Page 134 of When We Break

“You have no say. I will buy your house, and Benji and I will move there, but I will not have babies.”

“I don’t think that’s physically possible anyway. You can’t retire yet. You’re not ready. Besides, I won’t let you buy my house.”

Mik scowls. “Why not? If it goes up for sale, I will buy it. You cannot stop me.”

“I can, too. Because I’ll gift it to you.” I smile when his jaw drops. “I never did get you a wedding gift.”

“You got us an espresso machine.”

“That you regifted, so it doesn’t count. I don’t want your money, Mik. I don’t need it. But I do needyou, so if you want the house, it’s yours.”

He sighs before stepping away from me. “I am proud of you, malishka.”

“I’m proud of both of us,a stór.”

There’s a light knock on the door, and Beckett pokes his head in. I feel the smile spread over my face as I rush over, and he crushes me against him.

“You were incredible,” he says against my lips.

“It felt incredible.”

Benji walks past me to greet Mik the same way, and I love how happy my dear friend is.And that he wants to move to Montana.How did I get this lucky?

“Do you want to stay for the rest of the show?” I ask him.

“It’s over. The last act just finished, and the auditorium is emptying. I wanted to give you and Mik a minute.”

I rub my nose against his, then turn to see Benji kissing Mik’s forehead as my best friend wipes away a tear.

He’s so emotional. It’s one of the things that I love the most about him.

“Let’s go back to the hotel,” Benji says. “Everyone can get comfortable. You were both amazing out there, and I’m so proud of you.”

“We didn’t do too bad.” I smile and link my fingers with Beck’s. “I’m going to change my shoes, then we can get out of here.”

* * *

It’s much later by the time Beckett and I are alone again. When we returned to the hotel, we changed clothes and met with everyone in my parents’ suite for food and champagne. We laughed and talked, and I was reminded once more just how much I enjoy having my family around me.

Mywholefamily, whether they be a Gallagher or a Blackwell.

I love them all.

But now, Beckett and I are alone in our suite. We’ve had a shower, and he’s just finishing with removing my makeup.

I’m a spoiled woman.

And I love it.

“That feels so much better,” I murmur after he finishes rubbing the moisturizer into my skin. “I don’t think I’ll wear makeup for a while after this. I don’t like it.”

“You don’t need it.” He kisses my nose, then leans his hands on the counter on either side of my hips. His face is suddenly so serious, it makes me nervous. “We need to talk, Irish.”

“All right, then talking is what we’ll do. Let’s go sit in the living room.”

For a moment, I don’t think he’s going to move, but he kisses my forehead and steps back, giving me space to hop off the vanity. With my hand in his, we move into the living room, but he doesn’t pull me onto his lap.

And that makes my heart kick up a notch and not in a good way.

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