Page 116 of Meant to be Mine

She looked up at me, her hands still in the soapy water. “Family.”

“That’s what we are now, right? You’re dating a Blackwell. That comes with perks.”

“And baggage.”

“Mostly perks,” I insisted. “Private jets, yacht parties, green smoothies from Hollis.”

“The smoothies are actually pretty good. And I could swear I felt better after drinking it.”

“Come back to my place,” I said, pulling her close.

“I have stuff to do here.”

“What stuff?”

“Laundry. Emails. Job applications.”

“Do it at my place.”

She laughed. “You’re very persistent.”

“It’s one of my best qualities.” I kissed her forehead, then her nose, then finally her mouth. “I have a washer and dryer. WiFi. A very comfortable bed.”

“Is that your sales pitch?”

“Is it working?”

She pretended to think about it. “Maybe. But I need to grab some things first.”

“I’ll wait.”

She disappeared upstairs and returned ten minutes later with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder. We said our goodbyes.

“This is becoming a habit,” she observed as we pulled away from the curb.

“Good habits are important.”

“Moving in together after two weeks is not a good habit. That’s how people end up on reality TV shows.”

“We’ve known each other for over a decade. I think we can skip the traditional timeline. And you’re not moving in. It’s a sleepover.”

“I’ve slept at your house more than home.”

“Weird. It’s almost like we live together.”

She reached over and laced her fingers through mine. “Kind of.”

Walking in with Kensey beside me, the space felt different. Less empty. More like a home and less like a place I slept. She would move in. I just had to wait and let her come to the decision on her own. But she would.

38

KENSEY

Isat cross-legged on my childhood bed, staring at my phone like it might bite me. The principal’s number was already pulled up. All I had to do was hit call. My thumb hovered over the screen. I had the official email already written but I wanted to call her personally. She deserved that much.

This was it. The moment that would make everything real. Once I made this call, there was no going back. I’d be officially unemployed, officially committed to staying in LA, officially all-in on this new life with Drew.

My stomach twisted. I loved my job. I loved those kids. Walking away from them felt like I was abandoning something important. But staying would mean abandoning Drew, and that felt impossible now. I had to choose my path. My future. My happiness.