Page 158 of A Temporary Forever

“Oh, I have an idea.” Celeste grins and pulls out her phone.

She rounds the bed. Music starts playing, and she turns the screen to Reese, who plasters her hand against her mouth before she glances at me and back to the screen, giggling.

“What is that?” The music sounds familiar, and then it hits me. My impromptu street performance. “Where did you get that?”

Celeste didn’t pull out her phone during that dance.

“Mia got it from one of the onlookers before we left.” Celeste bites her lips.

“Mom, Dad.” Mia runs into the room.

She gives me a quick hug and goes to kiss her mom.

“Hi, Celeste.” She cranes her neck. “What are youwatching?” She registers it quickly, though. “Oh, isn’t it great? Dad has moves.” She tuts.

All three of them laugh and restart the video, giggling. At my expense. Ganging up on me. The three women who have become a permanent part of my life.

And I hope to make them laugh—even at my expense—for as long as possible. Because this is love.

“Okay, put it away now,” I growl, and they all laugh again, but Celeste finally puts her phone away.

“Thank you.” Reese looks at me, surprising me with her words.

My throat clogs up, and I don’t know what to say, so I nod. I nod and hope she understands she can trust and rely on me. I nod to vow I will always take care of them.

Mia decides to stay longer, do her homework and keep Reese company, and we say our goodbyes.

“Oh, Celeste,” Mia calls before we leave. “Are you staying in New York?”

“Yes, I’m staying.”

“That’s good.” Mia beams.

Fuck, I love them.

We walk down the hallway, the harsh lights rendering everything into an artificial blue hue. I pull Celeste close to me, because it doesn’t matter where we are, my life is brighter with her in it.

I glimpse an empty exam room and pull her inside.She gasps as I pin her against the wall and lock the door.

In my peripheral vision, the life of the hospital continues behind the narrow glass pane in the door.

Here, only my need for this woman exists. I capture her lips, eating her protest and kissing her like a man possessed. Or obsessed. I’m both, and I don’t fucking care.

“Caleb, what are you doing?” she pants when we come up for air.

I lean down and find the hem of her dress. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Don’t you have to work? You already missed yesterday, and with Corm—”

“I sold my share.”

Chapter 43

Celeste

Ipush him away. “What do you mean, you sold your share?”

A frustrated rumble comes with his sigh. Straightening, he abandons the delicious trailing of his fingers up my thigh.

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