Page 116 of Uniquely in Love

Ellie climbed onto the bed, pressing her lips against mine in a soft kiss before climbing under the sheets. “Well, I likedseeing you.” She rolled onto her side, looking at me. “This is nice. I like this.”

“Me too.” I pinched her side. “Did you mean what you said earlier?”

“Huh?” It was her turn to give me a blank expression.

“You called me your friend at school today.” I furrowed my eyebrows. “I hated that.”

She frowned. “You did?”

“Yeah.” I pulled her into my arms, inhaling her sweet scent. “I don’t want to be just your friend. Never have.”

She bit her lip. “You know, at the last game, the girls all asked if I’m your girlfriend.”

“What did you tell them?” I asked, tracing circles on her bare shoulder and down her skin. She was soft everywhere, and I loved it.

“That we hadn’t put a label on it yet.” Her eyes fluttered as she looked up at me. “I know you said I’m yours, but…”

That was true. But it wasn’t because I didn’t want to. “Are you asking if you’re my girlfriend again, Ellie baby?” I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Maybe.”

I leaned forward, pressing my lips against her forehead. “I never should have let you doubt you were anything but. That’s on me.”

She smiled up at me. “It’s been a long time since I called you my boyfriend. It almost doesn’t feel like enough to describe…this.”I had to agree with that. I already had other words in mind. She was the other half of my heart. My soulmate. But maybe it was too soon for everything else I wanted. Her eyes shut as I continued to run my hands over her smooth skin. I pressed my fingers over her tattoo, tracing the loop of the eight over and over. “Do we tell our families?”

“Yes.” I kissed her shoulder. “I can’t keep this from them any longer.”

Her lips curled up in the biggest smile. “I know. Hiding it from everyone has feltimpossible.”

“They probably already know.” We weren’t exactly the most subtle. And while I hadn’t been posting on social media, I wanted to. There was an entire album of photos on my phone I’d taken of her over the last few months, and I wanted the world to see that she was mine, and I was hers.

Ellie’s lips turned into the most adorable pout. “What do you mean?”

“El. We got a dog together.” I quirked an eyebrow. “How many friends do you know that co-parent a dog?”

“Well, technically,yougot a dog, and I just happened to be your roommate.”

“You’re not just my fucking roommate.” I flicked her nose. “And don’t say that too loud. Zambi will hear you and think her mommy doesn’t want her.”

My girl burst out laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Mmm.”But you love me.I kept the words inside. It wasn’t the right time for love confessions. “Ellie.” The word was hardly more than a murmur.

She hummed, not opening her eyes. “Hm?”

“Why’d you move to Seattle?” I’d asked her the same question once before, but she hadn’t really answered me. Not then.

Her blue-gray eyes popped open, cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink as she stared at me. “Didn’t I already tell you why?”

“No. Not really.” I raised a shoulder. It was important to me to know. To hear it from her lips. “Please. I’m dying here.”

“Well, I didn’t have a job in Portland, and my mom had a friend who?—”

I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “I know that’s what you’re telling yourself, baby, but I don’t believe it. So what’s the real, non-bullshit reason?” Staringdirectly into her pretty eyes, I waited for her to brush me off again.

But she held my gaze. “For you.” She reached up, cupping my cheek. I rolled onto my back and pulled her onto my lap, letting her straddle my thighs. “I moved here to chase you. Because I couldn’t let you go. I would follow you anywhere, Hockey Boy.”

“Thank fuck,” I said, and then I kissed her. “I was a fool not to chase after you five years ago, and I was a fool to leave you after your graduation. All I wanted to do was wake up next to you, but I was terrified, Ellie. I’m still terrified.”

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