Chapter One Hundred and Twenty—Getting Ahead of Myself

I am in a rat race, with the delay. My aim is to go home to Alessa. I need to get home. I should have been home three hours ago! My flight was delayed. “My brother, Simon asks, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, fine,” I say vaguely.

What is wrong with you? It seemed like you were eager to get home from the moment we arrived in Vegas.

“Nothing. I just want to get home to my house and Alyssa.”

I watch his lips curl into a smirk. “Oh, my brother, I am you as smitten before. Are things going well with you?”

I smile, something he seems taken aback by. Usually, when he asks me such personal questions, I snap or brush them off.

“Yes, things are going great. I’ve never met anyone like her,” I say proudly.

He pats my back. “I am happy to see you happy with a woman who is good for you. One who doesn’t take all your nonsense. You deserve a good woman and to be happy, brother.”

“Thank you, I am happy. I couldn’t ask for a better woman. She keeps me on my toes,” I smile.

It is the truth. The happiness I feel with her and around her is like nothing I have experienced before.

“Don’t mess it up,” he says.

I shake my head. “I don’t plan to.” I want to make it work with Alyssa. No matter how much things scare me about my feelings, I won’t let them scare me off. I want to…

I turn to stare out of the window and get lost in my thoughts. Alyssa said she would stay awake until I came home. She was tired since she hadn’t been sleeping much. There is a chance she will be asleep now since it is later than planned.

It is fine if she is. I will leave her to sleep. Being able to sleep next to her is more than enough for tonight. I am prepared for a lecture from her at some point for the gifts I gave her. Yes, she loved and appreciated everything. She still isn’t used to me spoiling her. I won’t tell her the prices of the jewelry; she may cap me. I did donate half of the casino winnings to different charities in her name. The other half I spent on her gifts—that I will keep to myself.

The car finally comes to a stop outside my place. I swear it felt like the drive took hours. I say goodbye to my father. When I step inside, the place is dark and quiet. She must be asleep. I make sure to lock up behind me.

I head straight for my bedroom. I can hear the TV playing from inside. I am quiet as I enter the room. I let my case down and glance over at the bed. Alyssa is under the covers, sound asleep.

I smile and stroll over to the bed. I sit on the edge of it and caress her face. I don’t want to wake her. She looks too cute and peaceful. I kiss the top of her head and pull away.

I need to shower. I feel groggy after the travelling; I was too hungover in the morning to have one. It will be a quick one so I can get into bed and cuddle up with Alyssa. I head for the bathroom. I strip down. I am in and out of the shower in ten minutes. I dry off and pull on a pair of flannel bottoms before slipping in next to Alyssa. I put my arm around her, pulling her over to me.

“Wyatt,” she says.

“Hey, beautiful,” I reply.

She finds my lips in the dark, kissing me softly. I groan into her lips and kiss back. She moans, moving closer to me. Fuck, I’ve missed her lips.

“I broke your hair,” I say softly, “I was exhausted,” she whispers.

I hug her tightly and kiss her fervently. “I missed you so much.”

“How was your night?”

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty—Getting Ahead of Myself

“Let’s talk in the morning. You should get back to sleep, angel.”

“Yes, we can talk tomorrow. I am happy to have you here.”

It doesn’t take long for her to fall back asleep. “You don’t know how happy I am to have you in my arms,” I whisper.

In Vegas without Alyssa, I had one of my nighttime terrors. Then I close my eyes and hope sleep will take over me, too. I haven’t been sleeping great the last few nights. On my first night in Vegas, it was okay. The other two nights, I was so wasted I can’t even remember if they happened.

It was a reminder of how I have come to need Alyssa. She has become my safe place, I am supposed to be her safe place, not the other way around. I can only hope I don’t become overwhelmed with it all.

Alyssa drapes half of her body over mine and buries her face in my neck. I can’t help but smile. She seems to fit perfectly in all the curves of my body. It’s almost like she was made for me.

My mind travels to something else. Would it be too soon to ask her to move in here? Why am I thinking such things? Of course, it is way too soon. The lack of sleep is making me crazy. She’s here most of the time anyway, so it’s working for us. I am not ready for such a huge next step, and I am sure she is the same. Everything will work out how it is supposed to when…

Finally, sleep begins to take over me before I really start spiralling.