Chapter 18
eighteen
VI
We moved my stuff into Eli’s bedroom that night, then snuggled up and watched a movie while he played with my hair. The cupcake blanket had finally emerged from the dryer, so we were snuggled up beneath it.
It kept bringing my mind back to the first night we’d been together.
And that made me happy.
It had been insane, but in a way that was kind of funny when I looked back on it.
We fell asleep on the couch together late that night, and Eli woke me up with his hand between my thighs early the next morning.
Then his mouth.
Then his cock.
Suffice it to say, I wouldn’t mind if every morning went that way. How could it get better than sex and snuggling, followed by shared laughter?
We got a message that our apartment was done a few hours later, so we threw some of my clothes in a bag, then headed out.
Flying was just as much fun as always. Eli kept me on my toes—and I needed that.
I loved it, too.
After we landed on the balcony of our new place, Randa and Jasper stepped outside to greet us.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw Randa. Her cheeks were pink, and her eyes were bright.
“You chopped your hair!” I exclaimed, abandoning Eli as I hurried toward her to grab a few of the short, bouncy strands. It was cut to her chin, blunt but choppy, and was almost exactly the same as the haircut she’d been obsessed with a few years earlier. She’d grown her hair out, but never really told me why.
I loved the cut on her, though. I’d been waiting for her to chop it again ever since.
“Finally,” she agreed, unable to hide her grin. “Jas has made me show him pictures of it multiple times, and I couldn’t resist anymore. I accidentally told him how much I wanted it short again the first night we met.”
“Okay, that’s adorable.” I tugged lightly on the strands before I hugged her, and released her. “How’s the place looking?”
“Amazing. Come on.” She tugged me inside, and I heard Eli chuckle behind us.
Randa gave me a tour, and we obsessed over the little details together.
She and Brynn had blown it out of the park.
I was going to love living there.
Randa and I were chatting about her newest art pieces in the kitchen when Jasper came over and put his hands on her shoulders, massaging lightly. Eli sat down next to me, his hand finding my thigh.
Randa’s chin tilted as her mate said something to her silently, and she nodded.
“Alright, we’re going to head back to our place to get some work done,” Jasper said smoothly. “Enjoy the new house.”
We all knew the living spaces in Mate Mountain weren’t really houses, but they were big enough that it seemed silly to call them apartments. And living space sounded kind of cold.
So, house it was.
They left, and then it was just me, Eli, and an absolutely stunning view that I could see from every window.
My gaze moved over the mountains.
My shoulders were more relaxed than they’d been in years, if ever.
I was leaning up against Eli’s side, and I hadn’t even noticed. The contact just felt right.
Everything did when I was with Eli.
He’d become my best friend—but he was more than that.
He was my mate.
And suddenly, I was tired of trying to convince myself that he wasn’t.
It went against all of my instincts to embrace commitment, but it was what I wanted. What I’d always wanted. I’d been so desperate to get married when I was younger that I convinced an absolute asshole to propose to me. I’d talked myself into believing that all the red flags in our relationship didn’t matter.
But that was nothing like what I had with Eli.
Eli and I were real.
He loved me, regardless of how I felt or what I did.
And… well, I loved him too.
I was done pretending I didn’t.
His hand brushed over my thigh lightly, and I looked at him.
He was already looking at me.
“I’m done with the test run. Do you want to get married?” I asked him, out of the blue.
He didn’t blink.
Or hesitate.
Or even consider it.
“Yes. Want to fly to Vegas right now?”
My face warmed. “I do, but I think I want the big party, too. And a ring. And a fancy dress.”
“Next week.” He winked at me.
Then kissed me.
“I can’t plan a wedding in a week, E,” I protested, pulling away.
“Ask your mom to do it. She’ll freak out at first, but I bet she’ll be thrilled afterward. She can pretend the last-minute thing is because it’s exclusive or something.”
I laughed. “You’re insane.”
He grinned. “You love it, though.”
“I do,” I admitted.
His grin widened, and he kissed me again.
Harder.
“Next week,” he repeated, more emphatically. “If you’re sure, I’m not waiting any longer. I’ll talk your mom into it for you.”
He grabbed his phone and lifted it to his ear, giving me that same damn mischievous grin as he waited for her to answer.
Eli was a pain in my ass… but I loved that almost as much as I loved him.
And after the way the last month had gone, I was pretty damn sure that would never change.