Page 30 of The Forever Experiment

“My self-worth is always going to be led by my accomplishments, and because of that, my ambition will never be satisfied. I love my job. I love helping my authors make their dreams come true, so I work nights and weekends and holidays. I travel a lot. I put my career first, and as unhealthy as it may be, I likely won’t ever stop. It’s what gives me contentment, but…” I sigh, placing my hand over his. “This weekend, I realized it doesn’t have to be the only thing giving me contentment. I think you might do that too.” I lift my eyes from our joined hands to meet his face. “For the first time in my life, I want to be dedicated to something outside my work. I…I want to be dedicated to you, Easton. I want you to be dedicated to me.” A lump works its way out of my throat, showcasing my choked emotion. “I want you to be dedicated to exactly who I am at this moment—not who I was ten years ago, and not someone you hope I could someday be. I need to be loved for being just me, and if you can’t do that, then—”

He cuts off my words by surging forward, sealing his lips to mine. Cupping my face and forcing us closer, he kisses me with enough intensity to set my chest aflame. He kisses me like he has waited his whole life for it, like whatever has erupted betweenus is finally real. Easton kisses me like a promise, like I’m something to cherish, no expectations and no conditions.

“I love exactly who you are at this moment, Maya. I love who you were ten years ago, and I love every version of you you’ll become. I know you, and I may not remember doing so, but I know what I signed up for when I signed that paper, and I think it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.” He kisses me again. “Now, can you tell me you love me back?”

I smile, running a hand through his soft hair. “I love you, pretty boy. I love you for exactly who you are, for all the ways you drive me mad and make me laugh. I love you when you think you don’t deserve it, and I’ll do my best to show you that you do.”

He drops his head, our nose and lips and hearts aligning. “I don’t know who the best version of myself is yet, but with you, I think I’m finally ready to figure it out.”

“How are we going to do this?” I ask, brushing my thumb across his jaw as he brushes his lips against my nose.

“I’m going to hand in my resignation. We’re going to California tonight so you can meet my sisters. Then, you’re going to show me where you live, where you work. I’ll apply for a job, you’ll interview me, and even though you’ll play hard to get, we both know you’re gonna make me an offer.” He smiles against my lips. “Then, I’ll sell my condo here and move in with you, or we’ll find a new place together.”

“I’m not moving, I love my apartment.” I giggle into his mouth. “Though, you should know, I’ve already taken up both the His and Her closet spaces, so you’ll have to use the guest room.”

He laughs, nodding. “I think I can agree to those terms.”

Pulling away, he takes my hand, helping me off his desk. I watch him open a drawer, taking out a laminated folder with one sheet of paper inside. Next, he dumps his laptop and nameplate into his briefcase before tugging me out of the office with him.

We stop in front of a door at the end of the hall, and he knocks once before walking inside. An older gentleman sits behind the desk, snapping, “What do you want, Mason?” without bothering to look up.

“Harvey, this is my wife, Maya Atler.”

His head snaps up immediately, eyes narrowing at Easton before flashing to me. They soften as he gives me an unashamed once over, raising an impressed brow before darting back to Easton. “Are you kidding?”

He smiles, proudly grasping my left hand and raising it to his lips, my massive ring glittering in the sunlight through the window. “Nope.”

The man turns his attention to me. “How’d a pretty little thing like you end up with an idiot like him?”

I hear Easton sigh beside me, his hand tightening in mine. His body language shifts, and I know the comment got to him. It makes me wonder how many remarks like this he has taken on the chin throughout his career, how often he had to pretend he’s not offended while his terrible boss chipped away at his self-worth little by little.

“What do you mean by that, Harold?” I ask, turning back toHarvey.

“It’s Harvey, sweetheart.” He looks me up and down again, blatantly pausing on my hips and chest before biting his lip. “And I was making a joke.”

Easton scoffs loudly, a wide grin spreading over his cheeks as he lets go of my hand and steps up to his boss’s desk. “I quit.” Leaning over it, he slides his letter of resignation in front of the man. “Now, you’re going to take your eyes off my wife, and if you disrespect her one more time, I’ll put you through that fucking window.”

Harvey’s mouth drops open in shock, his head swiveling to me as if I’m going to condemn Easton’s behavior. Instead, I tosshim a sickly-sweet smile. “And if you ever insult my husband’s intelligence again, I’ll do the same.”

Easton stands, straightening his tie before grabbing my hand and heading to the door. “I’ll have Derrick clear out my office before the end of the day, and I’ll coordinate a time to grab my things with him directly. Good fucking luck, Harv.”

We exit his office without another word, leaving him gaping like a fish.

As the elevator door shuts in front of us and we descend to the ground level of the building, I say, “I think we should ruin his life.”

My husband chuckles, bringing my hand to his mouth as he brushes a kiss across it. “You’re so sexy when you’re a menace, Maya baby.”

13

Easton

My cheeks ache fromthe weight of the grin I haven’t been able to let go of for the past twenty-four hours. Yesterday, after I handed in my letter of resignation, Maya and I got her added to my flight to LAX—along with a First Class upgrade sheinsistedon—and we landed in Los Angeles late last night.

Rather than having my sister pick me up from the airport as initially planned, Maya and I booked a hotel near Penelope’s apartment complex—another top floor suite—and made good use of those paneled windows too.

Now, my hand is splayed over my wife’s thigh, her small fingers wrapped in mine, the ring I bought her sparkling, and I have my own ring back too. As our ride pulls up in front of Muse, I watch Maya’s breath pick up before she turns to me. “I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be.” I raise her hand to my lips. “Penelope’s like a tabby cat. She’s only going to scratch you if it’s really warranted, and ifanything, she’ll be more concerned for you being married tomethan the other way around.”

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