Page 61 of Let's Be Forever

Anna’s still standing by the threshold, but her arms are folded against her chest, eyes hardened on the crib.

“What’s with the crib?” she whispers, arching a brow.

“I bought it for Rosie.” I stand beside her, and my eyes connect with her bewildered ones.

“Are you serious?” A disbelieving laugh slips out her mouth. “When?”

“I ordered it Sunday, and it got here yesterday,” I answer, amused, as she gapes at me.

“B-b—” She clamps her lips shut as Rosie twists and mumbles. We quietly exit into the hall. “But how? Why? I toldyou I wasn’t moving in with you. You can’t tell me you seriously believed I’d cave?”

“It was just in case…” I lift a shoulder in a half shrug. “I knew you wouldn’t move in with me, but life happens. I wanted to be prepared, show you that I’m serious. That I’m ready for her…for you.”

The hope in my voice is so painfully evident I know she feels it, hears the desperation, but she doesn’t meet my eyes anymore. Instead, she looks to her bedroom door.

“I need to shower.” She starts to retreat, but pauses before she disappears behind the door. “I know this was last-minute, but thanks for taking us in. I’m going to start looking around tomorrow for places. We won’t stay long, I promise.”

“Anna.” I almost take a step forward, hating the distance. It’s a few feet but it feels like there’s miles plus a wall between us. Still, I stay in my spot, knowing I need to give her her space. “You can stay here for as long as you want. Actually, stay, please. I have the space. If you want Rosie to have her own room, she can have it. I put her crib in your room because I figured you’d want it in there.”

I have four bedrooms, hers and Mayas are next to each other, and the other two—one being mine—are on the other side of the condo.

Her hand goes to the doorknob, but it drops to her side. “It’s not a good idea.”

“Why not?” I inch closer, just a little, enough to feel her warmth.

Those whiskey eyes drift to the gap and then lift to meet mine. “It’d be odd. What if you”—her irises darken, jaw clenching—“want to bring someone over? Or, I don’t know what you do in your spare time, but I’d hate to hide in my room all day.”

I take another step and drag my gaze over her face and body. I have every part of her memorized, but it’s not the same. It’s been years since I held her, inhaled her, slept beside her. I dream of doing it again.

“Yeah, it’d be odd.” One more step, but I freeze when she crosses her arms against her chest in a defensive way. Her face remains neutral, but I note the tinge of red on her cheeks.

“I know. Like I said, tomorrow I’ll?—”

“It’d be odd if I brought someone home.”

Her hands almost untangle, but she firmly plants them back on her chest. “Don’t lie. We’re not together. I don’t care if you’ve been with other people.”

I scrub a palm over my mouth. “Ask me what I do in my spare time.”

Anna’s brows scrunch in. “No, I don’t need to know. I really need to shower.”

I’m suddenly much closer than I should be. I anticipate for her to back away, but she stays as she is.

“Ask me,” I softly implore.

The vexation on her face stays intact. Seconds tick by and just when I think she’ll leave, her mouth parts. “What do you do in your spare time?”

“Beg to whoever’s listening for more moments like this.” I tower over her, breathe her in. “With you and now with Rosie.”

“Don’t lie.” Her hands slip down, and her eyes soften until her irises are a shade lighter. I missed everything about her, but her eyes…How I missed the brown.

“I don’t gain anything from lying to you.” I stretch my finger and have to hold my exhale when I feel her skin on the pad of my thumb. She doesn’t jerk her hand away, only stares at me, but I can’t tell whether she’s hoping I let her go or wishing I don’t. I pray it’s the latter. “But I would lose it all if I did.”

“Sylas…” Her voice starts strong but ebbs.

“I miss you.” I lift my hand, idly dragging the tips of my fingers over her own, then up her wrist to her arm. “Every day, all the time, I miss you. I can’t let go. I don’t want to. I need you.”

Her eyes flutter closed, but she stands tall, fisting her hands. “Don’t…”