Page 144 of Break the Rule

“You can go meet them if you want,” Charlie offers.

Not needing to be told twice, Ella bolts from the room, leaving Charlie and Eden alone.

“I got a bracelet,” Charlie says, holding out his wrist.

“So you did.” Eden slinks into Charlie’s arms, tipping his face up. He looks happy, relaxed in a way Charlie has rarely seen. Being loved looks damn good on him.

“I’m going to keep it forever.”

“You better, or Ella might get her feelings hurt.”

“Can I keep you, too?” Charlie asks, heart pounding in his chest.

“Charlie.”

“I promised myself I’d wait, but I’m shit at that.” Charlie’s arms slide around Eden’s back, holding him close. “I’m shit at a lot of things. Cooking. Cleaning. Remembering to do things. Following rules. Particularly the rules my boyfriend set out. I broke them.”

Eden’s chest expands. “Which ones?”

“All of them, but especially the last one. The one where you told me not to fall in love with you.”

“Don’t say something you’ll regret,” Eden says, but it sounds more like a plea than a warning.

“I won’t regret this,” Charlie tells him, lowering his forehead to Eden’s. “The only thing in life I could ever regret was letting one more day go by without telling you how I feel. I love you, Eden. I love you when you’re dolled up in perfect makeup and one of the skirts you love, and I love you when you’ve just woken up, with bedhead in one of my shirts. I love you when you’re happy and relaxed, and I love you when you’re scared. I love you when you yell at me and fight with me and fuck me. I love you when you let me fuck you and most especially when you let me love you. I know it’s hard, and I know you’re probably scared right now, and I don’t need you to say it back, but I can’t hold it in any longer. I love you, Eden Montgomery, and I want to love you as long as you’ll let me. However long that might be. I’m privately hoping for forever. Please let it be forever.”

“Charlie.”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.” Eden’s fingers wrap around the back of Charlie’s neck, pulling him down for a kiss that leaves Charlie’s chest aching. Eden presses several kisses to Charlie’s open mouth, peppering them across his cheeks. He kisses Charlie until there is no breath left in his lungs and his heart's too big for his chest. Staring at Eden’s face, he sees something equally incomprehensible and memorizes that exact expression, knowing he’s going to paint it later.

“Well?” Charlie whispers, gently toying with the hair at the back of Eden’s neck.

“Fuck you, Charlie.” Eden’s chest heaves. “You stupid fucking man. I’m a horrible fucking choice.”

“I disagree.”

“Of fucking course you do, you stubborn fucking idiot.”

Charlie hides his smile in the top of Eden’s hair, breathing in the familiar scent of his shampoo before replying. “You’re exactly the kind of forever I want, Eden. Messy, beautiful,real. You’re exactly what I want and what I need.”

Eden huffs, closing his eyes before resting his forehead on Charlie’s shoulder.

“I hate how much I love you.”

“I know, baby.” Charlie rubs his hands up and down Eden’s back.

“I do though.” His voice drops, barely above a whisper. “Love you.”

“I love you, too.” Charlie envelops Eden in a hug, wishing he could make Eden believe these words. He’s willing to say them again as many times as it takes, willing to stick around through the hard times until the insecurity becomes a distinct memory.

Eden is worth everything, and Charlie is grateful he’s got a lifetime to show him that.

“So, forever?” Charlie prompts.

“Someone has to put up with you,” Eden grumbles, his hold on Charlie tightening.

“You say the sweetest things.”

“Fuck off.”

“There you go with another one. Such a sweet talker.”

Eden snorts out an undignified laugh, before it turns into something softer as Eden reaches for Charlie’s hand.

“I've never had forever.”

“There’s a first time for everything.” Charlie links his fingers. “What do you say, baby, want to try it with me?”

“Yeah.” Eden holds his hand tightly. “I could try for forever.”