Page 41 of Make You Keep Me

I’ve been on a high all day. Spending the day at the petting zoo with my family was amazing. Hearing Kiran call Nox “Dada” for the first time was beyond anything I think my heart could handle. The glistening pride in Nox’s expression had me holding back tears. And now to hear that Jade will be here soon has my cup overflowing with happiness.

“I'm excited to get there. The townhouse floorplan you sent looks perfect. What a great find.”

“It really is, and it’s so close to everything,” I say.

Nox and I had been scouring the internet for days, trying to find a place for when Jade and Willow arrive. We were lucky enough to hear that Isla’s complex had a unit that was recently vacated and will be available at the end of September.

“We’ve missed not having you around,” she says, and it makes me pause.

Originally, I intended to move in with Jade once she arrived in Richmond Hills, but now I'm not sure that’s what I want anymore. Looking for places for Jade and me to move just felt wrong. Why would I want to move away from Nox again…

“Your silence is scaring me… What’s up?”

I haven’t brought this tidbit of information to Jade yet, and I feel guilty about it knowing she’s basically moving to NC for me.

“I’ve been thinking…”

“Always love when conversations start like that. Spit it out,” she teases.

“IthinkIwanttostaywithNox,” I blurt out as fast as I can, bracing myself for her response.

“And you didn’t think I figured this out already?” she says, like it’s obvious.

“What?” I must sound dumbfounded.

“Come on, Em. You’ve literally been over the moon since the results came back. I knew you wouldn’t want to move away from him again.”

“Do you think it’s too soon? Too fast?”

“From what you’ve told me about him, you two were basically living together before everything happened. And now that you have a son together, do you think his possessive ass will let you out of his sight?”

I laugh at her accuracy of a man she’s never met but knows so much about already. The man who owns my heart and soul.

“I don’t think he will, although he hasn’t outwardly said it yet. I just know he’s missed out on so much…”

“There’s no doubt in my mind he wants you there. He built Kiran a bedroom in a matter of twenty-four hours of finding out he had a son.”

Smiling at that, I get up off the bed and head to my closet, putting her call on speaker. I need to find something to wear for the surprise date I planned tonight. I asked Isla to watch Kiran so we could have a proper night out, just Nox and me.

“I’ll bring it up soon. You’re right, I know deep down he doesn’t want me to leave either. You’re not mad? I'm the one who convinced you to move with me.”

“I am not mad. I'm happy for you, and you did not convince me to move. It was something we both discussed and agreed on. I need to get away from here anyway.”

“Well, I'm sorry it’s not under the same pretenses as when we first talked about it. But I'm happy you’ll be in North Carolina with me, and away from that fuckhead. Did he find out about the move yet?”

“No, thank God. I haven’t heard from him in a few days.” I can hear the heavy breath she releases. If I’m stressed for her, I can only imagine how she’s feeling.

“You sure know how to pick them. Who would have known your pussy is that magical you turn a seemingly normal man into a deranged stalker after only a year,” I try to tease.

Her laughter filters over the speaker as I pull out a skirt to wear. “Please, don’t remind me. I swear I'm going celibate after this last shitshow of a relationship.”

“Yeah, okay. We’ll see about that.”

“I’m serious, Em. Mark my words…”

“Mmmhmm, I know you better than you think. But I have to go finish getting ready.”

“Okay, love, let me know how it goes.”

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