Page 79 of Give Me Forever Love

Boy, I do.

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Bryce

I must admit, when I decided to go forth with the idea of buying us our own place, I didn’t know if it was a good idea to do it without Kat and now, I’m really second-guessing that decision. Her expression is unreadable as she steps onto the dark hardwood from the covered porch.

My style.

It sends an uneasy feeling to my gut when she glances at the window seats with colorful bohemian pillows.

Her style.

The kitchen is moderate and not over the top because, like I mentioned, neither of us cooks.

“Everything can be changed,” I tell her as she runs her finger over the dark cement countertops. She looks up at the railroad ties on the ceiling and the subway tile as a backsplash. Her eyes go to the bookshelves in the living room and the couches that are silver gray.

“No worries on messing those up, and they’re stain-resistant,” I tell her as I gently grab her hand to show her the laundry room. “We can get a dog if you want. It’s got a built-in shower for bathing dogs or rinsing little ones off after they come from playing in the mud.” I shrug.

She looks at me, her expression still unreadable.

Fuck

I’ve messed up.

Maybe the upstairs will make her like it?

“It’s two stories. Up here is our bedroom and two more rooms if we wanted kids. I mean, I know you asked me if I did that one time when you missed your shot.” We walk down the open hallway. “It’s all open, so you can see down into the living room and kitchen.” I point like she can’t see it.

I shake my head at myself.

We enter into the master bedroom. It’s not huge, but a perfect size for a king-sized bed, dresser, and chest-of-drawers with room to spare. A burgundy rug sits over the hardwood, and the furniture is dark.

“The bathroom has a claw tub. You take baths at the apartment sometimes after a long day, so I thought you might like that. The backyard is private, so no one can see you from the windows. They all open, too, so you can enjoy the fall breeze, like I know you love. And then we have our own sinks, so you don’t have to worry about my toothpaste on the side.” I give her a cute smile, hoping this will encourage her to say something.

It doesn’t, so I keep rambling about the big closets, and then we look at the other rooms and bathrooms. We walk out to the backyard, and I tell her about the pool I want to put in. “See, I told you it was private. There isn’t a house next to us on either side, and I went ahead and bought those properties, too, to make sure of it.”

She turns her head to me.

“It’s only a little farther from Mugs & Books than the apartment, but the drive won’t be that bad. I timed it out already. It takes thirty minutes.”

With a hard sigh, I look at her as she turns to glance back at the home. Our home.

Unless she hates it, then I guess I can sell it and try something else.

“K, will you please say something?”

Her eyes bounce back to me, and I see they’re filled with tears.

Oh shit.

And then she fucking smiles. “You bought me a house?”

She covers her smile as she looks back at it.

I gently move her hand, because I’ve been literally dying to see that.

“I did,” I say, linking my fingers with hers.

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