Chapter 33
Liv
One month later . . .
“I think we should move in together.”
I stop towel-drying my hair and stare at Noah in the mirror. “Move in together?” I ask stupidly, my mind struggling to wrap around the words he just flung out of the blue. I twist the towel around my hair on my head. “I’m not even wearing a bra, Noah.”
He chuckles. How in the world is me standing naked with nothing but a towel the optimal time to ask me such a question, especially while he’s fully dressed in a tailored navy-blue pinstripe suit and looks like he walked out of a magazine?
How is this fair? Or neutral territory? Or make sense to anyone but him?
It doesn’t need to make sense to me because it did to him. He’s such a romantic.
“I’ve been thinking about this all night,” he says, “for the past month even. I want the three of us living together.”
“We practically do now.”
“Practically is not the same thing as sharing an address. We live apart and bring our stuff back and forth.” He takes hold of my waist, but his gaze grazes over my body, specifically my breasts. I’ve discovered that my breasts are his Achilles’ heel. I wield the power with care, though.
Sliding my hand down the front of his suit jacket, I pick a piece of lint from the lapel. “Having this conversation on a Monday morning before caffeine is a lot to take in.”
He lifts my chin until we make eye contact again. “I’ll buy you a new coffeemaker, the best on the market. I want our stuff under the same roof.”
“You’re bribing me with fancy coffee?”
The corner of his mouth slips upward on the right side as he chuckles under his breath. “I am. My shame knows no bounds.”
“I’m the opposite. I have all the boundaries holding me here.
” I’d laugh, but there’s too much truth in that confession.
I can’t make a rash decision, though my heart hasn’t led me wrong yet when it comes to him.
“There’s a lot to consider. Pro: Lugging Max’s and my belongings between the two places is a real drag. Con: I like my apartment.”
“Pro: You love my apartment and the amenities.”
“Those are nice, especially the dry cleaning and the pool. Max loves the pool.”
“Another pro,” he says, checking it off in the air.
“Con: Both are in great neighborhoods with easy access to restaurants, groceries, and parks.”
“How are those cons?”
“It’s two pros, not cons. One in each column.” I try to tally the pros and cons, but I’ve lost track. “Wait, where are we with pros for mine?”
Chuckling, he replies, “We were doing pros and cons of moving in together, not which apartment, but I like where your head is.”
“I knew I wasn’t awake enough for this.” Tilting my head, I ask, “Should we start over?”
“No, let’s keep going and see where we land.”
“Financially, your apartment is worth more than mine. If we sell it, you’ll make a profit. If we move in there, it gains more value over time, but I have no stake in it.”
Pulling me fully into his arms, he says, “That’s just it. I don’t want mine and yours. I want ours. Together.”
“Mine is owned by my mom.” I don’t know why I feel less for admitting that. She got a huge settlement from the divorce and still owns company shares. She gave me the apartment for Max and me to live in, and I cover the mortgage. There’s no shame in that.
He’s looking at me, and I can tell his thoughts are plentiful. Finally, he says, “What would happen to it if you moved out?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she’d sell it, but that leaves me no safety net.”
“I understand that you want to be secure in your surroundings, in your investments, and to build your assets. Are you building it in your current situation?”
I know my mom will sign over the apartment one day. We’ve meant to do that for a while now but haven’t gotten around to it. So I answer truthfully, “No.”
Rubbing my shoulders, he says, “I never want you to feel beholden to me. If you’re with me, it’s because you want to be.
I don’t have the answer for you. This is a decision you need to make.
But one thing I won’t strip away is your independence and safety.
I like your apartment, but there’s nowhere to grow from here.
I have an office space and two other bedrooms outside of the primary.
I bought this to serve my life for years to come.
If you move in with me, you won’t need to pay me a dime.
If you want to build your financial portfolio, that’s your money to do with as you please. ”
“I wouldn’t want to live for free. That means it’s your apartment, and I’m just moving in. I want a stake in my home.”
Kneading my breasts, he smirks. “We can negotiate. I’m open to hearing your terms.” I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist them for long.
“Why are you offering me anything I want?”
“I’m a changed man because of you. I don’t want to shuffle our stuff back and forth anymore. I want to be with you all the time. I want to settle down.”
Although we’re very much settled these days, hearing him voice a future with me in such an important way has me lifting on my toes to kiss him. When I drop down, I say, “You didn’t have to change for me.”
“Sure I did. I want to be the man you deserve to have in your life, and I’m willing to earn my way each day as long as I don’t lose you.”
The steam from the shower has long since dissipated. I know I’m melting because of his words, though, and not the heat that remains. I lean against him, my cheek brushing against the fine material as he holds me. “I don’t want to lose you either.”
When I met him, I slept with this man out of pure selfish desire. That turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made.
Even in this love that I feel for him, I laugh. “I feel a little underdressed for that kind of declaration.”
He chuckles. “You have a really nice ass, babe.”
I realize he’s staring in the mirror. Pushing him away, I laugh.
Taking the towel from my head, I wrap it around me, wanting to finish this conversation despite the lack of caffeine in my system.
I ask, “Do you really want to move in together, or do you just feel like that’s what we’re supposed to do? ”
“I don’t give a flying fuck about rules when it comes to relationships.
We should always do what feels right for us.
