Page 255 of My Rules

No.

No, there is not.

We are naked, our bodies tangled together under the blankets. His lips are pressed against my temple.

It’s late, and I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve made love tonight.

We fucked a few times, but then in the shower it changed. It was like I wore him down, and the longer I was in his arms, the more tender he became.

His fingers run aimlessly through my hair, and I know that he’s as deep in thought as I am.

“God, I missed you,” I murmur softly.

He kisses my temple but doesn’t reply.

“Do you like living in New York?”

“Surprisingly, yes.” I feel him smile against my skin.

“What do you like about it?” I ask.

“The anonymity.”

I smile. “Somehow I don’t think you could be anonymous anywhere you go, Blake.”

It feels like old times between us, the tenderness, the love. The perfect fitting together of our bodies.

He was right. All that time, long ago, he was right—I was always meant to be his. And he was always meant to be mine.

“Good night, Blake,” I whisper into the darkness.

“Good night, Bec.”

For the first time in what feels like forever, wrapped safely in his arms, I drift into a restful sleep.

The scent of cologne wakes me, and I roll over to see Blake fully dressed in his suit. I sit up onto my elbows and look around groggily. “What time is it?” I murmur.

“Time for you to get up.” He adjusts his cuff links. “I’ve booked you on a flight this morning at eleven.”

“Oh.” I frown. I fiddle with the blankets as I think out loud. “Maybe I could stay for a few extra days?”

His eyes meet mine in the mirror. “No, I think you should get going.”

“Blake, I could move here. I mean, I know it’s not perfect for Daisy, but I could walk her three times a day, and maybe I could do some online tutoring from home, and ...?”

He comes in, sits on the side of the bed, and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“Bec, you need to go home.”

“But when will I see you again?”

“Remember what this was . . .”

I cut him off. “I don’t want closure. I want this to be a new beginning.”

“Bec, I . . .”

“If I could take back that day, Blake, I would give anything to be able to do that. You and me, we’re too perfect together.”

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