Chapter Seventeen

Dylan

I slip my bag strap over my shoulder and wave goodbye to Vada and Roman. They offered to stay just in case Brad says no to me moving in with him, but it isn't necessary. He's told Minnie about the wedding and lived, so I think he's serious enough to not turn me away.

I hope.

I lean down to pick up the other bags on the ground and make my way up to his patio. Brad lives not far from where Minnie lives, and it's in a quiet neighbourhood. His house is small but cosy. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen that is massive. The best part is the outdoor veranda. It wraps around all four sides and extends further into the backyard, offering the perfect place to sit and eat dinner when the weather isn't hot as balls.

Dropping the bags on the veranda, I ring the doorbell and hope he didn't see me on the security cameras first. Apparently Isaac, one of Chad's brother husbands, insisted on installing a decent security system and Brad just said yes. He's already told me he has no idea how to use half the features.

I don't have to wait long; he opens the door and offers me a smile before he sees my bags. "What's going on?" his voice is laced with concern, and it gives me butterflies. Besides Minnie and Winnie, I've never had someone care for me as much as he does. "What did Logan do?" he asks, making me laugh.

"Logan didn't do anything. I thought since we're getting married in five weeks, we should live together." His smile widens as he opens the screen door and leans down to pick up my bags. His muscles are taut and stretch the fabric of his black shirt as he stands back up.

Since when are arm muscles so sexy?

"That's a good idea. I love the thought of having you in my bed every night," he says with a wink before walking down the hallway and leaving me to close and lock the door. I thought for sure he'd put up more of a fight.

Following him into his room, I drop my backpack on the floor and watch as he moves around the space. He starts emptying some drawers and the butterflies are back.

How the hell is someone who's always a grump so freaking sweet?

My feet carry me over to him, and without thinking, I wrap my arms around him, pushing my chest into his back. He freezes for a moment before relaxing and turning around in my arms so he can face me.

I lift up on my toes and he meets me halfway. The moment his lips touch mine, my whole-body shudders. I melt into his kiss as his arms circle my waist and bring me closer.

I don't know how long we kiss for, but he eventually pulls away. "I could get used to this," he whispers, before placing a small kiss on my lips and backing away.

"Me too." I move over to one of the tote bags on the floor and pull out the fern that Winnie gave us.

"What's that?" Brad asks while eyeing the plant in my hand.

"It's a present from Winnie. She says we need to keep it alive if our relationship has any hope of survival," I explain, then chuckle. I have no idea where Winnie gets her ideas sometimes, but I figured it would probably help with getting Brad to call off the wedding.

Who knows, maybe I could be a plant mum?

"That woman is crazy, you know that, right?" he says as he takes the plant from me and places it on top of the dresser near the window. "But I know you love her, so this plant will be the best looked after plant ever. Should we name it?" He moves it again as if looking for the perfect place. I doubt he knows I have a black thumb and could kill a fake plant, so the real one has no hope of survival.

"Winnie isn't crazy, she's just eccentric. Naming it is a good idea. What about Fernie Sanders?" I laugh and Brad joins me with a full belly chuckle.

"That's great. Welcome home Fernie Sanders," he says to the plant.

This plan may backfire. I wasn't expecting Brad to be okay with me moving in. As I watch him move around the room, making space for my things, the walls around my heart crumble a little bit more.

"There is already some space in the bathroom, and you can have these drawers," he says, waving his arm in front of the ones he just emptied. "Why don't you unpack, and I'll go make some dinner." He drops a quick kiss to my lips before leaving the room.

Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I send out a message to my group chat with Vada and Roman.

Dylan

He didn't freak out

Dylan

Just started emptying drawers for my stuff

Dylan

He even asked if we should name the plant

Vada

Told you it wouldn't work. The guy is head over heels for you and the fact I can see it means something because you know I miss those sorts of signs usually.

Vada is right. If she can see what is happening between Brad and me, it means it is obvious to everyone. Vada's autism means she often misses social cues, which is why it took so long for her to see that Roman was in love with her.

Roman

You'll just have to up the ante. Study session at your house? A house full of teens is sure to get under his skin.

Vada

What did you name the plant?

I love how different Vada and Roman are. They balance each other out, and I really like that. Even while Vada is always the reasonable one of the group, Roman will entertain my need for chaos.

I take a picture of the plant and send it to the chat.

Dylan

Meet Fernie Sanders

I send the same message to Winnie as well. She must be sitting on her phone, as the response is instant.

Winnie

Perfect name, but I think Fernie needs a friend or three

Dylan

Let's see if we can keep this one alive before you turn our house into a jungle.

Winnie

Our house?

Damn it, I didn't even realise I'd said that. But it doesn't feel wrong to say. I wasn't invited, but Brad opened his house to me without a second thought. Who does that?

Dylan

Shut up, you know what I mean.

Winnie

Make sure you have sex in the kitchen. The bench is always the perfect height to get bent over.

I chuckle, but instead of responding to her message, I start unpacking before Brad comes looking for me.

After dinner, Brad insists on doing the dishes while I get some studying done. I have an assignment due this week, and even though I complain about going to university, it's starting to grow on me.

I'd rather work on my assignment than talk about wedding stuff.

Brad joins me at the table and starts typing away on his laptop.

"What are you working on?" I ask as I reach my arms over my head, trying to stretch out the muscles in my back.

"Doing some ordering for the bar. Isaac has negotiated better prices from some of the suppliers, so I need to update everything in the back end," he explains. I love that he's talking to me about work.

"Isn't this something you usually do at work?" I ask curiously.

"It is, but I think I want to start spending some more time here. This is something I can do while you work on uni stuff, and honestly, it will get Henry and Chad off my back. They both complain I spend too much time at the bar." He frowns before continuing. "Is it okay if I do some work at home? I should have asked first. I'm sorry. I don't want you to think I'm bringing my work home to avoid you or something."

Considering I only moved in today, he must have had this idea for some time. The fact that he is worried I would think he's avoiding me causes those damn butterflies to flutter again.

I push back on my chair, get up, and walk around behind him, draping my arms over his shoulders and hugging him. I put his mind at ease. "I appreciate you wanting to spend more time at home with me. I know you own a business. One that I happen to love as well, so working from home will never be an issue for me. Uni is going to get busy in the next few weeks as the end of term comes closer, but having you nearby is nice." I give him a squeeze before moving back to my chair. "We might need to set up an office with some decent chairs if this is going to be a common thing for us, though. These chairs suck." The wooden dining room chairs are great to sit at when eating, but sitting for a few hours at a time has my muscles all tight and sore.

"You really are something else, Dylan." Brad looks at me, and I get lost in his eyes. He's let his guard down, and I can see everything he is feeling. It's the same thing I am.

I'm pretty sure I'm falling in love with my future husband.