Emma woke to total darkness and cozy warmth that she quickly realized was coming from Grayson sleeping next to her. They’d fallen asleep. Again! Damn it! “Grayson.” She nudged him. “Gray, wake up.”

“Oh crap.”

“Exactly. We’ve got to go.”

“Not yet.” His arm around her kept her from getting out of bed. “Five more minutes of this. Please?”

“It’s really late.”

“They’re sound asleep and will never know what time you came home.”

Knowing he was right, Emma forced herself to relax ever so slightly. She didn’t want to go any more than he wanted to let her.

“If I could have anything I wanted, I’d want to keep you and Simone here with me.”

His words were like a balm on the wound opening in her heart. “Thank you for telling me that.”

“Would you even consider moving? Your sister is here. I’m here… I know it’s crazy and too soon, but would you think about it? Simone loves it here.”

“I know she does. I do, too.” Emma sighed. “Our whole life is there, though.”

“Lives can be moved.”

“It’s hard for me to explain how important my network is to me and to making it possible for Simone to do the things all the other kids do. Not to mention, my job, health insurance, my dad…”

“I know it all seems insurmountable right now, and under normal circumstances, I never would’ve brought it up so soon. But these aren’t normal circumstances. We’ve found something here that I’ve never had with anyone else.”

“I haven’t either,” she said softly.

“The thought of letting the two of you leave later today makes me feel sick.”

“It makes me feel sick to think about leaving.”

“I haven’t done anything here that can’t be undone, so I’m not opposed to moving to New York.”

“You just left another city to move home. Your whole family is here.”

“If I got to be with you, I’d move, Emma. I’m not just saying that.”

Her eyes burned with tears. He made her want things she’d never thought she’d have, not in a million years. “Could we… maybe… take a little more time before we make any big decisions?”

“We can do whatever you want. I’m not going anywhere except to New York to see you next weekend.”

“Next weekend?”

“If I make it that long.”

Just that quickly, her sorrow turned to joy at knowing she would see him again—soon.

“I’ll get a hotel. Don’t worry. We’ll keep it all on the up-and-up for Simone.”

“Don’t get a hotel. Stay with us. We’ll make sure you’re back on the sofa by the morning.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!” She laughed. “I’m very, very sure.”

“Are we being ridiculous for diving all-in to this so soon?”

“Probably.”