Page 67 of Until We're More
She headed over to where Shane was working a bag, and I walked across the gym to the front door, doing my best not to fucking skip.
The wind was blowing outside, sending strands of Chelsea’s hair around her face, and she had hold of a couple plastic bags. The scent of food hit me as she stepped inside. “I figured you probably hadn’t had dinner yet.”
“I haven’t,” I said.
“And that you’d probably be here late.”
I nodded.
“I also bought the food at a restaurant, because I’ve finally given up on cooking for you.”
“Thank God,” I teased, and she smacked my arm, the bags crinkling and knocking together.
A quick glance over my shoulder proved that between the raised cage and rows of punching bags, we were obscured from view. I quickly drew her to me and kissed the lips I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about all damn day.
And just like the girl, her kiss managed to rev me up and calm me down, all at the same time.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chelsea
I clung to Liam, nearly dropping dinner at our feet as he kissed me breathless.
“What was that for?” I asked when we came up for air.
“Do I need a reason?”
Still in a daze, I shook my head.
“Good. ’Cause there are too many to list. How was work?”
“Today’s meeting went really well. Everyone’s taking me more seriously, I’m not holding back my ideas, and the team dynamic is finally coming together. The new employees are almost fully trained, and that shouldn’t make me sad, but it means that…” A lump rose in my throat, and it definitely wasn’t only from thinking about leaving behind the team I’d helped build. Ever since Liam and I slept together, I’d been trying my hardest to not think about leaving. Which of course made the truth constantly bob to the surface to put a dent in my happy.
“I know,” Liam said, and I was grateful I didn’t have to finish my sentence. He plucked the bags of food from my hands. “Before we head to the office to dig into our dinner—which, thank you—you should probably know that my family is still here, save my dad.”
Was he telling me that he didn’t want them to find out about us? Or just giving me a heads up? My gut churned, my worries rising. We took one step toward the area where most of the action happened, then I remembered that I was more assertive now, so instead of stewing, I could open my mouth.
I grabbed his arm, and he turned to face me. Maybe I should’ve told his back. Then I wouldn’t feel so…vulnerable. “I don’t need a big ‘determine the relationship’ talk. We’re friends above all, I get it. I just…I need to know what you told your family or what you want to tell them.”
He opened his mouth, and my other stray thought burst out. “And I also need to know if you’ll be seeing other girls.” Apparently being assertive was kind of hard to stop once you’d started.
He set the food on the nearest chair and wrapped his massive hands around my shoulders. “No other girls. And I’m warning you that seeing other guys would be bad for their health. In fact, you better call that Kevin guy and tell him you’re taken.”
“Already done,” I said, smiling. “Days ago. I mean, I didn’t tell him I was taken, but I gave him a speech about sticking to friends. Because I was already taken, long before you decided you wanted to take me, too.”
Liam’s eyes heated, like he was considering taking me again, right here and now, and then I was thinking about it as well. I reminded myself we were in public and glanced toward the octagon. “What about your family?”
He groaned.
Through the cage and swinging bags, I caught a glimpse of Shane practicing his striking while Finn and Brooklyn stood nearby talking to each other. “You don’t want them to know?”
“It’s not that. They’re so damn nosey, and I spent so long insisting we were just friends while they rolled their eyes. They’re going to love saying ‘I told you so.’” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, tucking me next to him, and then grabbed the takeout bags. “But you should probably tell Brooklyn her ridiculous ring girl scheme worked—she was grilling me right before you arrived.”
“How did you find out that she…?” Oops, I didn’t want to admit guilt on her end, since she’d been helping me out. “Not that she did, but…how do you know it wasn’t just a bold thingIdecided to do on my own?”
The amount of skepticism he aimed down at me was impressive, especially for a guy who was rarely expressive.
“Hey, I sometimes decide to be bold on my own. Do you remember that time you went to kiss my cheek and got the corner of my mouth? I’d been thinking about kissing you and I decided to turn my head and just let it happen—although I more did it without thinking and I chickened out and you said something about your depth perception being off, which was mortifying.”
