Page 116 of What If We Break?
“I grew up having to listen to it, baby. I’m used to it.” He didn’t actually snore, but if he did, I was certain I would’ve been used to it by now.
Reece fake gasped, shaking his head at me as he laughed.
It felt good to hear his laughter again. I never thought I could miss someone’s laughter, especially Reece’s because I was used to hearing it daily, but this right now just showed me how much I took for granted.
Suddenly, Reece pulled me onto his lap, keeping his left hand on my hip. “Anyone ever tell you how pretty you are?”
His free hand approached my face just to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
I smiled at him, my cheeks getting warmer. “Not in a while.”
“That should be a crime,” he said and tsked. Reece leaned in closer to me, his lips brushing my own before he added, “You’re the prettiest woman in the whole universe, Brooke.”
“Thank you.” I smiled into our kiss. As much as I wanted to continue kissing Reece, I knew that if we didn’t stop now, it would go further and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it yet.
I could tell he was doing a bit better, but I didn’t want to risk anything. What if we moved too fast and he fell back into old patterns? Perhaps it was better to wait another week or two before we took it a step further.
Just when I was about to bring my hand between our faces, Reece pulled away. His eyes bore holes into my soul with the intensity of his stare. His lips were turned upward, if only a little.
“Let me take you out,” Reece spoke softly. His hands moved up to my waist, holding me. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning and we’ll go have breakfast together.”
My eyebrows drew together slightly. “Breakfast?” We’d barely ever gone out for breakfast before. If we went out to eat, it was usually around dinner time.
“Yes.” His hands moved underneath my shirt, his thumbs brushing my skin, but it wasn’t anything sexual—moreinnocent than I was used to. It felt nice to feel his skin on mine again. “I’ll pick you up at eight, then we’ll go to your dad’s restaurant and have breakfast together.”
I chuckled lightly but quickly covered it up by clearing my throat. “You do remember that Rêverie doesn’t open until six pm, right?”
He nodded. “I don’t think I’m ready to go elsewhere… and your dad said it’s okay. He’d open for us. As usual.”
“It’s better than just having breakfast at my parents’ place, huh?” I cocked my head at him, a smile tugging on my lips.
“More private, with no kids around. Just the two of us.”
“And my dad in the kitchen.”
Reece shrugged. “I’d rather he’s around us than some random guy who has a crush on you.”
I leaned my forehead against his, trying my best not to laugh. “You’d survive someone else having a crush on me.”
“I would, but only because I know you’d choose me. In fact, I think it’d boost my ego more than yours because like… fuck, I can barely comprehend my luck. How wasIlucky enough for you to fall in love with me? And knowing it’smeyou love? It’s the best fucking feeling in the whole world.”
“To be honest, I expected a little more jealousy,” I said, not really meaning it. Reece and I had been together long enough to know that we’dalwayschoose each other, no matter what.
I trusted my fiancé. If he wanted to hang around ten different girls every day, then so be it. At the end of the day, he would come home tome.
Actually, ten different girls every day would overstep a line, but since that never happened, it didn’t matter.
Reece cupped my face with his hands and smiled at me all sweetly. “Do you want me to fight the guys who have a crush on you?”
I nodded once, still not meaning it but I was sure Reece knew I was joking.
“I’ll tell them they can never speak to you again, okay?” His smile turned into a mischievous smirk. “Then you’ll kiss me, and everything will be alright.”
My eyes rolled. “I was thirteen, Reece. Let it go.”
“Never.” He shook his head. “If you hadn’t told whoever the fuck wasn’t allowed to speak to me, that she, in fact, wasn’t allowed to speak to me, I would’ve never kissed you. And we wouldn’t be engaged now.”
“You would have… one day.”
