“Yeah, I don’t need the details, okay? The less I know, the better. As long as y’all are happy, then I’m cool.”

I laugh, patting his shoulder. “Got it, thanks.”

After my shift ends, I walk home and am greeted by Everleigh. Before I say a word, I go to her in the kitchen and cup her face, crashing my lips to hers.

“Now that’s the hello I expect when you come home every day,” she says when we finally come up for air.

“I missed you.” I press a kiss to her nose. “I told Tyler today.”

Her eyes widen. “You did? Oh my God, is that why you look like you got your ass beat?”

“Hey, I let him hit me,” I tell her as I grab a drink from the fridge.

She snort-laughs. “How’d he take it? Should I be expecting him to barge in at any moment?”

“After punching me in the face and kicking my legs out from under me, he admitted he already knew. Threatened if I broke your heart, he’d make sure I was in real pain. Then said he was happy for us.”

Everleigh laughs, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I’m relieved it’s out there. Now we can go on our deli date and be together in public. Oh, and go to Jerry and Belinda’s reception as a couple.”

“Mmm…sounds like a good time.” I spin around and hold her to my chest. “Guess I better cancel my plus-one for that.”

She pulls back slightly, furrowing her brows. “Excuse me? What?”

“Well, we never said we were exclusive. Figured it’d keep people off our track if I brought someone else to the party.”

My tone is serious though I’m about to burst at the evil eye she flashes me. Seconds later, I crack into a full-on laugh.

“Do you have a death wish, Archer Boone?” She pushes me, but I quickly grab her wrist and pull her back to me.

“Sometimes, you’re just too easy to mess with.”

“Do it again, and I’ll give Tyler permission to really beat your ass.” She pokes me hard in the stomach. “And for your information, we are definitely exclusive. I don’t care what you say.”

Chuckling, I shake my head in amusement. “Baby, I’ve been exclusively yours since the moment we met. I don’t tell just anyone that I love them.” I tuck loose strands of her hair behind her ear and bring my mouth closer. “If anyone tried touching you the way I do, I wouldn’t think twice about going back to prison for ending them. Just remember that the next time you try to make me jealous.”

“Oh come on, that was one time.” She groans.

“And that was enough.” I flash her a wink, then lower my palm to swat her ass. “What should we make for dinner?”