Page 65 of Breaking Bristol
“Oh baby, you’re too mysterious for your own good.”
He sliced off a piece of apple, and I closed my lips over it when he put it in my mouth. This was nice. Domestic. Comfortable. And I loved the way things between us were just so easy. But while I was happy, content, and beyond excited for our relationship, there was something he wasn’t telling me, and I wanted to know what it was. “What was bothering you when you came home?”
His expression turned ravaged for a split second. “Drove around Warrenville and I couldn’t find you.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
“My battery died,” he said.
“Okay, but that’s still not it.”
He shrugged, reached for a bottle of water, and took a long swallow. “Sure it is.”
“Matthew.” I waited until he gave me his full attention. “You can talk to me. In fact, you have to. If we’re going to be together—”
“We are together.”
I smiled. “That’s my point. You need to rely on me as much as I rely on you.”
“That’s never gonna happen,” he grumbled, then stood between my legs and took my hands in his. “I had to tell a husband that his wife was never coming home. He was beyond wrecked, and I knew that if something ever happened to you, that’s how I would feel.” He released a shuddering breath. “They had plans… so much they wanted to do, things they wanted to see, and now they never will. They waited too long, and I didn’t want that to be me, to be us. I want this with you,” he angled his head in the general direction of his condo. “I want to live together, to start a life, to get married, have kids, and I want that sooner than I’d like to admit.”
“I’m sorry you had to tell him that. That had to have been really hard.”
His jaw got tight. “It was.”
“So marriage, huh?” I changed the subject because I sensed he didn’t want to talk about it.
“Yes, but for the right reasons. My first marriage was a mistake.” He lifted my left hand and kissed my ring finger. “But marrying you would be a miracle.”
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that this man loved me. “Exactly how soon is too soon?”
“If I could, I’d make you my wife tomorrow.”
Such a good answer. Even though I hadn’t spoken to my parents, I could never do it without my family. I couldn’t not have my dad walk me down the aisle. “I would too, but my mother would kill me if I did that.” Unless Shane found me and killed me first.
No. I wasn’t going to let the fear of my ex ruin this moment with Matthew even though I had a bad feeling lately, which is a big part of why I came to the condo last night. I’d barely slept, and I kept thinking I was hearing things.
“I understand.” He nodded. “But in the meantime, will you move in here with me?”
His place was beautiful, and I wanted to be with him as much as I could, but I hesitated because it wasn’t fair that we take our relationship further without him knowing the truth. And, of course, he noticed my uncertainty. “I can stay with you if you’d rather…”
“It’s not that I don’t want to be here. It’s just that—”
His finger crushed against my mouth, cutting off my sentence. “You don’t need to explain. I love that cabin. It has a lot of great memories, a certain three days standing out more than the rest.”
“I’d like that. At least for a while.” Until I got the courage to tell him everything, because if he wanted to end it then all he’d have to do was leave. “Once school’s done we can see where we’re at and go from there. Deal?”
“Whatever you want, Bristol. I mean that. I want you to be comfortable and, most importantly, feel safe.”
“Thank you.” I yawned, and the smile he shot my way made the tops of my toes tingle.
“Let’s get you to bed.”
Before I knew it, I was flying. My ass was in the air as I was thrown over Matthew’s shoulder. Laughter bubbled out of me and continued even after he plopped me down on the bed. “You’re crazy.”
He crawled in behind me and pulled the covers over us, then wrapped his big body around mine from behind. “And you’re right where you belong.”
“In your bed?”