Page 89 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

We’re sitting in Berkley’s apartment because the store is open and busy already. I have a feeling this might get loud. She thought this place needed an exorcism before? Ha!

I bought the breakfast I knew my family would hate, but Berkley would love. McDonald’s pancake platters. Fake processed sausage patties, pressed deep-fried potatoes, warmed frozen pancakes, and so much butter and syrup you could save some for later.

My parents sit uncomfortably at the bar while Mike is on Berkley’s couch, his eyes on the television.

‘How’d you guys sleep?’ I ask. ‘I know I slept great. Better than I have in years.’

‘Youslept? ’Cause had it been quieter, maybe I could have,’ Mike says, shooting both Berkley and I the stink-eye.

I laugh. ‘Not even a little bit sorry.’

‘Please, Mike,’ Berkley says. ‘You’re the biggest sleaze here; no doubt you recorded it. Maybe tonight you put in headphones?’

She’s thinking about tonight? Good to know I didn’t disappoint her with my performance and she wants a repeat. The last thing I wanted was the speech Alex got.

‘I take it you two are back together? You can’t seem to keep your eyes off each other,’ Mom says.

That seems like a sweet statement, unless you factor in the horrified face she said it with.

‘Um…’ Berkley says the word that started the implosion of my world, a flash of regret on her face.

‘There’s a lot I need to fix before we label it, but yeah, we’re getting there.’ I take the heat, seeing how uncomfortable she is to admit the thing my parents have fought against for years.

‘We don’t care,’ Dad says flatly. ‘You’ve let her torture us for a night; now cut the crap and loan us some money.’

My smile fades as my gaze moves to my father. I hate that this man can turn me into an insecure little boy so easily. I don’t get it. Is he disappointed I exist or that I’m not a carbon copy of him?

‘Don’t be a dick to him,’ Berkley snaps before I can speak. ‘If you want to treat him like shit in your home – which is really dick-ish by the way – go ahead. But you’re inourhome now, and you will not disrespect him while you’re here.’

Dad raises his eyebrows. ‘Ourhome?’

Of course he catches it. I caught it. I glance over at her. ‘Can you guys give us a second?’ I ask, motioning for her to follow me to her room. I can’t just blow by this. I need to know what she meant.

She walks into her room behind me, her plate of food still in her hand, and she looks nervous. I close the door, turning to her slowly.

‘Ourhome? You haven’t said that since—’

‘Since we called it that during the remodel, before I knewRoyalswas a thing? It sort of just slipped out. I wasn’t sure you’d even notice it.’

I nod. ‘I might not have if it hadn’t stood out like a tiger in a grocery store. Berx, this is all I ever wanted. Since the day I made the decision to do the stupid show I’ve been searching for home, and this is the only place that makes me feel like I’ve found it.’

‘Really?’ she asks, like she didn’t already know.

‘Really.’

She blows out a relieved breath. ‘Good. Because all I could think about last night was us being back together “officially” and what that could mean. Ya know? Youdidjust buy the place, so technically, it’sallyours.’

‘It’s allours, Berx. I want to do thiswithyou. I used to be good at the bookstore gig. I’ve got a way with words,’ I remind her. ‘I’m sure I could fall back into it. Let’s do this, finally.’

She laughs nervously, shoving a forkful of pancakes into her mouth, probably hoping to give herself time to think.

‘Are you seriously not thinking what I’m thinking?’

She swallows hard. ‘Iam,’ she says. ‘But then I look back and you’ve been back two days, Will.Twodays and I’ve dumped my sort of “boyfriend”, slept with you, and now your entire family is living here. This isn’t exactly how I expected this to all go down. Isn’t this too fast after all we’ve been through? Liv thinks I should torture you for a while.’

Of course she does. ‘Youshouldtorment me. But us living together will only make that easier. You can flush while I shower. Dye all my whites pink. Control the remote. Make me do the dishes. Buy me an assless chaps butler uniform and I’ll be at your beck and call with a smile on my face.’ I can feel the goofy grin on my face as I suggest ways for her to torment me.

‘You’d like that last one way too much; no waiting would be done and definitely no butlering…’ She laughs.

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