Page 68 of Ache
By mid-morning, I’m pulling Everly out of bed. “Time to go home, love.”
“I don’t want to go.” She throws the covers over her head. “I just want to hide right here for the rest of my life.”
“As much as you permanently fixed to a bed sounds appealing, it isn’t practical. And Chicago isn’t your home.”
“No, never,” she whines. I love it when she does that. It’s cute as all hell. “But what’s going to happen when we get back to New York?”
I pull the covers away from her face. “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out.”
“That doesn’t sound promising,” she pouts.
I sigh, sitting down on the mattress. “You wanna hear something that sounds promising?” She nods, her dark bangs falling into her eyes. “I promise I will never let anything bad happen to you. I promise I will never let your mother ruin the new life you worked so hard to build. I promise neither you nor Alec will feel the effects or fallout from her bad decisions. So, no matter what happens when we get back to New York, your life won’t get interrupted.”
“That does sound promising.”
“I aim to please.”
“Is it realistic, though?” Her pessimism surfaces.
“Of course, it is. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s cock-blocking. Just ask Alec.”
“Tage.” She hits me playfully.
“I heard that,” Alec calls from the bathroom.
“It’s all in the past,” I shoot back, never taking my eyes off Ever.
She looks up at me lovingly, and all kinds of weird sensations grind like gears in my stomach. I have ached for her to look at me like that. To see me the way she once had. I abruptly lean down to kiss her. It’s compulsive. We share an emotive moment, a gripping, profound embrace that elevates our bond to another level.
Ever inhales serenely once I pull away. “I’m glad you're here. Back with me.”
“Me, too, baby.” I swipe my thumb across her pink cheek. “Me, too.” Being back with her is what I’ve wanted for a long time. “Now, come on, get up. It’s time to go home. You have to go back to work tomorrow.”
“I’m calling out again. Can’t we spend one more day holed up in here?” Ever appeals, throwing the covers back over her head.
“I’m cool with it.” Alec walks out of the bathroom towel drying his hair. It’s sticking up all over the place once he’s done.
“That won’t look strange? Both of you taking off on the same days?” I ask him.
“Who cares?” Ever grumbles from under the covers.
“I doubt it. No one is on to us as far as I can tell. There are so many office romances flying around that place.” He waves it off. “I think the policy is in place just for insurance purposes. In case something goes south. Hell, one of the senior partners is having an affair with the head of PR.”
Ever throws the covers off her. “Seriously?”
“Yup,” Alec confirms. “You’d be shocked from all the swapped spit in that firm.”
“Have you swapped spit with anyone else?” Oh, shit. Ever just put Alec under the gun. I can’t wait to hear this. I wish I had some popcorn.
“Um,” he looks uncomfortable. Is it wrong I’m enjoying this so much?
“Alec?” she presses him.
“There was an intern at the Christmas party last year,” he confesses. “It was just one, drunk, stupid night.” He clears his throat.
She isn’t amused.
“We all have a past,” I remind her. There’s no need to hold Alec over the fire.
