d never forgive myself for putting Nick in harm’s way, even if he had. And I’d never forget how proud I’d been when we’d burst into the office to find Nick standing over Malcolm and completely in control of the situation.
Nick was strong and capable and the most incredible person I’d ever known. I needed to make things right with him, and with everyone in my life.
“Nicky.”
He stopped and faced me.
“I’m going to tell my father the truth.”
“The whole truth?” he squeaked.
“No, not everything,” I amended.
“Why?”
“Because I’m done with the games and his micromanaging and control issues.
He was so focused on me and my personal life and trying to orchestrate my future that he completely missed all the shit Malcolm was doing right under his nose.
I’m with you because I love you, not because of some stupid inheritance.
I refuse to taint our relationship with any more lies. ”
“Taint.” He snickered.
I pinned him with a flat look, even as the corners of my mouth twitched into a smile.
“Sorry.” He batted his eyelashes at me, the picture of innocence. “But are you sure? This is a huge deal and you’ve just been through the ringer. Maybe now isn’t the time to be making that decision.”
“I’m sure.” I dragged him forward for another kiss, this one deep and filled with all the emotions and love I felt for him.
“Are you sure you’re sure?” he asked after we pulled apart. “We’re talking millions of dollars. You’ve been working toward this your entire life. This is your legacy.”
“No, it’s his. I’ve made my own legacy, and if he can’t accept that, he can find someone else to leave his life’s work to.”
“I don’t want you to do this because of me. I’m perfectly happy to go along with the plan. We can even break our fake engagement after everything is signed and—”
“No more faking anything. Not with you. When we announce our engagement, it will be after I’ve proposed properly and we’re ready for that next chapter in our lives.”
“ When we announce it?”
“I’m in this for the long haul. I’m not saying it’ll happen anytime soon, neither of us is ready for that yet, but I know you’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. There’s no point pretending otherwise.”
“Ugh.” He punched me in the shoulder. “You can’t say all that nice stuff to me when we’re in your sister’s foyer and I can’t jump you.”
“How about you jump me when we get home?”
“Fuck that. I’m jumping you as soon as we’re in the car.” He grabbed my hand and towed me toward the front door. “Come on, old man. Get the lead out of your pants. I need kisses, cuddles, and a dick in my mouth. Stat .”
Laughing and feeling like the luckiest guy in the world, I followed Nick out of the house.
I’d meant every word I said to him. Nick was mine, and I didn’t give a fuck about my parents, or my father’s, plans for me.
When I hired Nick to pretend to be my boyfriend, I never could have imagined how much of an impact he’d have on not only my life, but on me .
He’d shown me it was okay to slow down, to focus on the little joys in life, to measure my happiness in smiles and laughs, and not in dollars or achievements.
Now he was mine, and I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing him just how loved he was.