Page 219 of Time Stops With You

In the silence, I start clearing out my underwear drawer. My old, period panties are at the top since I wear them often. But I make surenoneof those make it into my travel bag.

“Nardi?”

“Hm.”

“You’re not going to leave with Cullen, are you? You’re not going to leave no matter how much you miss him, right?”

Something in Josiah’s tone makes me pause.

I stare at my little brother. “Why are you asking that?”

He shakes his head and opens my door. “No reason.”

“Josiah.”

But my little brother slips out of my room and I hear his door slam shut soon after.

Unnerved by the abrupt ending of our conversation, I decide to finish packing later and text Cullen.

ME: Something came up at home so I won’t be coming over tonight. Keep our bed warm for me.

A mischievous grin creeps over my face when I press send. I wish I could see Cullen’s reaction when he reads that. Not that I expect him to answer right away. From what I saw of him today, he’s always working.

There was a couch in his computer room and I saw a blanket there along with a mini fridge. The man is a raging workaholic and he seems intent on working all the way to the end.

How many days does he have left?

I open the calendar on my cell phone.

Three weeks from now is…

I tag the date.

My heart pinches at the thought of what happens after that date.

Just then, my phone buzzes.

CULLEN: Is everything okay?

ME: Nothing major. Things are still weird between mom and Josiah, so I’ll spend one more night with them before I officially move in with you.

CULLEN: I don’t remember asking you to move in.

ME: Cullen, can I move in?

CULLEN: No.

ME: See? I knew you’d say that. This is why I planned to break in.

CULLEN: You know you’re admitting to a crime, don’t you?

ME: If being with you is a crime, babe, I don’t want to be right.

CULLEN: Nardi, you need to get over me.

ME: I will get over you. And under you. And above you. And against the wall with you if you really want to spice it up.

Cullen doesn’t respond.

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