Page 102 of Unmasking Love
But, wait.
"You have?"
He gives me a kiss on the forehead before whispering “yeah,” and we finish making dinner together. I’m still in a daze as we sit down to eat.
“How was the showing you had today? Was it just the one or did you have more?”
“Huh?”
Aiden gives me a warm smile as he sets down his fork.
“I asked about work, but I can see you’re still stuck on me asking you to move in. Get used to it babe. To this. We’re going to have dinner together every night we can and I’m going to ask you about your day. You’re going to ask about mine. And then we’re going to do the dishes, hang out, and go to bed together.”
Aiden bounces his eyebrows at me and I giggle. This is like a dream come true. Aiden makes me feel treasured. He makes me feel important. Being with him is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.
It’s because he’s my manfriend, not boyfriend. I swallow my laugh at the silly name Wes and I came up with and then tell Aiden how I had to go to my first showing with wet hair because I didn't have time to dry it after getting rained down on in my own home. He told me about meeting with the special teams players and coaching staff.
He clears the table and I put away the leftovers while he does the dishes, insisting I didn't have to do them because I was the one who cooked.
I move over to the sofa and read a few work emails on my phone before he joins me.
"Want to watch something?" He asks and I nod. And together we snuggle on the sofa to a college hockey game. I fall asleep on his lap again tonight and when he helps move me to bed he makes me stop and take out my contacts and brush my teeth before tucking me in. When he climbs into bed a few minutes later he snuggles up behind me and kisses my shoulder.
"I'm so happy you're here," he whispers and I sink into his embrace a little more.
"Me too, Aiden," I whisper back. He kisses my shoulder again and then pulls the cover up to my chin.
Chapter 30
Aiden
Emotional Milestone FTW
Whatareyoudoingafter practice, Young Gun?"
"I'm helping Harper move in." I tell Duncan with a smile. I've been fucking giddy all day. I took my bike ride and balanced one of her sugary coffee drinks in my hand on the way back. I’ve had an extra pep in my step during conditioning and practice, to say the least.
"Shit, really?" Duncan says with a smile and then he hollers across the ice to Crosby. "You owe me ten bucks! He's happy because Harper is moving in!"
"That wasn't the bet and you know it." Crosby says as he skates over. "I'm not paying you shit."
"What was the bet?" I ask.
"Duncan bet me $10 you were in a good mood because you got laid, I said it was because it’s from an emotional milestone like saying ILY."
"And," Duncan retorts to Crosby, "he's in a good mood because Harper is moving in with him. It counts for me because they’re going to bang all the time now."
"Does not." Crosby says as he lunges forward into a stretch. “Moving in is way more of an emotional milestone than a physical one.”
"You finally bought a house?" Felix asks excitedly as he skates over to the group having finished the drill.
"No, Harper is moving in with him," Duncan says proudly, like he had anything to do with it.
"To your tiny apartment?" Felix questions.
"Yes, to my apartment. She's going to start the renovations on her house and she's going to live with me while the work gets done."
"Just playing devil's advocate here," Bryson says, "but isn't it a little soon to be living together?"
