Chapter 26 Milton
Milton
Iloved the feel of her weight in my arms and her chest rising and falling against my side in a peaceful rhythm. Lying with her in bed, tangled limbs and loose muscles, was a level of euphoria I’d never reached before.
I stopped tracing circles on her arm, carefully slid my fingers through hers, and stared up at the ceiling.
My breathing started to sync up with hers, and I smiled.
I’d been moving and fidgeting my entire life, constantly tapping my fingers on this or that, keeping an imaginary beat alive while my thoughts raced—hence why my nickname had become Tic.
It was nice to finally stop for a moment.
It wasn’t until Hazel had walked into my life that the thoughts began to slow down and my body regulated enough to just lie in peace.
I wasn’t sitting here, thinking of where I had to be, wondering how many things I could fit into my day, coming up with alternative plans if any of them fell through. This, right here, was all I’d ever wanted.
Sunlight poured through the window, hitting Hazel’s face. I raised a hand to shield her eyes so the light didn’t disrupt her sleep, but she stirred anyway, nestling into my side before her eyelids fluttered open.
Her green eyes looked unreal in this light as she peeked up at me.
“Good morning,” I said, squeezing her hand in mine.
She smiled, rubbing her eyes and yawning. “Good morning.”
I leaned and kissed her forehead. “How’d you sleep?”
She squinted, still adjusting to the brightness in the room. “Wonderfully. You?” Her lazy smile made me chuckle.
“Sorry, I need to get some of those light-blocking curtains,” I said, swatting the blinds behind me.
She shrugged. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.”
I frowned. “Yeah, but you work late, and sometimes, I do too. It’d be nice not to be blinded after only getting a few hours of sleep.”
She looked at me incredulously.
“What?” My brow arched.
She shook her head, pressing her lips together in a smirk. “Nothing.”
“You sure?”
She nodded. “You’re just wonderful.”
I hummed. “Likewise, Sunshine.”
The door creaked open, and Sweets walked in, jumping up onto the end of the bed. I felt bad I hadn’t given him more attention last night, so I was going to have to right my wrong and take him on at least two walks today.
“I’m surprised he didn’t try to sleep in here with us last night,” I said. “He usually likes to … C-U-D-D-L-E.”
Hazel finished fixing her hair into a side braid and giggled as I spelled out the word.
“I couldn’t remember that one!” I laughed.
“No, you’re doing really well!” she reassured. “I can’t believe you picked it up so quickly.”
I lifted my head with confidence. “Thanks.”
Sweets found a spot between our bodies, spun in a circle a few times, and plopped down.
Hazel laughed. “Yeah, I don’t know. He really loved sleeping with me in my bed while you were gone.”
“I don’t blame him,” I replied, smirking.
She blushed. “The bed is really comfortable. He was probably in there, waiting for me.”
I scratched his ears, grinning. “Well, he’ll have to get used to coming in here from now on.”
She looked up at me, chewing on her lip.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just a lot to sort out. Now’s not the time.”
“We can sort through things now if you want.” I tapped my finger under her chin. “What’s on your mind?”
She inhaled slowly and then let it out in a sigh. “Just … everything …”
I waited patiently, trying to charm more out of her with a grin. “Got anything, you know, specific? Maybe?”
She pursed her lips. “I need to get a new car,” she finally began, listing them off on her fingers. “I have to figure out a place to live.”
“You’re not staying?” I quickly interrupted her.
She stilled. “Stay?”
“Yeah.” I nodded warmly. “With me.”
Sweets rustled.
“And this guy, of course.” I grinned down at him.
Her eyes bounced around my face like she was waiting for me to laugh and tell her I was joking.
“I don’t think that’s—” She started shaking her head, thoughts spiraling. “Don’t you think that’s too soon?”
“For who?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. This?” She waved a hand between both of us.
“We can take this as slow as you want. If you want to find your own place, I’ll help you with whatever you let me. Hell, I’ll pay to put you up wherever you want, so you don’t have to worry about rent.”
She narrowed her eyes, clearly unimpressed.
I held my hands up. “Like I said, if you let me. I’m not trying to insult your independence. I know you’re fully capable.” I paused, looking at her. “But if the reason for you wanting to leave is anything other than you not being ready, I’m going to politely decline.”
She snickered. “Politely decline me leaving here?”
“Yes,” I stated, trying to look stern. “Unless, like, the sex was horrible or something like that,” I teased.
She grabbed the pillow behind her and hit me with it, and both of us chuckled.
We looked at one another for a long while, and then she lifted a brow. “You really want me to stay?”
“I really do.”
Her eyes lit up. “Okay.”
Relief filled my veins, and I felt like I could breathe again. “Great. Now that we got that worked out, what else do you need help with? You know you can keep borrowing my car until you find something you like. I can go with you to look if you want.”
“Please,” she said.
“Okay.” I smiled, loving the way it felt to have her ask for my help.
“What about your stuff? You didn’t come here with much.
I know you said you didn’t need anything before I left, but did that change?
We can run to the store later. Or is there anything left at Skylar’s apartment you might’ve forgotten? ”
She looked away in thought, picking at her cuticles.
“Sunshine?”
“It’s not a big deal …” She trailed off. “Well, it is to me, I guess.”
“Tell me, and it’s yours,” I replied matter-of-factly.
“I’ve just been meaning to stop back at my—er, my ex’s house to get something of my mom’s I left behind.”
“Oh, of course. What is it?”
“Her old perfume bottle. I forgot to take it with me when I left.”
“Let’s go get it then.” I shrugged.
She looked at me warily. “It could get complicated.”
“For him or for us?” I joked.
She didn’t laugh.
“Hey.” I smiled faintly, scooting closer to her. “We’ll get it back. I’ll take the guys with me, and we can take care of it, okay? There’s nothing to worry about.”
Her eyes glossed over as she slowly nodded.
My ears began to burn as my blood started to boil. I hated that he’d instilled this fear in her.
“I just want to be careful. He randomly showed up at the wedding the other day, but Genesis’s husband chased him off.”
My expression steeled. “What?”
“I don’t know why he was there!” She looked at me, searching for an answer neither one of us knew.
I softened my gaze, not wanting to add to her concern.
“And then the whole thing with my car?” She threw her hands up in defeat. “I wish I didn’t have to see him again.”
“You don’t have to come with,” I offered. “Danny, Liam, Lex, and I will go for you.”
She slumped her shoulders. “I should probably be there, just in case. My name is still on the deed for a little while longer.”
“Okay, then I’ll have you wait in the car for me. Where it’s safe.”
I saw some of the tension leave her face and leaned down to kiss her, letting my lips linger on hers until I felt her body relax into mine.