“Pizza?” I ask and Brennan seems to be the only one disappointed by that.
I know that he would rather cook and Hartley sees it too.
“Now that we live so close to each other, you can come over for dinner whenever you want. We can cook every night if that’s what you want,” she promises him and he perks up.
I order the pizza and we spend that night crowded in the living room watching some kids show that Brennan loves and finishing off two whole pizzas. Patrick and Brennan leave soon after but I have a feeling that Brennan will be back here tomorrow night to take Hartley up on her cooking offer.
“Ready for bed?” Hartley asks as she clears away the plates and loads the dishwasher.
I don’t answer her, just scoop her up in my arms and carry her down the hallway. Hartley wraps her arms around my neck, grinning as we head into our bedroom.
As I lay her out on the bed, I realize how dumb I was to ever think that I didn’t want this. Hartley is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She makes me happy, makes sure I’m alright, makes me laugh.
“I love you,” I whisper against her skin as I pull her clothes off. “I love you,” I tell her as I sink inside of her.
“I love you more,” she tells me as our lips meet and we both reach our peaks.
I don’t want to start an argument on our first night living together, but I know that’s not true. She could never love me more than I love her.
“Goodnight, sweets,” I whisper against the crown of her head.
“Goodnight, Eli,” she whispers back, her voice cloudy with sleep.
Her breathing evens out and I grin when I know that she’s asleep. Her things are lined up next to mine in the closet and on the nightstand and I smile as my eyes fall closed. They look right there.
Like that’s where they’ve always belonged.