Fuck all the other stuff.” He checks his watch and sighs.
“I need to go, but there’s no rush to answer.
” Cupping my cheek, he says, “Think about it, and we’ll talk when you’re ready.
” He kisses my temple and heads to the door.
“I’ll see you at our usual ten o’clock?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
After giving me a quick wink, he leaves.
I’m not left guessing where he stands or how he feels about me.
He not only tells me openly, but he shows me every day.
Thinking about how amazing he is with Max has my heart so full that it feels as though it might burst. I thought this kind of happiness was only found in fairy tales, but it’s become my real life.
All because of that man. And he thinks I need time to figure things out. I don’t.
I already know exactly what I want to do and what’s best for Max. I start running. Swinging open the front door, I hurry out and call his name, hoping to catch him before he gets on the elevator. “Noah?”
The elevator doors close, and my heart sinks just a little. I shrug it off because I can tell him during our daily scheduled appointment at the office. I laugh to myself, knowing full well we never get any work done during those meetings.
When I turn around, my mouth falls open.
Oh no. I rush to the apartment door and turn the knob, praying it didn’t close all the way and lock me out.
Shaking it, I stupidly kick it in a failed attempt to bust it open.
I know it’s Fort Knox, though, because I had the locking devices installed on it. “Dammit.”
Of course, this is the day Cassandra took Max for an early sing-along at the children’s museum.
With Noah still on the elevator, he’s my only hope.
I tighten the towel around me and head for the stairs.
Twelve flights. I can only hope that I catch him before he reaches the street, and I don’t get a foot fungus from this stairwell. Ew.
I might also be hoping he gets stuck on every floor. I keep running, but even downhill, this is a bitch of a workout. By the time I reach the third floor, my thigh muscles begin to shake. When I push through the lobby door on the first floor, every muscle in my body is on fire.
Twelve damn floors but I made it. I call out before I even reach the other side of the elevator, “Noah?” My dirty feet slapping against the marble floors, I race toward the exit to the street.
There’s no one, no one but me in the lobby. “Dammit,” I say, angry with myself for running into the hall like an idiot without a key. I bend forward, resting my hands on my knees to catch my breath.
I’m stuck and need a new plan since the desk attendant isn’t anywhere to be found.
Like this isn’t embarrassing or anything, I could wait for someone to come off the elevator and ask to use their phone.
I have no choice, but my head is still dropped in humiliation. “I can’t believe I’ll have to do this.”
I right myself, so glad this tuck of the towel seems to want to stay in place. But just in case, I hold it for my walk of shame. When I turn around, I’m greeted by hazel eyes and a smile that I know like the back of my hand.
“Forget something?” Noah holds up a key.
I don’t care that I feel like a fool and probably look like one too, with my sweating body and red cheeks, my hair a mess, and that I’m only dressed in a towel in public.
I run and jump into his open arms and wrap my legs around him.
Our lips collide along with our bodies. But when we part, he’s the only thing I see and the only one for me.
“I don’t need time to think about it. I already know that I want us to move in with you. ”
His smile wins my heart all over again. “You sure?”
“Never been more so in my life. I want us to be together all the time.”
The ding of the elevator has him moving us off to the side and trying to cover me, but the sudden shift tugs on my towel, forcing it to the floor. “Ack!” I practically climb into this man, using his suit as my shield and hiding myself the best I can. “Please tell me no one—”
“Be still.”
I hear the clomp of shoes across the stone floors, then the door opening, letting the sounds of the city invade before it closes and goes quiet again.
“Close call, but he couldn’t see anything.” Noah bends down and grabs the towel. “You’re lucky it’s before morning rush hour.” He’s wrapping the towel around me as we shuffle back to the elevator.
“I’m lucky for more reasons than that.” I punch the button since his hands are full of me at the moment. “What took you so long anyway if no one was on the elevator with you?”
“I heard you call my name, so I got off on the next floor and ran up the stairs.”
I huff. “We must have just missed each other.”
“If it matters, and it always does, you made excellent time.” I start laughing as he kisses my head. He holds me so tight that I don’t even care if someone sees me half-naked.
I have this man’s love, and I know I can trust him with my life. I still have to laugh at myself. “What floor are you on again? Just in case I decide to try to beat my own record.”
“I’m hoping next time will include clothes. I’m too fucking jealous to handle guys seeing my girl.”
“Your girl, huh?”
“Yep,” he says proudly. The doors open, and we let a few people off before stepping onto the elevator. As soon as we’re alone again, he says, “And I’ve been yours since the moment we met.”
The elevator opens back on my floor, and he unlocks my apartment.
While I stand inside the doorway, he remains outside.
This reminds me of when we were first dating.
It’s not so long ago that I can’t forget that there’s been nothing expected about our chosen path.
“I’ve loved every minute with you since. ”
“I love you.” I may have had my breath stolen away by that confession, but I’ve never seen him look so determined. “I love you, Liv. I’ve loved you all along.”
“I still haven’t had caffeine.” He grins, comfortable in his stance to rush me in mine. “Screw it.” I throw my arms around him. “Who needs caffeine when I have you? I love you so much, Noah. I’ve loved you since the day I stopped hating you.”
He bursts out laughing. “What more could I ask for?” He kisses me with the passion of a thousand boyfriends, and I’m here for it. And spending my future with him.