"These are incredible," I say, in awe of both his talent and how he's made me look. I look hot.
"Not too shabby, huh?" he teases, but I'm speechless.
When he slides the laptop to the floor beside us, I sink into him, loving just being in his arms. I never thought I'd have this again. And knowing there's no booking link or deposit makes the easy affection that much more heady. This is him - this is me - choosing each other for no other reason than because we want to.
He changed his career for me. Something he's been building for a decade, and while I never would have asked him to, he did it anyway. He knew I would struggle with it and gave it up for me.
My nose burns as tears pinch through my eyelids. My heart aches with love for this man.
He's behind me, so he can't see the tears, but he pulls his plate onto his lap and eats with one hand while the other plays lazily with my hair. And for the first time in my life I feel well and truly loved.
And I will spend every day for the rest of my life showing this man how much I love him.
Chapter twenty-five
Epilogue
Trey
Gareth's been at my place for two weeks now. I know he's bored, but we've got a good system in place. We're working our way down IMDB's top one hundred movies of all time. He's off of his painkillers but it will be a few more weeks before the cast comes off and then we figure out physical therapy. The kids are pretty self-sufficient so they're easy enough when they come for his parenting time.
And every day I spend with them I fall in love with them more. I knew choosing Gareth meant choosing his kids and ex-wife as well. And while loving them is easy, I was going to love them even if it was hard to. Because sometimes love is a choice.
We're taking things slow. I want to date him properly. In fact, I want to sneak into our old high school and make out behind the bleachers, but until he can walk again, we haven't done more than kissing and light petting. He's an incredibly affectionate guy, and while it kind of feels like torture to not touch him, I also know we have all the time in the world to get back there. This time, I want to touch him as my boyfriend, not as a client. Evenwhen those lines blurred, it was still something hanging over our relationship. Would I choose him if money wasn't involved?
I thinkheneeds me to prove I'm choosing him as much asIneed to prove it to him.
I push the coffee table against the far wall and set up the poker table in front of the couch. It'll be a little tall for him, but it'll work.
"What are you doing?"
"It's poker night."
His eyes widen. "I'm... I'm going to meet your friends?"
I suppress a smile. He looks so nervous. I've told him about them, but I've been so busy taking care of him and just being with him, I haven't been to hot yoga or been able to hang out with them. Now, it's trial by fire.
"Easier than tossing you over my shoulder and taking you to their house."
He pushes himself up to sit straighter, fidgeting with his clothes and his hair. "Do I look okay? Should I go shower? Do I smell okay? Oh, God. Can you get me a clean shirt?"
His hair is a little longer than normal, but I like it. It messes up his perfect all-American image and puts him just on this side of looking like a rebel.
I drop a kiss to his unruly hair. "They're going to love you, relax."
He still looks mildly panicked, but his shoulders droop an inch.
A few moments later the door opens with a knock and Frank and Harold walk in, carrying cases of beer and a fruit and veg tray. Jamie and Eve are close on their heels.
I do all the introductions quickly before setting up the food in the kitchen. I grab Gareth a sparkling water so he has something to sip on while Frank and Harold drink their beers, so he doesn't feel left out.
Of course, Eve's already grilling him when I walk back into the living room. Gareth seems tense, but the moment his eyes land on me he softens.
"Alright, will you give him a minute to breathe?" I tease, nudging Eve with my hip so she leaves him alone. I hand Gareth his drink and drop a kiss to his forehead in reassurance.
After a few rounds of hugs and greetings, everyone finds a chair around the poker table and I start dealing.
"So, Trey says you work in accounting? How has that been with your cast?" Jamie asks, and I appreciate how casual it sounds and not like an interrogation. I narrow my eyes at Eve who just smiles smugly.