It is tragic, that I can’t touch him properly.

But this is good too.

This is great, actually.

I love being here for his family. They’re basically my family. No, they are my family. I love Ariel like a sister.

And Forest—

Somehow, I love him more every day. I don’t know how it’s possible—I already feel like I could burst from all the love in my heart—but I do.

“I’ll make it up to you later.” He presses his lips to my neck.

“Is it later yet?”

He chuckles. “No. But it will be here faster than you think.”

Forest and I spend an hour leafing through Chase and Ariel’s graphic novel collection. Between the two of them, they fill a bookshelf and a half with graphic novels and comic books.

Thankfully, there are a few coming of age stories. I settle on Ghost World. Forest skims some extremely violent comic book.

Eventually, the door handle turns and Chase steps inside. I guess it’s about eight now. He must have come straight from work.

Ariel is still a PhD student. She’s doing a half-load this semester, so she’s home more. Even though Chase works full time(someone has to pay the rent), he’s just as doting as his baby momma.

He nods hello to us. Goes straight to his daughter. He stands by her crib, watching her sleep for a moment, then he meets us at the couch.

He motions go home. “I’ve got this.”

“Don’t you want to sleep?” Forest asks.

He shakes his head. “I’ll wake Ariel.”

I’m not sure about that. Even if she’s usually a light sleeper, she looked dead tired. “You sure?”

He nods yeah. “Go. You two look like you’re desperate to tear each other’s clothes off.” His grin is knowing.

God, it’s so weird seeing Chase grin like that. I guess I should be used to it by now, but I’m not.

He’s just so… happy.

It looks good on him.

Different.

But really good.

“You sure?” Forest asks. “We don’t mind.”

“If you could come and watch her Saturday night,” he says. “I made a reservation. And—” his expression gets sheepish, “we could use a night out.”

“Sure.” Forest stands. Pulls his friend into a hug.

Chase pats his back. Whispers something in Forest’s ear.

Forest’s laugh is nervous.

That’s not like him.

He must be up to something.

He steps backward. Motions to the door. Puts his hand over his lips in a shhh gesture.

“Until Saturday.” I hug Chase goodbye.

He whispers in my ear. “You’re good for him.”

“I know,” I whisper back.

“Good.” He releases me.

I follow Forest out the door. Down the street. All the way to my car.

“You mind if I drive?” he asks.

“No.” I toss him the keys.

They veer to the right—way to the right—but he still catches them. “Princess, I’m going to have to take you to the basketball court.”

“You say that every time we’re at your dad’s place.”

“It’s going to happen one day.”

“Fat chance.” Some things change. Some things stay the same. My lack of interest in sports is one of them.

He taps the lock on the car. Opens the door for me. Helps me inside. Even clicks my seatbelt.

I’d usually complain it’s too old-fashioned, but it’s nice having him this close.

I dig my hands into his hair. Pull him into a slow, deep kiss. Mmm. Forest. My boyfriend. My best friend. My everything.

He pulls back with a sigh. “Hey.”

I look up at him. “Hey.”

We stay there, staring at each other for a moment. He has such pretty eyes. Deep coffee with flecks of honey.

I could stare into them all night.

Well, almost all night.

We can’t exactly ahem here.

He presses his lips to mine one more time, then he pulls back, shuts my door, gets into the driver’s seat.

“Your place?” I ask.

“Yeah..” His voice is nervous. Shy even.

It’s adorable.

Curious.

But adorable.

He laughs as my favorite Garbage CD fills the car. “Classic.”

“It was playing on the way here.”

“Even so.”

“If I made fun of you every time you listened to that car-crash loving—”

“You do.” He pulls onto the street. “Every time.”

“Every time I hear it.”

“How could you make fun of me if you’re not around?” His eyes flit to me for a moment. “Never mind, I’m sure you have your ways.”

“I could text you.”

“No doubt.”

“Mock you to Ariel.”

He nods as he turns at the light. “Mock me to your followers.”

“Oh. I really underplay that.”

He chuckles. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

“I’d have figured it out eventually.”

“You’re pretty sharp.”

“I do all right.”

His chuckle gets louder. “Just all right? You made five-figures last month.”

That’s true. It’s been wild. Amazing, thrilling, and completely exhausting. I feel like Ariel. So in love with what I’m doing, but still in constant need of rest and relaxation.

“You’ve already made more than me this year, and you started in May.”

That’s also true.

“Next year, you’ll make enough to take me to Hawaii.”

“Since when do you want to go to Hawaii?”

“Since you posted the topless picture in the black bikini bottoms.”

My cheeks flush. God, that picture was hot. And the look on his face when I took it—like he was going to fuck me right there, in the freezing cold water.

Tags: Crystal Kaswell Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net