Page 109 of Concealed

I giggle, some of the tension leaving my body. “I have a really important question.”

“What’s up?” he asks.

“Am I still your roommate?”

His warm, gentle brown eyes that always give away his emotions are hidden behind dark sunglasses. But I still know he’s rolling them.

“You haven’t been my roommate for a while. You’re my girlfriend. Remember?”

“Do you want me to get my own place?”

Now isn’t the time to be pressing the “what are we” conversation, but everything in my life is in disarray, and I want some stability and security.

“Would you prefer to live on your own?” he asks.

This is just one of the reasons I love him so much – because I do love him, even though we haven’t said it to each other yet.

He gives me the time and space that I need to figure things out on my own, and he never pressures me one way or the other. If I chose to live on my own, he would support me whether it was what he wanted or not.

“I thought that I did when I first got here,” I explain, “but now I don’t. I wanted independence and to plan the next steps of my life. But since I moved in with you, I’ve realized that I can have those things while also being with you.”

“I’m glad you feel that way,” Wyatt replies. “I’ll never be the guy who tries to control you. But I’ll always be first in line to protect you.”

He proved that tenfold yesterday – was it really only yesterday?

“It’s quite soon to live together, though,” I add cautiously, not wanting to pressure him. Most guys don’t even like the “are-you-my-boyfriend-conversation,” let alone the “will-you-live-with-me” one.

“I mean, it’s fine if you’d rather take things slow,” I continue. “You just got to Sunnyville, too, and–”

“Babe, we already live together.”

“This is different, and you know it.”

“Sure. It’s better. We’ll share a room now,” he quips.

“Well, I guess living with you is the only way that I can guarantee I’ll actually spend any time with you given your crazy hours.”

“You’ll be seeing a lot of me. I don’t have a job.”

“Grant will take you back. You’re a good cop and an even better man.”

Wyatt puts his hand on my knee, and it’s like déjà vu except it erases the bad feelings Matt’s touch gave me.

“Are you still scared?” he asks.

I pause to consider, turning the radio down because this moment is too pivotal to be interrupted by Justin Bieber.

“I have anxiety about the future,” I explain. “I don’t think Matt is going to come after us now that all eyes are on him, but I have no doubt he’ll try to ruin my reputation and kill your career.”

“My stripper girlfriend can support us.”

So much for pivotal, but I can’t help the laugh that escapes and mixes with the tune of his chuckle.

“I’m not scared of him or that he’ll hurt me again, though,” I say. “Not when I’m with you.”

“Even when I’m not physically with you, I’ve always got you. Babe, you never leave my mind.”

My heart melts, and heat blooms throughout my entire body. “And it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had. Now that Matt is locked up, at least temporarily, things are moving in the right direction. I can’t wait to go visit my family.”

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