Page 85 of You're To Blame 2

“Tate, I know it hasn’t been easy for me either.”

“Watching you come on FaceTime,” I whispered. “Only fueled my hunger.”

She placed her hand over mine. “We have tonight.”

“Chelsea, I don’t want just tonight. I want every night.”

“Tate, me too. I hate not sleeping in your arms. I feel safe when we’re together.”

I brought her hand to my lips, kissing her soft skin.

“Chelsea, happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Tate.”

We sipped our wine and dug into our meals.

“It was refreshing to see your face at the game last night. No crazy bitch to tear my concentration from the game. The only wanted sexy distraction there sat front and center cheering for me.”

She cocked her head to the side. “You meant to say you and Lake.”

My face contorted. “No, I said what I meant. I don’t give a shit about my little cousin.”

“Tate, careful. Your horns are showing.”

“Red with sharp pointed tips, baby,” I winked.

“King asshole, shut up and get over here.”

I placed my meal next to hers and slid beside her. My fingers lingered around her little waist in the tight red dress that stopped above her knees. “I plan to stare into those beautiful eyes for the rest of my life.”

Her lips pressed against mine again. “I can live with that forever.”

I slipped the slender box from my pocket and placed it on the table. Her hands flew over her lips.

“Open it.”

She cracked the Tiffany blue box open. Chelsea gaped as she marveled the eighteen-karat gold love heart tag key pendant. “It’s beautiful.”

“Read the back.”

She flipped it over. “Tate and Chelsea forever.”

Her eyes saddened. “But Tate, I can’t wear it to school.”

“Lift your hair.”

She followed directions, and I slipped the necklace around her neck and latched the hook.

“You can. Monday after school I want you to go over to my house. Not my grandparents.”

She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t understand.”

“Oh, but you will. Do you trust me?”

Her eyes brightened. “Yes.” Confidence rang out in that one word.

“Good.”

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