Page 177 of Forbidden You

“What? No. I’m going to drive up there every day, just for the damn burgers,” she jokes, though it’s probably not a joke at all.

“I’m happy you don’t regret your decision.”

“I love it, baby,” she confesses. “I’ll miss strolling around campus. It feels like I’m where I belong, you know? Like all that shit happened for a reason.”

“I’m sure it did.” Or at least I like to believe it did.

“You know what the best thing is?” I can hear the excitement in her voice, running a flutter through my stomach.

“No?”

“When my classes are done, I can come home to you.”

“That definitely is the best thing to me too.”

When Kayla decided she wanted to go back to school, I would be lying if I wasn’t scared she’d pick a school in a different state, but she put that thought to ease real quick by shoving a Georgia State University folder in my hand.

I would’ve supported her in going to whatever school she wanted to, and I’d even pay for it if that would be an issue, but I was more than relieved when I realized she was planning on going back to school in the fall and staying with me at the same time.

Because she makes me selfish when it comes to her. I want her around all day, every day. Even the office feels empty without her.

After her birthday, I officially asked her to move in with me, and I even redesigned my closet to fit all her clothes. Now, I can’t sleep if she’s not in bed with me, and I wake up a lucky man every single morning. But as much as I am selfish when it comes to her, I also want her to chase her own dreams and I want to be there to help her reach them.

“Just know that after graduation, you can come back if you want.”

She huffs, amused. “You’re only saying that so you can bend me over your desk and fuck me during work hours.”

“Definitely,” I reply, resulting in a laugh from her side.

I mean every word though. There will always be a place for her at KPI, but I know she’s also thinking about working for the foundation or maybe try her chances at a different publisher in town.To get more experience, she says. It’s a mature decision, but secretly I hope she’ll come back to KPI.

“You got that meeting with Charlotte today?” she asks.

“Yeah, she’ll be here any minute now,” I reply at the same time a knock sounds on my door. “Actually, maybe we can grab dinner with Charlotte tonight instead? If she agrees to sign, we’ll have something to celebrate.”

“Yes! That’s so exciting!” she yelps. “It’s going to be a bestseller. I can feel it in my bones.”

“I agree it has great potential. Come in!” The door opens, and I put my feet back to the floor. “I have to go now, baby. You wanna make reservations for dinner tonight? I’ll ask Charlotte–” My eyes move up, and I look into the amber brown eyes of Julie, who’s giving me a coy smile. “And Julie.”

“And Julie?”

“Yeah, Julie is here.” I frown, motioning for her to take the chair in front of my desk while I glance at the door, wondering if Charlotte is following behind her. When no one else walks through the door, I arch my brow at her. Her dirty blonde hair is up in a ponytail high on her head, and she’s wearing jeans and a cream sweater, which gives her a more casual look than what I’m used to from her.

But my frown only deepens when I take in the fatigue on her makeupless face.

“Why?” Kayla pushes.

“I don’t know, baby, but I’ll let you know as soon as I find out, okay?” Amusement is etched in my voice, and I can almost hear her roll her eyes at me through the phone.

“Fine, talk later. Love you.”

“Bye, babe. Love you too.” I hang up the phone, pointing my attention to Julie. “Hey, Jules.”

“Hey,” she offers, a little timid.

“I’m a little confused. I thought I had a meeting with Charlotte?”

“You do. But Hunter had some meetings he couldn’t get out of, so she had to bring Logan with her. Now that she’s pregnant again, I offered to come with her and help her out. She’s trying to soothe Logan to sleep in your cafeteria.” She points her thumb over her shoulder. “Life is no joke when you’re eight months pregnant and have a toddler that’s getting more mobile by the day.”

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