***
I knocked on Charlotte and Riley's apartment door and moved back, the red flowers in my hands holding one white rose.
Riley opened the door rubbing her eyes. "Baby? What are you doing? It's before ten."
I handed her the flowers and pulled her into my arms, laying a few kisses on her lips and smiling down at her. "Get dressed. We got shit to do."
"This early?" She blinked and looked around as if confused. I'd never seen anything more perfect in my whole life.
"Yeah." I moved away and pointed to the moving truck. "Our trucks waiting right there. Let's get your stuff and get moving. This day isn't going to wait much longer for us."
Her eyes widened, and she turned her attention back to me. "Wait. I'm moving in today?"
"Yep." I walked past her and winked at Charlotte. "Jace coming to help?"
"Already here, man." He walked out from the kitchen and extended his hand to me. "I never thought I'd see the day where I'd help someone steal Riley from me, but I guess it's come, hm?"
Charlotte walked into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around Jace. "And you have a new girl."
"I'm going back to bed." Riley walked past us and picked her walk up to a jog as I laughed and took off after her. I scooped her up and dropped her in her bed before pressing her to the mattress and grinding into her.
"You didn't tell me Charlotte and Jace were seeing each other." I kissed the side of her neck and settled between her legs as she cradled me.
She crinkled her nose. "It's weird, but I'm trying to get used to it."
I leaned down and pressed my mouth against her ear. "It is weird. Now, get dressed and let's get this thing rolling."
"Why didn't you tell me we were moving today so I could have packed last night?"
"I packed for you." Charlotte walked in with Jace in tow. "In the closet. Everything is in boxes, marked and labeled."
"And you're okay with this?" Riley asked Charlotte.
The pretty girl smiled and put her hands on her hips. "I want whatever makes you happy, and this guy seems to be doing the trick. Now, if he stops-"
Jace butted in as he carried a big box out of the closet. "I'll kill him."
"Love you too, buddy." I winked at him and got up to start helping.
Riley sat up and moved to the edge of the bed as Charlotte dropped down beside her.
I ignored them and let them have their moment as I worked beside Jace to get everything loaded. It took less than an hour, which was great. I was right on schedule. Now to stay that way.
"Come on, baby," I called out from the living room to Riley.
"Coming." She walked around the corner in a cute black skirt and pink tank top with flip flops and her hair in a short ponytail. "Do I need to dress nicer?"
"You have all of your clothes in those boxes?" I pointed over my shoulder.
"Yeah."
"Then, no. We'll change for dinner later." I extended my hand to her. "Come on. We have a full day ahead of us."
"Alright. Let me say my goodbyes." She walked over and handed me her purse before kissing me several times. My body woke up and leaving her at her place for me to sleep alone the night before suddenly seemed like a stupid idea. I could have spent the night buried balls deep in her, and yet... here I was now with a million things to do trying to figure out how we could squeeze in a little bit of sexy time.
She walked back toward the house, and I turned and walked out into the mid-morning sun, jogging down to the parking lot and pulling out the keys. I got up in the moving truck and waited for her. I could have easily hired someone to do everything for us, but I wanted to give her the full experience, and if I were being completely honest with myself, I wanted the experience myself too.
I'd been sheltered all my life, which was alright, but it was time to bust out.
She walked down the stairs and glanced up, a smile touching her lips as she found me watching her. She got in the truck beside me and laughed. "You're just full of surprises today, aren't you?"
"You haven't seen anything yet." I leaned over her and pulled the seatbelt into place before kissing the tops of her breasts. "I missed you last night."
"Me too." She let out a contented sigh. "Your stomach didn't hurt, did it?"
"No. I lied. I'm an actor, so I'm pretty good at that shit." I pulled out and headed for the freeway. "You want to make any stops before we head home?"
"I don't think so. I'm still trying to wake up. I can't believe you planned all of this."
"Why not?" I reached for her hand and gripped it tightly.
"Because we were in the middle of trying to wrap up the movie and stuff. That's a lot of transition, plus all the stuff with Deza and Darren." The love in her eyes left me lost to her.
"And you know the best part of Deza getting back with Darren?" I asked her before pulling her hand up to my mouth and kissing at her fingers.
"Tell me." She scooted closer to me on the bench seat, undoing her seatbelt and getting into the center seat one instead.
"She didn't text me once this morning." I glanced at the clock. "Hell, it's almost eleven. My phone would have been blowing up at this point."
"She's focused on him?" Riley asked.
"I would think so." I pulled onto the freeway and headed toward the water.
"Where are you going? I thought we were going back to your place in the city." She ran her hand down my thigh and glanced at the road and back to me as I held my tongue. "Ethan. Tell me."
"You'll see." I gripped her hand and stroked myself with it a few times before wrapping my free arm around her and smiling over at her. "I love you. Have I told you that enough to where you believe it?"
"This isn't the actor talking, right?"
I laughed. "No, and it's not the same line I give all the girls. You're actually the only girl I've given it to."
"Then I'll take it, and believe it too." She leaned against me and closed her eyes. "I'm a little scared about all of this change."
"Good. It means you're alive." I kissed the side of her head before reaching up to turn the radio on. We sang several songs as I drove down the freeway, feeling alive for the first time in my long life. She had a way of doing that to me.
I prayed like hell that she always would.