Page 61 of Last Love

“All that shit aside, the only thing I wanted for my fucking birthday was to be with you, but you…and I know how fucking selfish this shit sounds…just work so goddamn much that sometimes I feel like I’m dating your fucking profile picture on my phone.”

“Ry, I love what I do.”

“Yeah,” Leaning into the pulls, I quietly plead, “but I need to feel like you love me, too.”

It takes a longer stretch than I’m expecting for her to speak. “Okay.”

My head angles itself upward for my chin to rest on her leg while our stares connect. “Okay, what?”

“Okay,” she softly repeats. “You’re expressing a need, and I’m telling you I hear you. I…am acknowledging you. And we can work on ways that you feel less like you’re dating our text thread rather than me.”

Unexpected relief has my shoulders sagging and a question naturally sliding out. “Will you start coming with me to my weekly dinners at Noah’s?”

“Will he mind?”

“Don’t care.”

She lightly snickers and gives my cheek an affectionate cupping. “As long as he doesn’t mind, I will rearrange my schedule whenever possible to go with you and on those nights, how about you crash at my place, so that there’s always at least one night a week we’re together.”

“I like that.”

“Good because you’re gonna hate what comes next.”

“Then don’t say it. Don’t ruin my birthday.”

“We’re swinging by the ATM in the morning and you’re taking cash from me-”

“No.” Anger runs its way up my spine, moving me into a sitting position as well. “Fuck no.”

“Fuck yes,” she aggressively snaps back. “I don’t want the man I love fucking starving between pay checks, so get over it. Pay your boss back and use the rest of the money to eat, get gas, and whatever else you need until payday.”

“Pres-”

“This isn’t a discussion, birthday babe. It’s what’s fucking happening.”

Arousal and aggravation intertwine inside. “Fuck, fine. But I’ll pay you back. Every. Goddamn. Cent.”

“You won’t.” She warmly wraps her arms around my neck. “Because that’s not how real relationships work, Ry. It’s a give and take.”

“It seems like all I do is take.”

I’m tossed an unexpected wink. “You give plenty…”

Loud laughter escapes as I pull her into my lap. “Why don’t I give you something right now then?”

“You don’t want me to go ahead and order dinner?”

My hands slowly slide along the curve of her back heading straight for her ass. “One more round first.”

Pres’s giggles are short lived by my lips planting themselves on hers.

Maybe this shit is supposed to be give and take, but fuck, I am tired of taking.

I look forward to the days where I can give more than my dick and dish duty.

I hope that shit is coming sooner rather than later.

Even if it isn’t?

I’m thankful she loves me anyway.

That’s really the birthday wish that’s already come true.

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