Page 75 of Achievement Unlocked

“We’ll make it through about two movies.” Not that I minded. The suggestion was a fallback for us, but it was also something that would always and forever make me think of her. Which was perfect.

“We’ll pick it back up tomorrow. We have time.” Did her voice crack?

I wasn’t being insensitive, this was just new for me. Having her. And it wasn’t as though she—we?—had broken up with Landon. He was just a guy. “If we take a full day break in the middle, it’s not much of a marathon.”

“True, but there’s always room to redefine things, isn’t there?”

There was more to that question than just movie marathons. If I were to make an assumption—which sounded dangerous so I wouldn’t—she was asking if Landon really had to go.

But if that wasn’t what she was asking, I was filling in blanks on my own and why would I do that?

“We get to do exactly that. Chronological or release order?” I loved the original movies; I grew up on them. Megan loved the prequels because Ewan McGregor, and also because Jeremy hated that she preferred them.

“Release order,” she said.

She was giving me my preference. That shouldn’t be a problem, but the instant compliance struck me wrong. Why?

Megan almost always yielded, and I’d hoped she was stopping. “Are you sure?” I asked.

“Does it— I’m sure.”

“It always matters.” I needed her to know that.

She gave a quick shake of her head. “I know. I didn’t mean… We’re going to watch them all anyway. This way I get to save dessert for last.”

“Is Obi-Wan dessert?”

The way she wrinkled her nose was adorable. Natural. Almost a smile. “Weird analogy, isn’t it?”

“I dunno… You may have an extrasin there.”

She let out a soft laugh. “I’m pretty sure I don’t.”

Megan curled up on the couch next to me, half in my lap, as we started the movie. This was the most natural thing in the world for us to be here, and having her in my arms was new and right.

The falling to sleep together was nice too, because it was on purpose. Because there were no excuses. Even without sex, it was right.

In the morning Megan headed to work and I did the same.

First stop when I walked into the office was the break room. I was pretty sure multiple people in the office would revolt if the coffee was bad, and Ivan had good taste, so that was never an issue. I’d drink it anyway. That was one of those earlier in life lessons—never turn down free coffee.

Spending time with Megan kept my mind occupied. Driving to the office, I had to focus on the road.

But standing in the middle of an empty room, nothing but the hum of the fridge to keep me company, my mind had room to wander. The first place it roamed was Landon.

Laughter drawing closer kept me from falling down that hole of thought, and Luna and Adrienne walked into the room.

“Morning,” they greeted me in unison.

I gave them a tight smile and stepped out of their way. Friends. Co-workers. Sisters-in-law.

That would be Jeremy and me. Well, brothers-in-law. How much was Jeremy going to hate this news? Not a great path to follow, but better than the previous one. Telling Jeremy I was dating Megan was going to be an interesting conversation, and one I’d avoided yesterday because I was busy all day with the dev team and Landon.

And there he was again. Popping into my thoughts without permission. Now I missed him.

Fuck.

Adrienne was staring at me.

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