More Exposed (Exposed 4)

I pull in a heavy, measured breath to curb my emotions. I want to ask what he means but I don't have to.

"This morning when I asked him what I could get him for a gift he said Princess Sadie. I want her to be here with me." His voice cracks as the words leave his lips.

I pull my hands up to wrap them behind his strong neck. I softly glide my lips over his. "That's so..." It's so everything to me.

"I'd ask you to marry me again right now, but you'll say no." The wide smile that covers his mouth is breathtaking. "I'll keep asking until you say yes."

I want to say yes. I want to be his wife. It's too soon. I'm scared and he knows it. He can feel it. That's why he doesn't push.

"Promise you'll keep asking." I arch a brow waiting for his response.

"Forever." He rests his head in my lap. "I'll ask every day for as long as it takes."

***

"It's small, but it's going to be perfect." The excited expression on my brother's face is foreign to me. Getting used to this new, happier Dylan has definitely been an adjustment.

"You're sure?" I wave my hand around the apartment. "You're both going to be happy here?"

"Leanne and I have been living with mom and dad for six months, Sadie." He rolls his brown eyes playfully. "I've got to get out of there. This is the perfect solution."

Getting my brother and his fiancée to take over my apartment's lease was perfect for me too. I only had six months left on it but I didn't want it to sit empty and the extra cash that I will save on rent will help a lot.

"When's the last time you talked to dad?" His question startles me. Although he doesn't know all the details about what happened between my father and me, he does know enough to not bring it up.

I shrug my shoulders. "Weeks I guess." It's been months. Ever since I left my parent's house to move into this place I've avoided my dad. The knowledge that he kept Hunter away from me for years is too much for me to bear. Forgiving him is something I can't grasp right now. Maybe someday that will change, but it's hard to imagine.

"He misses you. He asked me to check up on you."

"Did you tell him I'm moving in with Hunter?" It's a pointed question and I cringe waiting for his answer.

"Nope. Not my business, Sade." He brushes past me to look in the bedroom. "I don't know where Leanne's going to put all her stuff." He laughs. "I'll need a storage unit just for her shoes."

I can't suppress a giggle either. "There's a storage locker downstairs. The key is on the counter over there." I motion towards the kitchen. "It's pretty tiny though."

"We'll figure it out." He can't suppress the excitement in his voice. "This is the perfect place for the two of us to start our life together."

I smile as my mind jumps to thoughts of Hunter and my life together too. I only wish I could be as excited about my future as Dylan is about his.

Chapter 3

"I've been thinking that we need a bigger place." Hunter pulls my suitcase into his bedroom with effortless ease. I marvel at how he doesn't even break a sweat. It took me twenty minutes to yank it down the three flights of stairs at my building. I almost had to have a nap in the taxi on the way over.

"I don't have that much stuff," I scoff. "Almost everything I own is in that suitcase."

He laughs. "No, sunshine, that's not what I mean." He places the suitcase on the bed and flips the lid open.

"What do you mean then?" I'm wary.

"This morning when I was getting things ready for Princess Sadie's imminent arrival, I realized you don't have an office here where you can study."

I manage a small smile. "I can study anywhere." I have the same concern as he has. School is taxing and I need a quiet space to focus. I just assumed when I agreed to move in, that I’d be doing more of that on campus.

"No." He reaches to pull some of my clothes from the suitcase. "I want you to have a quiet place at home. I think we should sell this place and move as soon as we can."

My heart leaps at all the references to us as a couple. I love when he says the word 'we.' I love hearing it float off his lips.

"Cory loves it here." I know that he does. He seems so at peace here with Hunter. I don't want to barge in and turn his life upside down.