25. Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lane
The weekend goes by too fast, and before I know it, we’re on the plane back home.
Tage doesn’t put up a fight when I ask him to spend the night at my place.
He says it’s because it’s closer to the airport and he’s tired, but I think that’s just an excuse to make himself feel better about spending so many nights with me.
Whatever. I’ll take it. If he wants excuses, I can give him plenty.
I bring our bags in, but there is no plan to unpack anything tonight.
Tage puts on a pair of my pajama pants, and we crawl into bed together, so easily like we do it every night.
We’re getting there. And if it were up to me, it would be every night.
But Tage is hesitant, and I’m okay with that. For now.
He’s cautious about opening up, but he never gets angry when I press him. That’s a good sign. Tage will get there when he’s ready; I just need to be patient.
He slides over to me, and I hold him while we sleep.
When I wake in the morning, his back is to me, the sheets tangled around his legs, hugging his pillow tightly.
He moves a lot when he sleeps, but thankfully I have a big bed, and I sleep like the dead, so it doesn’t bother me.
I actually think it’s kind of adorable the way he sleeps like a rabid animal, always getting mixed up with the sheets and dropping his pillows to the floor then trying to steal mine.
I carefully get out of bed, not wanting to wake him, even though I know I won’t. He also sleeps like the dead, especially in the morning. He’s never woken up, not once. Not when the sun is up.
Not even when my blender is running, that I’m sure can be heard upstairs because it’s too loud for its own good.
I get through my work out. Take a shower.
He’s still sleeping when I’m done, so I start on breakfast, even though usually it’s his thing.
He’s tired from the weekend, so he should sleep before we get back to work and into our weekly routine.
I hate the thought of sleeping alone after these last few nights, but if it’s what he wants, I need to respect that. Hopefully, after spending the entire weekend with me, he’ll rethink his decisions and move in with me.
Breakfast is done and I consider waking him up. I don’t mind if he’s late for work; I’m capable of checking the schedule myself and if anything needs to be done, David is around. It’s not the end of the world. Not to me, but Tage won’t approve. So, before I dig into breakfast, I head upstairs.
He’s even more tangled in the sheets than he was before, and I don’t know how he does it. A secret talent.
I sit on the edge of the bed and brush my fingers over his forehead and through his hair. He sucks in a sharp breath, his eyes blinking open. A soft smile crosses his lips and my heart warms.
Yes, moving in with me is the best idea. Being with me always is exactly what I want. You’d love it too, if you just gave it a chance.
“It’s getting late,” I say. “Breakfast is done.”
Nodding, he sits up and yawns as he stretches. I get off the bed so he can untangle himself and we make our way downstairs where breakfast is waiting. He pours himself a cup of coffee before sitting down to eat.
“This is nice,” I say as I watch him eat his omelet. “Don’t you agree?”
“Yes,” he says, his voice still raspy from sleep. “It is nice.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him to stay forever because he’ll have this every morning, but I bite my tongue. He knows I’ll do whatever he wants; he just needs to say it.
“I’m going to head in. I’ve already told Blake to pick me up.”
“Oh,” Tage says, sounding surprised.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as I take his empty plate.
“Nothing, I just thought maybe we could… go in together today,” he says, sounding unsure.
“I’ll call him off.”
“No, don’t do that,” he says quickly. “Don’t inconvenience him.”
“It’s not inconvenient when he’s getting paid.”
With a smile, he puts his hand on my chest and leans up to kiss my cheek.
“Tomorrow,” he says softly.
“Does that mean you’re staying here again?”
“Or you’re staying at my place.”
I put the plate on the counter and wrap him in my arms. I knew if I just gave him a little space, he’d make the decision on his own. He wants this, too, I know he does. He just needed to accept it in his own time. I kiss him softly, resting my forehead against his.
“I love you,” I say gently.
It’s only the second time I’m speaking those words, and though I thought I didn’t know the meaning before, it seems I do now.
The only other person I’ve loved in my life, other than Tage, is my mother. And that is a very different kind of love. But there are enough of the same feelings to know that this is exactly what I’m feeling for him. Always thinking about him. Wanting a future with him. Being happy when he’s happy.
“It’s so weird to hear you say that,” he says with a small laugh. “Good, but weird.”
I kiss him again. “I’m going to get ready for work.”
I start up the stairs when he calls my name. I look at him over my shoulder and find him smiling up at me.
“I love you too.”
I get dressed and gather my things, kissing him again before I head into the elevator. Even though I’ll see him again in about an hour, I hate leaving him. Now I know why people say falling in love is trouble.