Page 171 of The 21-Day Boyfriend
“A lot…” I bring the bruschetta to my mouth and take a bite. I was starving. The days I’ve spent without Eric have been long, sad, and senseless. “How often, exactly?”
“Let’s start with New Year’s Eve.”
“Don’t tell me there’s another dinner with your family?”
Eric shakes his head. “With yours.”
“Mine?” I ask, stupidly.
“I want to make dinner for you, if you’ll let me. For you, Mila, and Jake.”
“Oh…” I don’t know what to say. I’m moved, so full of love for this man sitting beside me; this man who has cooked for me, who says he wants to cook for my family.
“I always want to cook for the people I love, from now on. Will you let me, Sean? Will you let me take care of you?”
He dries a tear from my cheek with his thumb and smiles.
How could I say no to that smile?
“Permission granted.”
Epilogue
Sean
“Oh, my God! What smells so good?” Mila pops her head onto Eric’s shoulder as he’s working away at the stove.
“I hope you like fish.”
“I like everything, as long as you’re cooking,” my sister responds, making Eric laugh.
“Good to know.”
He turns his attention back to the hob, and Mila stands behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back. Eric stands there, frozen, his hands in mid-air.
“Thank you for being here,” she says.
Eric lets all the air leave his lungs, then, with the sweetest of gestures, loops his arms around my sister.
“Thank you for letting me cook for you, and celebrate with you.”
Mila pulls away from him slowly, then looks at me and smiles, before moving back over to Jake, who’s witnessed the whole scene.
“Sorry about that,” I find myself saying on her behalf. “She can be quite emotional and…”
Eric turns around. “I like it.”
I tilt my head and study him.
“I like her. I like you. I like everything. All of this. I like the atmosphere here. I even like Jake.”
“Hey!” Jake complains.
He wasn’t far enough not to overhear. I mean, my apartment isn’t huge.
“It feels like home, like family.”
I smile and move closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck and lifting onto my tiptoes to kiss him.
