Page 91 of Property of Fox

"You look gorgeous, Hallie," Brea gushes.

Hallie beams at the compliment, twirling to show off her sparkly dress. "Thanks! I wasn't sure about the sequins.”

A squeal pierces through the noise of the party. "Brea! Oh my god, you look amazing!"

I turn to see Keira bounding towards us, her arms outstretched. She collides with Brea in a whirlwind excited chatter.

I watch as Brea and Keira embrace, their excited chatter blending into the background noise of the party. It's still a bit surreal, seeing Brea so at ease in this world that was once solely mine. But then again, everything about our life together still feels like a beautiful, chaotic dream.

As I observe their animated conversation, my mind drifts to the changes that have swept through our lives. Brea moving in with me was just the beginning. It didn't take long for Keira to follow suit, finding an apartment just a few blocks away and transferring to Purdue to finish her degree. All to stay close to Brea, of course.

I can't help but chuckle to myself. When I signed up for Brea, I didn't realize I was getting a two-for-one deal. Keira is a constant presence in our lives, popping in and out of our place like she has a key, which, come to think of it, she probably does. It's taken some getting used to having this bubbly, talkative presence, but she makes Brea happy, and that’s enough for me. Plus, she isn’t Eden.

There are moments when I find myself missing the simplicity of my old life, but then Brea will look at me with those sparkling green eyes, or I'll wake up to the smell of her attempting to cook breakfast, and I know I wouldn't trade this for anything.

I feel a hand clap my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts. It's Az, looking both dapper and uncomfortable in his suit.

"You steal that suit from the morgue?" I laugh, eyeing Az's uncharacteristically formal attire.

He shoots me a glare. "Laugh it up, asshole. You're next."

I raise an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Az nods towards Brea. "Don't think I haven't noticed that look in your eye. You're a goner, brother. It's only a matter of time before you're standing up here in your own monkey suit."

I scoff, but I can feel a warmth creeping up my neck. "We've only been together a few weeks, man. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Az just shakes his head, a knowing glint in his eye. "Keep telling yourself that. But I've seen the way you look at her. It's the same way I look at Hallie."

Before I can respond, Brea appears at my side, slipping her hand into mine. "What are you two whispering about over here?" she asks, her eyes dancing with curiosity.

"Nothing important," I say quickly, shooting Az a warning look. He just grins, raising his glass in a mock toast before wandering off to mingle with the other guests.

Brea looks at me suspiciously but doesn't push. Instead, she tugs on my hand, leading me towards the makeshift dance floor. "Come on, tough guy. Show me those moves you've been bragging about."

I groan dramatically but allow her to pull me along. "I don't remember doing any bragging about dance moves, firefly. That must've been some other devilishly handsome biker you're thinking of."

She laughs, the sound like music above the thumping bass. "Oh please, Mr. 'I've-got-moves you've-never-seen-before.' Time to put your money where your mouth is."

As we reach the dance floor, a slow song starts to play. Brea wraps her arms around my neck, and I pull her close, my hands settling on her waist. We sway together, and I'm struck by how perfectly she fits against me.

"See? Not so bad," she murmurs, her breath warm against my ear.

I hum in agreement, enjoying the feel of her in my arms. "I suppose there are worse ways to spend an evening."

We dance in comfortable silence for a few moments, lost in our own little world. Then Brea pulls back slightly. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," I reply, curious about the sudden seriousness in her tone.

She bites her lip, a gesture I've come to recognize as a sign of nervousness. "Are you happy? With me, I mean. With all of this?" She gestures vaguely around us.

The question takes me aback. "Of course, I am firefly. Why would you even ask that?"

She shrugs, her eyes dropping to focus on my chest. "It's just...this is all so different from your life before. I know it's been a big adjustment. And sometimes I wonder if you miss your old life. The freedom, the...simplicity of it all."

I tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. "Brea, listen to me. Yes, my life has changed. But it's changed for the better. You bring light and laughter into my world in a way I never knew I was missing." I pause. "I don't miss my old life because it was empty compared to this. You make me happier than I've ever been."

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and she buries her face in my chest. I hold her tighter, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

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