Page 49 of Van

“What do you mean, Van? Is what a yes?”

“Will you live with me? Will you and Nate live with me?” she gasps before shaking her head slowly, her hand covering her mouth.

I reach for her, running my hands up and down her arms as she looks at me, shocked. I can see the look in her eyes, and she’s not sure what to say.

“I know this is a lot, and I didn’t give you much warnin’, but I’ve been thinkin’, and this is what I want, Chyanne. I want you and Nate. I can’t see this goin’ any other way.”

“You want us to live with you?”

“We’ve been together in the same room for weeks now. He needs a home,” I tell her.

“You think I can’t give him a home?” she asks, sounding defensive. She’s looking at this the wrong way. That’s not what this is. I shake my head.

“No. That’s not what this is, either. I told you, I’ve been thinkin’ about this, about what I want. Since we brought Nate home, everything just seems to have fallen into place. Everything seems right, Chy, and I want it. I want more,” I tell her. It’s hard to admit that to her because I don’t want to scare her away, but I know what I want, and that’s her.

“You’re serious. You’re not joking.”

“No. I’m not.” My heart is hammering in my chest wondering what she might say.

“I don’t know, Van. It’s a lot.”

“I know it is, but you have to know I want this too. I want you.”

“And you want us here?”

“Yeah, but only if you like it. If not, there’s more we can look at,”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, Van. It’s just … this is a lot.”

“I know, but I’m not lettin’ you go.”

“I can’t believe this. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes, Chy. Say you and Nate are gonna stay with me,” I tell her. Hell, at this point, I’ll beg. I don’t care. I want her here.

“Yes,” she says with a huge smile on her face. “Yes, Van. We’ll live with you.” That’s all I needed to hear before pulling her into my arms and kissing her senselessly.

“I’m gonna fuck you on every surface of this place when it hits six weeks,” I tell her. She laughs and rests her head on my chest as I hold her close to me.

Chapter 22

Chyanne

“A house?” Nicole asks me once more as she looks at me with her mouth open.

“Yeah, a house. Like a home, Nic,” I tell her. I still can’t believe it. I can’t believe he actually asked me to move in with him.

“He cares about you, Chy. I’m just as shocked as you are, though,” she says.

“I know. Shocked isn’t the word. I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it, baby,” I hear Van behind me. I look over my shoulder and see him smiling at me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy before.

“It was a shock,” I tell him.

“A good one though. We’re gonna have a lot of good times in that place,” he tells me, resting his hands on my shoulders.

“You think so?”

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