Page 169 of The 21-Day Boyfriend
“I was too angry, too hurt, too let down to understand that what I was looking for wasn’t a fake boyfriend for twenty-one days.”
“What did you want?”
“A man. A real man by my side.”
I swallow down the emotion making its way up my throat.
“I don’t know whether I can believe you, and…”
“I want you. I want you, Sean.”
“I-In bed.”
He shakes his head, and I swallow again.
“In my life, Sean Quinn. I want you in my life. I want your enormous books and your nerdy glasses. I want your endless words and your silent glances. I want your hands in mine. I want to fall asleep on the sofa with you. I want to watch you eat the things I cook for you, and I want you to watch me while I’m in the kitchen. I only want to cook for you, and I want… I want… I want to go back to being myself, and I want to love again and… I want to love you. I want it to be you. I want it to be us.”
I dry an embarrassed tear. Eric steps towards me and takes my hand.
“What about you, Sean? Do you want that? Do you want me… For real?”
“You cooked for me?” I ask, stupidly. Eric’s smile widens for me, more beautiful than ever.
“I want to cook for the people I love.”
This time, he’s the one to wipe away my tears.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“So you… You…”
“So, my dear professor, who’s anything but boring,” he says, stroking my cheek with both hands, “I want to cook for you. Because I… I’ve fallen in love with you.”
I bite down on my bottom lip and Eric stares. “Can I… Can I kiss you now?”
I nod, and Eric launches himself at me so hard we almost fall to the floor. “God, I was so afraid you didn’t want this.” He kisses me again, his mouth hungry, insatiable. “I can’t believe I’m here and you…” He looks at me again.
“That I’m in love with you?”
“Are you?”
“I am. Even though you asked me not to be.”
“I was lying. I knew I was lying.”
“Good to know. Because I didn’t even bother trying not to fall in love with you.”
Eric laughs and kisses me again.
“God, I missed you.”
I grab him by the shirt and pull him close to me.
“It’s only been three days.”
“Three shitty days. Jake can confirm.”
