Page 84 of The Hookup Mix-up

He pushes me to my bed and climbs on top of me. “Can we make out first?”

“Make out afterward. I’ve been stressing out all day.”

He cocks his head, studying me. “Yeah, yeah I know you have.” Perry rolls off me, and we lie on our sides, looking at each other, his hand on my hip.

“It was a little awkward in the beginning. The first thing he did was offer to buy me a new car.”

“Well, that was a mistake.” Most people would love the idea of someone offering them a vehicle, but I know how Perry feels about things like that. He wants to do things on his own.

“Right? He doesn’t know me at all, which is sad, but I think that’s going to change. I told him I didn’t want him to try to buy me, that I don’t want our relationship to be about him giving me things to make up for the past and trying to show he loves me. He said he’d work on it, but that I also need to work on accepting help.”

“He has a point.” I reach up and finger a lock of his soft, chocolate hair.

“Yeah, I know. I agreed to work on that too. We spent a lot of time just talking and getting to know each other, making plans for things me, him, and Ty can do together, but I also told him about me and the tech. I swear his eyes lit up. It’s like he was so fucking proud, so ecstatic to hear I’m into it the way he is. We definitely connected over that. I told him about the progress I’m making on my app, and he seemed really impressed. He asked me to move back to Boston…to go to school there and work for Langley Enterprises.”

I freeze, a sudden hollowness in my chest. Perry keeps going, rambling on about the things his dad wants and how they could work together, him getting close to his little sister and being with his mom again. I smile and nod as he talks, the gaping hole in my chest growing, only to be filled by guilt. Why the hell am I thinking about myself at a time like this? This is an incredible opportunity for Perry—not just when it comes to his future, but for his family. What kind of boyfriend would I be to only be thinking about the fact that I’m going to lose him?

“Wow. That’s incredible. You deserve that so fucking much.” My muscles twitch. I feel too angsty, so I pull away and sit on the edge of the bed.

Luckily, Perry doesn’t notice that I’m being a total asshole and sits up behind me, wrapping his legs around me, his chin on my shoulder.

“It felt good to be wanted that way by him, ya know? Yes, the tech stuff has something to do with it, but…I don’t know, Puppy. He likes me. Respects me. I can tell. I thought he was going to squeeze the air out of me when he hugged me before I left.”

I swallow down my fear, do my best to fight it off because this is what’s important. Perry and his dad. Even if he didn’t admit it or didn’t realize it, he’s been dreaming about this his whole life, and…what? I expect him to stay because some guy he’s only been dating a few weeks is in love with him? He’s not responsible for my feelings, and…maybe I could go with him? Would he want that? Could I afford that? And why the fuck am I getting so damn ahead of myself? As far as I know, the guy isn’t even in love with me, and here I am, wanting to run away with him and live happily ever after.

“Then he’s a smart guy,” I tell him. “I’ve already said you’re my favorite person. Anyone who doesn’t feel the same is an idiot.”

Perry chuckles, his breath warm on my cheek. How much longer will we have this? Will I have him? Would he be willing to try a long-distance relationship?

“No one makes me feel as good as you.” He presses soft kisses to my neck.

Yes. We have to try the long-distance, or…I’ll hide in his bag if I have to. I can sneak to Boston with him, live in his closet, and eventually when he finds me, he’ll be like, well, I guess now I have to keep you.

He lifts his hands and starts playing with my pecs.

“When…when are you leaving?”

Perry’s hands stop moving, his lips stop kissing while I sit there trying to figure out what I said wrong.

“Theo…I’m not moving. I told him no.”

“What?” I whip my head around, slamming into his. Perry shoots backward on the bed, while I jerk my hand up and touch my throbbing head. “Shit. That hurt.”

“You’re telling me. You rang my bell pretty good.” He’s massaging his head too.

We both stop…look at each other…then burst into laughter. My stomach cramps, I’m losing it so much, and when we finally calm down, I turn and drop my head to his pec. “I’m so sorry I’m me.”

“Don’t ever be sorry about that. I love you because you’re you.”

My head jerks up again. This time, Perry foresees my move and leans back just in time.

“Even if you are dangerous.” He chuckles, but I don’t have it in me right now.

“Love me?”

He hesitates for a moment. It doesn’t happen often, but now it’s Perry’s cheeks that turn slightly pink. “Yes. I wanted to tell you after I fucked you, but then I worried it wasn’t the best time to say it, and you fell asleep, and then all hell broke loose.”

“You love me?” I ask again. “I just want to make sure I’m hearing you right.”