Page 172 of Even Ground

He waddles toward the side of the house, and I can’t help it as laughter bursts out of me.

“I can still hear you, Pania.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Tears roll down my cheeks from laughing so hard, but I can’t help it. “I’m not really sorry,” I whisper.

We walk across the road to our house. I love the house almost as much as I love Reece.

Almost.

Apart from it being so close to Delaney, it’s my little piece of luxury I never thought I’d have.

And best of all, Reece and I chose it together.

I lead him around the side of the house and through the gate to the pool. Throwing the towel off, I dive straight in, gasping a little as the water hits me.

Reece walks down the steps. “If I jump in like that, I might break something.”

I chuckle. “Wouldn’t want to do that.”

He makes his way down the steps into the pool and into my arms. “I love you,” he murmurs in my ear.

I close my eyes as he nuzzles my neck. “I love you too.”

“No regrets?”

I pull back. “Not a single one. What about you?”

He shakes his head. “Only one.”

I cock an eyebrow.

“I wasted two years when we could have just been together.”

And then he kisses me, and I know I’ll just have to take his problem and make it mine.

Because I love him.

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