Page 105 of I Knead You Tonight

“Wait, nope.” She pulls something out from under her. “It was just a binky.”

“I’m still taking credit.”

“Not fair. It was literally a binky. You saw it.”

“It’s dark in here. You could have planted it after the fact.”

She huffs. “Whatever. I’m going pee.”

She rushes off to the bathroom and I let my eyes fall closed, trying hard not to fall asleep, but it’s a difficult feat because I am officially worn out.

We didn’t talk about us again the rest of the night, just enjoyed the Fall Festival.

Despite our bickering and Drew having a hard time seeing a future in us, it was still easily one of my top five nights of all time.

And that’s not including the incredible sex we just had.

Being with her and Riker, getting to spend time with them doing silly shit…it fulfills me in a way I didn’t realize I needed.

It makes me feel so…alive.

I could see myself doing it for good, not just while Drew’s staying here.

The light in the bathroom clicks off and Drew tiptoes her way back to the bed, crawling in beside me with her cold feet.

She must think I’m asleep, because she doesn’t say anything, just snuggles into me like she was made to fit beside me.

“Why can’t it always be like this?” she whispers to herself, so quietly I almost wonder if it’s all a dream.

If so, I don’t ever want to wake up from it.

Slice Seventeen

Drew

The last few weeks have flown by, and I’m sad my time in the Slice kitchen is coming to an end after my shift today.

When Simon asked me to cover for one of the chefs who had taken a four-week internship in Italy, I jumped at the chance.

I knew the hours were going to be brutal, but the experience would be worth it.

All it has done is solidify my conviction that the kitchen is exactly where I am meant to be. It’s my happy place.

“You’re a damn natural in here, Drew.” Simon stands next to me, watching me wield the knife in my hand like a pro, a proud glint in his eyes. “I wish I could keep you around.”

“Then why don’t you?” I beg him with my eyes to do just that.

“You know I can’t, kid. I’d love to, but you need the training, the certifications. Everyone else here has them, and you need them too. It’s the rules of my shop. And, really, it’ll help you in the long run. You don’thaveto have any sort of professional training, but you’ll be better off if you do.”

“I know.” I sigh. “I just have no idea how I’m going to swing that with working and taking care of Riker all on my own.”

“It’ll be tough, but I know you’ve got it in you. Besides, you already know you have a job waiting for you when you get out. That’s the hardest battle.”

“That’s true.”

“And then, when you get a couple years of experience under your belt working here, I’ll write an incredible recommendation for wherever you choose to go.”

“Leave you? Never.”

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