CJ drags in a heavy breath, then slowly lets it out. “Riley, your brother and I go back a couple of years,” he says, brow no longer furrowed, mouth no longer tight, but relaxed, and his eyes warm and full of understanding. “I get that you don’t want him reacting badly to this and hating me, but that’s something you need to let me worry about, darlin’. If he has a problem, I’ll handle it.”

“You handling it might make it worse and then he could hate you even more,” I argue.

“Babe—”

“Please,” I beg. “Just don’t say anything. Not yet. I can’t have Reed hate you, CJ. I can’t ignore it like I did with Richard and pretend I don't care. Not when I like you this much.”

CJ sits up taller, a look washing over his face like what I just said meant a whole lot to him. “Come here,” he orders, twisting his torso on the stool.

I rush around the counter, step between his legs, and wrap my arms around his neck, getting gathered against his body.

“If he asks me, babe, I’m not lying to the man,” CJ murmurs beside my ear. “That’s fucked up and a guaranteed way for him to hate me.”

I nod, replying, “I know. I’m not asking you to lie. I wouldn’t want you to do that.” I lean back just enough to look into his face, forcing my grip to his neck and his hands to slide to my hips. “I want everyone knowing about us,” I say. “I promise. I love our secrets, CJ, but I don’t want us to be one. I just want to wait a little while before we announce it. And it could be a good thing. Look how well Reed reacted when I left him that message about us living together months after I moved in.”

CJ’s mouth tips up in the corner.

He knows exactly how Reed reacted. I told him. And even though my brother was pissed off at first, he quickly cooled down and accepted it.

Hopefully, this won’t be any different. We just need to wait.

CJ exhales a breath, pulling me firmer against him. “All right,” he says. “I won’t say shit about it tonight.”

“Thank you.” I tip my head up, inviting him in for a kiss he takes without hesitation. When it ends, I snuggle close, allowing CJ to wrap his arms around me once more. “Do you want me to leave you two alone so you can properly catch up?” I ask. “I don't mind.”

“We can properly catch up with you in my arms, babe. That’s where I want you.”

I am so happy he says that.

I smile against his neck. And while I do that, I wonder who holds the record for the time it took to fall in love with somebody, and further wonder if I’m on my way to breaking that record.

It’s got to be close.

Leaning back, I slide my hands to CJ’s face and go in for a deeper, hotter, heavier kiss he reciprocates with passion. Then I pull away, both of us panting, and press my lips lightly against his once more.

“Tell me a secret,” he murmurs.

I smile against his mouth. “I’m falling so fast for you.”

My twelve-hour shift is uneventful, which is a surprise. I’m expecting a few firework mishaps, but the worst I get is this adorable little boy who closed his hand around a sparkler. He was brave about it, big fat tears spilling down his face, but no cries escaping him as he held his mother’s hand while the doctor and nurse I was shadowing did their thing. It’s rare that I get an adult who takes pain like that. But kids? They can be some of the bravest people. It’s inspiring.

It’s almost nine in the morning by the time I get home, and I’m yawning like crazy. I don’t know how people work overnight. I don’t think I could do it. This whole sleeping with the sun up thing might mess with me, even though stepping inside the entryway of CJ’s house, I feel like I could drop right here. Before that happens, I set my book bag on a stool and head straight for the bedroom.

CJ is still asleep, rolled up on his side and facing the window. I kick off my sneakers and move into the bathroom without disturbing him, strip out of my scrubs and sports bra, and wash up. I’m skipping a shower since I’m too exhausted for that, but I do run a wet washcloth over myself. After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I exit the bathroom, walk around the bed, and climb in under the covers, snuggling against CJ’s warm chest when he lifts his arm as an invite.

“Hi,” I whisper.

He presses a kiss to my forehead, and in a deep, sleep heavy voice, asks me, “Did you have a good night?”

“Yeah. I think I decided what I want to specialize in.”

“What?”

“Pediatrics.”

CJ’s arm around me gives me a squeeze. “I’m sure you’ll kick ass at it like everything else. You’re fucking unstoppable.”

He says that as if he knows I’d be good at this.

God . . .

I smile, leaning back to look at him and running my hand through his bedhead hair. “How was your night? Were the fireworks good?”

“They weren’t bad,” he answers, shoulder jerking. “I’m glad Jake didn’t go though. There were a ton of people there getting fucked up.”

“When will you see him again?”

“Not sure. He can’t be taking leave all the time. And I don’t think he’s stopping here again before he heads back to South Carolina. He’ll want to spend that time with his girl.” CJ’s hand comes up, and his heavy-lidded eyes follow his thumb as he brushes a strand of hair off my cheek. “I’m glad I got to see him though. I worry about him.”

“You’re a really good brother,” I say, gathering that from the little time I spent with the two of them, and just from knowing the kind of man CJ is. Our eyes lock. I grin, but hold it for less than a second before I’m breaking it with a yawn I can’t fight.

CJ draws me against him again, laughing softly inside his chest. “I’m going to get up,” he murmurs, lips touching above my brow. “I got some stuff to do.”

“Okay. I got some sleeping to do.”

My eyes are closed before CJ’s pulling away, the bed dipping with his weight. I feel the sheet slide up my shoulder and tuck against my neck, his touch on my hip, and his breath against my temple before he presses a kiss there.

“Night, darlin’.”

“Morning,” I tease.

He chuckles quietly and pulls away. And I never hear the door close. I’m asleep before then.