Chapter 36
Chapter
Thirty-Six
REED
R eed dozed, drifting off into sleep as gentle rain pattered on the roof of his apartment overlooking the bookstore.It was a lazy rainy Monday morning, and he couldn’t imagine a better way to start the week.
His legs were intertwined with Pearl’s on the couch, and she had an arm around him. She lay half on him and he was in actual heaven.
It had only been a few weeks since her birthday but he knew he wanted this for the rest of his life. Lazy rainy mornings, the scent of her newest concoction in his oven, her things beside his on the nightstand and bathroom counter. Her smelling like his soap.
She stayed over most nights but not all, as she still loved her girls nights with AB. He hadn’t wanted to spook or rush her. He was just happy that the miracle of Bookish/Pearl even existed, and thanked the universe every day for it.
He kissed the top of her head, nuzzling in as her hair caught on his stubble. He’d never thought that the kiss had meant anything beyond a dare to her when they were kids. But he’d carried a small flickering hopeful memory that he’d savored. It had been happily replaced by kissing her in a thunderous summer rainstorm, drenched to the bone and cemented in a perfect love.
He squeezed her to him, sighing over the memory of it even now.
“I knew you were a cuddler,” she murmured into his chest, nuzzling in.
He pulled the covers over Pearl as she dozed on him.
He played with her hair, running his fingers through the silky strands. He inhaled deeply, pressing his face into the top of her head. He reveled in her vanilla and amber scent as he realized he’d never need to be away from it if he didn’t want to be.
How soon? he wondered. How soon would be just long enough not to weird her out?
He needed to marry her as soon as she was ready. He wanted this every day for the rest of his life. Someone who was gorgeous, was his soulmate, and made him want to be the best version of himself.
“I thought,” Pearl murmured, her eyes closed against his chest as she nuzzled in, “black belt cuddling included Walden being read aloud.”
He chuckled, remembering their conversation from so long ago. He looked at the stack of books on his side table.
“Sorry, only Agatha Christie is available.”
“Mmmm,” she hummed happily, squeezing him tighter. “ Murder , even better.”
He reached over and grabbed a copy of Murder on the Orient Express. He flipped it open to the first page.
Her voice cut in. “So, when we talked in the kids’ section before we opened…you said you wanted kids, as in multiple…” She cracked open one eye, looking up at him. “How many multiple?”
His gut clenched, and his heart beat faster.
Honesty.
Ask for what you want.
“I’ve recently learned that having siblings is pretty great. So, maybe two? Or three?” he asked, wincing at the last number.
It was hard not worrying about being too much, but he was getting better at it.
He’d loved the chaos of breakfast with three sisters, three brothers-in-law, a baby nephew and an older nephew (because they didn’t do steps in the Parker family either, apparently).
Pearl sighed with a noncommittal hum.
“I was thinking four,” she finally murmured against his chest. “Unless you think that’s too much.”
He smiled into her hair, elated. “It’s never too much. I want as much of you in this world as possible.” His heart was in his throat as he mapped out endless plans and timelines.
He pulled back so he could read her pretty face. “Did you, uh…have a timeline?”
She smiled as she kissed the side of his mouth and nuzzled back down into his chest. “We’ve got plenty of time. I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.” She sighed.
“With you,” she whispered.
Reed Berry was in love.
And it wasn’t with a bookshop, or a building, or a best-selling thriller, or even the idea of being a success.
He was in heartbreaking, gooey, lightning-bound love with the woman in his arms who loved all the broken pieces of him. Who smelled of seductive dreams and soulmates and his future.
As long as they both shall live.
THE END