Page 115 of Once Upon a Fake Date

“And where, exactly, are you hoping to end up?” Audrey fiddled with her hands in her lap. Her voice was filled with cautious optimism, and I held in a chuckle.

I rubbed up her hip, settling protectively on the inside of her thigh. “Why, sunshine?”

“Maybe it’s too early to hope we’ll be in the same city, but…” Those purple eyes locked on mine. “A girl can dream, right?”

“New York City.” I smirked. “Every firm I applied for is in New York.”

“But…” Her eyes scanned over my face as she processed what I said. “You couldn’t have known we’d end up together?”

“Maybe not. But I hoped. You were always my dream, Rosie Girl. Why do you think I held onto your picture all of those years?”

Her cheeks were pink, a sight that made me grin extra wide.

Reaching over to my nightstand, I slid it open, grabbing the surprise I had for her. Kissing her flushed cheek, I placed the small box in her hand.

“Parker.” She gasped. “What’s this?”

I shrugged. “Open it.”

It was a gold star pendant on a dainty chain—something I’d seen and had instantly thought of my girl. In the middle was a small diamond, and it sparkled when it caught the light.

“A star?” She blinked. “I don’t?—”

“It’s you,” I explained. “I’m sure one day you’ll have your own star, but for now, you’re mine. And that’s how I think of you. My sunshine. My star.”

“I have something for you, too,” she admitted, her eyes watery. “It might be crazy. And it’s definitely big.” Audrey bit her lip. “You can say no. If you don’t want to, I just?—”

“Audrey.” I pressed my lips to hers to get her to calm down. “What is it?”

She pressed a key into my palm.

I blinked. “Huh?”

“Will you move in with me?” She sat up on her knees, perched in front of me. “I signed the lease already, and it’s ours.” Her throat moved as she swallowed, and I could tell she was nervous. “If you want to.”

“And we’ll share a room?” I asked.

“Uh-huh.”

“And a bed?” I raised my eyebrows suggestively.

“Yes.”

“And we can be as loud as we want?”

That one made her laugh. “I mean, the neighbors might not appreciate that, but…”

“Yes, Rosie. There’s nothing I like more than the idea of waking up next to you every day. Every night you spent apart from me was miserable, anyway.” I kissed her, softly at first, before giving her my tongue. “Yes, I’ll move in with you.”

And just like that, we were moving in together.

CHAPTER 35

Audrey

MAY

Everything was moving fast, but it felt like we were exactly where we were supposed to be. My heart was full, the random butterflies still bursting through me at moments just like this one.

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