This Is Forever (This Is, #4)

by Natasha Madison

“This is either the best thing ever, or it’s going to blow up in my face,” I tell the universe while I make my plan for the next day.

“I don’t know what your reason is, but I want to just say thank you.” “You’re welcome, Caroline,” I say to her softly, and my heart speeds up. This tiny woman who comes at me with guns blazing and ready to go to war doesn’t even know how much she is worth.

This woman is going to push me to be like Matthew, I think. Suddenly, everything that he’s ever done makes so much sense.

“I really want to kiss you right now,” I say, almost as if I’m asking her for permission. “In my whole life, I’ve never wanted anything so badly.”

“Let me help you. You have all these balls in the air, and it’s okay if you let me catch them.”

“Oh my God,” I say, and he leans down. “Nope, not God, just me, Justin,” he says and kisses me softly.

“You really are that perfect person,” I say, leaning down to kiss his lips. “Not even close,” he whispers, “but with you, I want to be as perfect as I can be.”

“Dude, you have to just move her shit into your house,” he says. “Just don’t even tell her.” “What?” I whisper, looking back again. “Just don’t tell her and move all her things in,” he says, and I look at the phone. “Or I mean, this worked once …” he says. “Just handcuff her to the bed and don’t let her out until she agrees.” “How are you even married?”

“I like Justin,” he says. “A lot.” “Yeah, he’s pretty awesome,” I whisper. “Is it okay if I love him?” he asks in a soft, scared voice. “Just because I love him doesn’t mean I love my dad less.” “Baby,” I say, and I blink away the tears, but one comes out. “The good thing about the heart is that it just grows with all the love you have.” “So it’s okay if I love them both?” he asks, almost relieved. “Yeah, it’s more than okay if you love them both,”

“Well,” she says and looks at my mother. “I bought you a gift.” “Wait, what?” I say, and she hands me a white square box. “Oh my God,” Matthew says. “If she proposes to you, I’m going to die, and you’ll never live it down.”

“Well, you might be pissed,” he says. “Matthew said …” “Oh, Jesus, nothing good comes when you start a sentence with Matthew said.”