Page 25 of Forever Mine

For us though, it was a lot. Beckett was probably thinking of all the ways accepting the food would bite us in the ass. Me, I figured whatever happened, happened. In the meantime, I was gonna enjoy my snacks.

I opened the bag and came back to Kota. “Want one?”

He shook his head with a soft smile. “I’m good. Are you guys?” His eyes flicked to Beck and Riley. Riley had started organizing the bowls into piles around him. He had some kind of system, but I didn’t know what. I didn’t even know how we ended up with so many fucking bowls to begin with. Beck began pulling the food out, muttering under his breath about crazy, overcompensating fuckers. Shit, maybe Kota was right to be worried.

I kissed his jaw. “We’ll be okay. Enjoy your dinner, sweetheart.”

I trailed down his face and started to suck lightly on his neck. I might be letting him out of my sight, but I wanted my mark on him somehow. It was becoming a real problem.

“I can stay…” he started.

I nipped his skin.

“Go. We’re fine. Text me when you get there and say hi to your folks for me.”

He still seemed unsure but finally gave in. Probably wanted to leave before I gave him a mark he couldn’t easily cover. “Alright, I will. Text me if you need me to leave early, and I’ll be back right after.”

“Kota…”

He rolled his eyes and gestured to my two best friends. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. We weren’t exactly handling this like most people would, but Kota staying wouldn’t change that.

“I love you, Jay.”

I swallowed and squeezed his hand. I wanted to say the words so badly, but I always became mute when I tried. Kota didn’t wait for it. He said goodbye to Beck and Riley and left. The door had barely closed when I pulled out my phone and started to watch his little dot as it moved farther and farther away from me.

“Shit, you’re worse than me,” Beck mumbled as he finally left the groceries and watched the dot over my shoulder.

Riley snorted. “No, he’s not. You’re over the top.”

“Yeah well, that’s different.”

“If you say so.”

I ignored them and continued to watch the dot.

I could finally breathe again when it stopped moving and my phone buzzed with a message.

Kota: You can stop stalking me now. I’m at my parents’ house. My sister is watching me from the door like a creep. I’m good.

I couldn’t help but laugh. He knew me too well.

Ok good. Have fun and let me know when you’re leaving.

Kota: I will. Love you.

I shivered and shoved the phone in my pocket. Reading the words was somehow even harder than hearing them. I looked up and realized Beck and Riley were watching me.

“What?”

Beck shook his head, like he was trying to clear it. He seemed to finally notice whatever it was that Ri was doing. “What the fuck are you doin’ with all those bowls, butterfly?”

“I’m sortin’ them.”

Oh okay. “Why are there so many?”

“I got them from work. I guess my boss ordered the wrong color or somethin’. He was gonna throw them away, so I asked if I could take them.”

“We feedin’ an entire football team or somethin’?” I asked. “Why do we need so many?”

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