Page 91 of An Unexpected Home

“I thought you’d be at work?” he said, moving behind her.

“My awesome bosses are allowing me to work from home today since all my stuff is being delivered from New York.”

“That’s today?” He remembered her telling him that she was having it shipped but he didn’t remember her saying when.

“Yeah,” she took a sip of her coffee. “They moved a lot faster than I thought they would.”

He walked into the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee. “What are you doing with all your belongings?”

She sat her cup down and bit down on her bottom lip. A sign to Brandon that she was hesitant about something. “I’m...I’m not sure,” she finally said.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, moving back to the table and sitting down beside her.

She huffed at a breath. “Yes,” she said forcefully and then “No,” much softer. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“About your stuff?” He asked, completely confused.

“Are you just half asleep or are you being deliberately clueless?”

Having no idea what she was talking about he answered, “Well I am half asleep but I also really don’t know what you are trying to say to me.”

“I’m trying to say that I don’t know if I should bother unpacking any of my things here since I spend a lot of time at your place.”

“What does that have to –” He finally got it. She was asking if she should move her stuff to his place.

“Leah.” He turned her head so that she would have to look at him. “Are you wondering if I want you to live with me?”

“I know it’s soon and I know we just met and I know I have a crazy stalker person after me...” she trailed off.

“Those are all the same excuses I told myself for not asking you to move in.”

Her eyes went wide. “You did?”

He nodded. “I want you with me. Living in my house. Together. I was just afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“The same things you were, it seems.” He kissed her. “If you feel like you are ready, I would love for you to come live with me.”

She smiled and playfully said, “I don’t know, this is just so sudden. I’m gonna have to think about it.”

He tickled her ribs and she laughed uncontrollably. “Hey, hey, hey,” she said through her laughter. “I am so ticklish.”

“Tell me yes then.” He let up but only a little.

“Okay, okay,” she finally shouted.

He hauled her onto his lap, her legs wrapping around his waist of their own accord. “Seriously?” he asked, their foreheads touching.

“Seriously,” she answered, kissing him.

Their kisses went on and on until she practically jumped off his lap. “Oh my God!” she shrieked. “I’m gonna live with a boy.”

He watched as she twirled around the kitchen. “I prefer the term man.”

Passing by him she slapped his shoulder. “You know what I mean. I’ve never lived with a boyfriend before.”

“Neither have I,” he said, loving her happy reaction.

---