Page 82 of After Midnight

“There’s plenty of room for them to come visit,” Jeffrey said. “And tell Allen that I amsogoing to kick his bootie at the Continental pageant this year!”

“Oh, those are fighting words,” I said. “I don’t envy the diva who dares to start a war with Alexis Fantasma.”

I left to the sound of Jeffrey’s delighted cackle.

Chapter thirty-nine

Dominic

“Ilove you.”

“What?” I asked, confused. Dillon and I sat in his car, parked in my driveway. I’d been living under everyone’s thumb for days, and just hoped for a few minutes of relative privacy with my boyfriend before we went inside. I hadn’t expected to hear those words from him, though.

It’d been a week since I’d been rescued from the dark pit of despair, and I was almost back to a hundred percent physically.

“I said that I love you,” he repeated. “Babe, if we’re going to make the giant leap of living together when we get to Chicago, you need to understand how I feel. No more beating around the bush, life’s too short for that. So, Dominic Lawson, I am telling you I’m completely, over the top, madly in love with you.”

I stared at him, mouth agape, for several moments. I’d already come to that same realization myself, I just hadn't said the words. As I sat alone in that dark, sealed room, I’d thought about Dillon and how we’d never get the chance to grow together, as a couple. I think it was then when I realized I was in love with him, and probably had been for a long time.

When I decided to ask him to move in with me, that was a step in the direction of making our relationship represent how I was already feeling. Now, I needed to put those feelings into words.

“I’m in love with you too,” I said, lacing his fingers with mine. “In fact, if I’m honest, I think I sort of fell for you that first night. I was just a little scared to admit it, even to myself, like it was all too soon”

“Well, yeah, maybe it is too soon for most people. But I’ve been arguing with my dads and your family about it, and they all said if we feel it, say it.”

I chuckled. “So, you’re telling me you love me because our families put pressure on you to do so?”

He squeezed my fingers. I could tell he knew I’d been teasing, and I was expecting nothing less in return from my comedian boyfriend. But what he said next floored me. “Here’s the deal. I’m so in love with you, my heart literally hurts when you aren’t around, and when…” Dillon’s voice cracked and he looked on the verge of tears. I was about to speak when he put his hand up to stop me. “When you were missing, I was so broken. I know it’s fast. I’ve been so nervous about pushing you, and so I’ve backed off to give you space, but my heart can’t take any more sudden starts and stops. So, yes, I am probably telling you now because our families encouraged it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel it.”

I leaned over and kissed him to stop his rambling. It started slow but when I parted his lips with my tongue, he cupped the back of my head and pulled me in even deeper. When we broke apart after what felt like hours, Dillon’s eyes were half-lidded and a twinkle had returned to them.

“You said you loved me too,” he said, still with a dreamy far-off look on his handsome face.

“Uh-huh. I did.”

“So, does that mean you aren’t going to run away from me? Not ever again?”

I shook my head. “Nope. You’re stuck with me now.”

“Thank God,” he said, tilting his head back to lean against the headrest. “I know we just said the L word, which is huge. I’ve never said that to another guy before. But Dominic, what I feel for you, it’s like…”

“Magic,” we both said at the same time.

We embraced then and kissed until the garage door opened. My sisters stood behind Jeffrey’s car, yelling and clapping at us.

“God, your sisters sure have a knack for showing up at the most inopportune moments.”

“Agreed,” I said as we climbed out of the car. “Speaking of which, let’s plan to install some commercial grade locks in our apartment. At least then if we’re interrupted, it’ll only be by a knock on our door.”

Chapter forty

Dillon

Eight months after arriving in Chicago, we had all adjusted well to life in the Windy City and living as one large family. The house had been fully remodeled after Jeffrey purchased it from his mom, but many of the Victorian elements kept. It was charming, comfortable, and was just the right size to give everyone their own space but still feel like we all lived together.

Jeffrey had the attic apartment renovated as well. It had to be one of the most elegant apartments in that part of Chicago, and I couldn’t believe I got to live there with the love of my life. Miss Rita took over Jeffrey’s old apartment from us, and I think she liked having her own space but still being nearby. With all of us settled, our family’s collective attention turned to wedding preparations.

Today was the big day for Ashton and Jeffrey, and the house was in chaos. The grooms were in different rooms getting ready, Ashton with help from Miss Rita, and Jeffrey from his mom, Gayle. Ashton had asked me to be his best man, and Jeffrey wanted Dominic to stand up with him. So, we were both in our respective rooms. I sat back and watched in amusement asMiss Rita fawned over Ashton, and only occasionally made a comment when he’d look over at me and roll his eyes or say something about all the attention he was getting.

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