Page 58 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“Did you know I love your hugs?”

I feel him smile, and we just hug for a few more minutes.

“I love that you live with us.”

We both laugh, and then he surprises me again.

“Now that Laura has moved away, I want this gift to be for you,” he says.

“Are you sure?”

He nods and I accept the gift.

I open it and see there’s a little handmade bracelet. It’s made from my niece’s Bratz game pieces and, surprisingly, in lilac, my favorite color.

“It’s beautiful—I love it!”

“You really like it?”

“Of course I really like it.” I put it on and extend my arm so he can see it on my wrist. “What do you think?”

“It looks really good on you, and it’s your favorite color.”

“How did you know?”

“Luz told me, and I remember my uncle mentioning it once too.”

“Thank you, love,” I say, and give him a kiss. “I love it.”

“Don’t argue with my uncle over me.”

“Flyn...”

“Promise,” he insists.

I want him to feel better, so I put my thumb up against his and swear. “I promise.”

He hugs me tightly, so tightly that it hurts my shoulders, but I don’t say anything because I want him to be happy.

“I’m going to bury you in kisses,” I say, tickling him.

He laughs and then I laugh and then we’re both aware Eric’s standing at the door. He’s looking at us, and his look, like always, has an effect on me.

“First of all,” he says—and this makes me smile—“Jude is not going to ever leave us, OK?” The boy nods. “Second of all, we will buy a motorcycle appropriate to your age so you can start your lessons with Jude. And, third of all, what do you say that we go shopping so Jude can be the most beautiful woman during Oktoberfest?”

Flyn gives his uncle a hug and goes running out of the kitchen. I don’t quite understand what’s going on.

And, suddenly, my crazy love is kneeling before me. “It would have to be something very, very, very, very serious for me to let you go, OK, sweetheart?”

“You overheard our whole conversation, didn’t you?”

“I heard enough to know my nephew and I are crazy about you, and we don’t know how to live without you anymore,” he says in a low voice as he brings his mouth closer to mine.

He completely unravels me...

His words destroy all my defenses...

We kiss, and I want him desperately, but Eric stops me.

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