Page 45 of Revenge Brunch and Other Disasters

“You know,” he whispered, voice barely louder than the hum of the fridge, “we actually met before the alarm clock incident.”

No response.

Sir Stumps-a-Lot, curled at her feet like a judgmental throw pillow, opened one eye.

“Six months before, to be exact,” Rhys said. “You yelled at the copier on the third floor. Said it was conspiring with the vending machine in a hostile snack coup.”

Still nothing from Linda.

Stumps blinked once. Lazy. Knowing.

“I thought you were terrifying. And also really, really cute.”

He looked down at his glass, watching condensation slide down the side like time he couldn’t get back.

“I tried to talk to you once at the holiday party,” he murmured. “You complimented my blazer, and I panicked and said, ‘Thanks, it has sleeves.’”

He winced at the memory. “You laughed for ten seconds and then walked away. I replayed it forweeks.”

Linda shifted, just enough to bump her foot against his knee. Still asleep. Maybe dreaming. Rhys wasn’t sure if he hoped she was dreaming of him or just... not dreaming of leaving.

“I never dated Micah,” he said. “He’s a real guy. But I made that part up. Because you said you ruined the beard thing, and I couldn’t bring myself to say, ‘Actually, I’ve just had a crush on you since you told the office microwave it would never be loved. And I’d go along with almost anything to date you.”

The blanket shifted.

Linda’s eyes cracked open, sleep-heavy and blinking. “... you what now?” she mumbled.

Rhys froze.

She blinked again, sitting up with a groggy squint. “Did you just say you knew me before The Collision?”

He cleared his throat. “Possibly.”

“And that you faked an entire ex because you didn’t know how to flirt with someone who verbally abuses small appliances?”

He nodded, sheepish. “That is…an accurate summary.”

Linda stared at him for a beat longer than was comfortable.

Then she let her head fall back on the couch cushion with a groan. “You absolute disaster. I cannot believe I’m marrying you in six months.”

Rhys smiled. Couldn’t help it. “Technically, it’s five months and twenty-nine days. It’s past midnight.”

Linda groaned louder. “Ugh.Worse.”

But she shifted closer anyway, arm nudging his. And Rhys, helpless fool that he was, tucked his arm around her shoulders without thinking.

She melted into him like she’d done it a thousand times.

Like she’d never want to stop.

Rhys kissed her temple. Gentle. Grateful.

“Hey,” she whispered. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“I was scared.”

Linda looked up at him, eyes softer now, drowsy but sharp. “Me too.”

---