Page 3 of Forever Oblivion

“You don’t have to get a master’s, Ay.”

I nibbled at my lip. “I thought that’s what I wanted.”

Nash shrugged. “Some dreams change.”

He made it seem so simple. Could it really be that easy? Just...quit? I flopped back against the couch cushion.

“You know, Jenna never planned to make guitars.”

I cocked my head. “Really? But she’s so good at it.”

Nash nodded. “A real drive. And talent. But she kind of slid into that.”

“She and baby Cash are great,” I said, smiling. “They’ve settled in at home, and Cam’s hovering.”

Nash chuckled. “Yeah, that’s not going to stop. Ever.”

“He’s so cute.”

Nash’s grin grew. “He is.”

At my questioning look, Nash’s cheeks flushed a dull red. “Cam sends me daily photos.”

I pressed my hand over my heart. So precious.

“That baby’s got Cam wrapped around his finger,” he added.

I wanted to suggest he might feel that way about his own child, but we were in a good place, and I didn’t want to bring up something we might fight over. I fell into silence. Deep in my chest, a longing built for the soft, sweet love I’d seen shining in Cam’s eyes as he looked at Jenna and his newborn son.

Nash pressed his nose into my belly. I shivered.

“I have a confession,” I said.

“Hit me.”

“I don’t want a master’s degree.”

He smiled, and I knew he’d already figured that out. “All right.”

I bit my lip, my nerves pushing to the surface. “And I’m thinking of running Clean Water.”

“All right.”

A breath whistled between my teeth. “I may keep Lindsay on as the development director. She’s good at schmoozing and pulling money out of rich people.”

“All right.”

I pinched his nipple, and he grunted. “What was that for?”

“To make sure you could say something more than all right.”

“I love you, Aya, and I want you to be happy. If those things make you happy, I’m all for them.” This time he cupped my cheeks and kissed me with slow, soft brushes of his lips.

When he pulled back, I pressed one more kiss to his lips. “I didn’t realize how much I loved Clean Water—what it meant to me—until I had to face never being involved in it again. I miss helping people.”

“You’re so fucking strong, Ay. Resilient. Forgiving. Caring. I’m not sure I deserve you.” He swallowed hard. “That I’ll ever deserve you.”

I tipped my head back so I could meet his gaze. “That would mean I don’t get to have you.”

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