Page 145 of Flipping the Script

We glanced at each other again.

“That makes sense,” Bas said, threading his fingers through mine under the table. “It didn’t matter how many times I told myself I was done with you. I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t see it for what it was, but it’s been like that since middle school.”

“It has?” I asked.

He nodded, a blush painting his cheeks. “I thought it was the fighting part I liked, but I think it was you that made it so addictive, not the fighting.”

“Yeah,” I conceded. “I think it was like that for me too. You were always there in the back of my mind at school. And it didn’t really go away after you left. I think that’s one of the reasons I never looked up your music or checked up on you. I think I missed you.”

“Awww.” He squeezed my hand. “You missed me?”

“Don’t let it get to your head, asshat,” I grumbled.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I missed you too.” He batted his eyelashes at me.

“You’re lucky I figured out that I love you, otherwise I’d be wiping that smirk off your face with my fist.”

“Such a grump.” He squeezed my hand and gave me a genuine smile, one that sent more of those flutters through my chest. “But don’t worry. I’m pretty sure I missed you too. Even if you are annoying as fu-dge,” he corrected, tossing a quick look at my dads.

“So this is how it’s going to be?” Hannah asked, her tone flat. “You’re going to be just as annoying and still snipe at each other, only now we have to deal with the moon-eyes and cutesy stuff too?”

“Yup,” we said together.

“Awesome,” Adam deadpanned. “And here we thought we’d get a break from all that.”

“Nope,” we both said.

“Got your chair.” Quinn came into the room carrying one of the extra dining room chairs.

“What took you so long?” Adam complained.

“Nothing. Just like making you wait.” Quinn put the chair next to Tristan and sat in it.

“Seriously? I could have just taken your chair this whole time?”

Quinn put his hand over Tristan’s. “Carpe diem, little bro.”

“I’ll carpe your diem,” Adam grumbled, flopping into Quinn’s vacated chair.

“I think that went well,” Bas whispered, leaning in close.

A flurry of tingles danced up my spine as his hot breath fanned over my ear. “You did that on purpose.”

“Maybe.” He leaned closer. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Meet me in my old room after dinner, and you’ll find out.”

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze heated as he looked me up and down.

I pressed my leg against his, a smile sliding over my lips as everyone started talking about stuff that wasn’t us.

If someone had told me even three months ago that I’d not only be in a relationship, but be in one with Bas, I would have laughed in their face and called them crazy.

But now that I knew just how amazing it was to have all of him like this, I couldn’t picture my life without him.

Bas was everything. The only person who’d ever gotten under my skin and the only one I couldn’t get enough of. But he was so much more than that. He challenged me and pushed me to be better without even trying. And he helped me shift away from the mindset that love was transactional. That it didn’t have to look a certain way, or even make sense to anyone but us.

He was my home, and I was so damn thankful we’d gotten our heads out of our asses long enough to see it. He was mine, and I was never letting him go.

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