Page 31 of From Us, Forever

“Well, someone should delete these. Missilovegardeningwithj.j says they like to lick your abs and foxmeup.103 says they like to straddle you and ride you like an animal.”

I peered into his laughing eyes as I mumbled, “Only I get to do all that.”

“And only you get to.” He shook his head, grabbed my phone, and switched it off. “It will do no good for you toread them. People say that and a lot worse.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I mumbled against his shirt, holding him tight. “I remember the girls throwing lingerie at you at the gigs.”

“Mikey was the only one who loved it.”

“Hmm,” I whispered, relishing in the weight of his arms and the feel of him.

It was peaceful as we sat in the quiet, the people oblivious to us as we enjoyed the moment. My eyelashes almost touched the tops of my cheeks when a heavy drop of something cold landed on my forehead, followed by more.

My eyes flew open to watch the kids scurrying off to their mothers as the yellow day was enveloped by dark gray skies.

“Fucking hell, let’s go.” Jay was already on his feet, his hoodie drawn up as he placed the baseball hat on my head. “Come on, we can make a run for it before it hits us,” he said, holding out his hand.

I grinned, gripping his hand as I pulled him hard, crashing him next to me. “Let’s not. It’s already too late.” And it was. The rain cascaded like the clouds had been sliced open, drenching us in seconds.

“You little minx.” He laughed, trying to get away from me, but I wouldn’t let him. My lungs seared for air as we both chuckled, gasping as we struggled on the park bench while the rain splattered on us.

I cupped his cheeks, my nose to his as I looked into his eyes. My heart flip-flopped like a lover dancing on her tiptoes in her bedroom. “Do you remember how you kissed me when you told me that you would show me the rain in London?”

“Yes.” He swallowed.

“Kiss me like that,” I whispered against his lips.

And he did.

Brushing his lips softly against mine before the kiss turned savage. Consuming every part of me. He devoured my mouth like it was the essence of his being.

My fingers knotted over his locks as we moaned, the high of our love vibrating from within us.

And that day, we found our own quiet on the park bench.

We weren’t lonely anymore.

CHAPTER 7

The following morning, I woke up surprisingly refreshed. Since it was Sunday and I had no work or an appropriate hobby, I first decided to take Strawberry out for a walk. Jay was busy working on this one song that had been driving him crazy for days, so I let him be.

I loved that Central Park was right outside my doorstep.

After apeaceful walk and a steaming shower, I invited both Lily and Gabe over for lunch, deciding to make an elaborate spread of roast chicken, crispy potatoes, arugula salad, and vanilla pudding.

Gabe arrived early, carrying a few bottles of wine in his arms.

“You didn’t have to get those. Jay has plenty of wine, and they are the expensive kind—the nice kind,” I added as I opened the door.

He planted a quick kiss on my face before he hurried over tothe kitchen and dropped them on the marble countertop.

The clink of them hitting the counter reverberated through the room. “As much as I would love to drink your boyfriend’s collection, these were the leftovers from the events. Evy, there is nothing like free wine.”

“I agree,” I replied as I walked past him to check on the chicken, which was browning perfectly in the oven.

“You look very domesticated,” Gabe commented, propping on the breakfast counter, already having poured himself a glass of wine as he regarded me.

I shrugged, having no idea what to say.

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