Chapter 124

“Afternoon.” I wander into the kitchen to find Dane already here where I expected to see him. Sitting cradling a half-drunk coffee with one hand while he reads one of the books I gave him for his birthday. He’s been patiently waiting for me. Looking adorably hot, perched this way and focused on the comic.

It’s a nice, quiet Sunday afternoon to recover from last night, and we have only been home for about two hours. We took time to separate because our parents were home, knowing they wouldn't stay here all day. Sunday is their sort of ritualistic date day for going out to markets and art galleries. I had an essay to finish, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus with him beside me after last night, so it was a good use of time until they left. So he left me be and seems to have been amusing himself by reading his birthday gift.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Dane drops his book, lets go of his mug, and slides out of the breakfast bar to meet me on the way in, kissing me lightly and rufflin