...

It's all sexy time and candlelight and satin sheets and strawberries from here.

Butter upon bacon, amirite?

There have been a lot of late nights with Josh slipping off certain lacy articles of clothing (mine, not his, but also men can wear lace if they want to) and the two of us writhing around on my bed, his bed, any place really.

There's been some calling of parents to share the news, a bit of discussing potential neighborhoods for us to eventually move into.

A lot more bubble bath and wine time. A lot more of Josh's supple hands slipping up my thighs under aforementioned bubbles.

And so, on the fourth night after his popping the big Q to move in together, I was wholly unsurprised to find us making out on my couch (praying your parents don't come into the basement senior year style).

9:58 PM

I'm wearing black panties under Josh's green hoodie and he's got my legs draped across his lap. My book lies discarded on the coffee table. Josh's top button is undone —his signature just-home-from-the-office move.

We are mid-kiss when Josh draws an extra breath.

"So, my lease is up in September," Josh says abruptly. His words mumble into my lips mid-kiss.

"Oh? A time crunch?" I ask, drawing back. "Is that really why you want us to move in together now?"

"Caught me," he jokes. "But that gives us about a month to pick our new spot."

"So down to business," I nod, suddenly serious.

"I did find two promising spots in that neighborhood you like closer to the water," Josh tells me.

"The one by your office?" I ask.

"The one that's close-ish to my office, and would shave at least 20 minutes off my commute, yes. That one." Josh nods. "But, it's more square footage for the price."

Josh is becoming his studious self, obsessive and orderly, and I half expect he's got a binder lurking behind the couch cushion. Maybe a pie chart.

"Are you going to give a presentation?" I scrunch my nose.

"Only if you want one." Josh jokes.

"Spare me. We'll check them all out," I say. "Promise. And I promise we'll find the abso perf spot."

"Nancy and Charles would love if we went with somewhere downtown. Probably want to share a penthouse," Josh says, rolling his eyes.

"Thank you, next," I laugh.

"I'm open to downtown, though. I'm open to anywhere." Josh shrugs.

"Agreed," I say, pursing my lips. I can picture Josh and I converting to some super posh locale and living the lifestyle Good Charlotte sang about. IYKYK.

"Let's go browse around on Saturday?" He asks, raising his brows. "We can go in the afternoon, before meeting Troy and Beck for dinner."

"Right, dinner with them," I say, remembering. "Wine look-out."

"Exactly," Josh says.

He's convinced his brother and sister-in-law are announcing they're pregnant any day now, so we are checking to see if Beck goes for her usual boujee wine selection.

"Saturday it is. It's a date."

"What is it?" He asks, leaning back from me.

"Nothing –you just look extra sexy when you're talking about moving in with me," I tease.

"Oh yea?" Josh's eyes narrow with thought. "Wait until you hear about the big house-warming party I have planned. All the guests and champagne we'll have..."

"Enough with the dirty talk—" I groan, laughing.

"And then waking up together every day... think of all the happy mornings." Josh kisses me softly. "With all the happy endings."

"Now you're talking."

Josh lifts me into his lap on the couch. I straddle him and press myself against his chest. A small breath escapes his mouth as his hands slide up my back. My bare skin is on fire.

So what if Brooks dumped me in the Bahamas? Brooks who?

"Emmy—" Josh's lips search my jaw down to my neck.

So what if Brooks is engaged now? Seriously, Brooks who?

My fingers race to undo Josh's black leather belt. I slide the waist on his pants down until he falls out, ready to go.

So what if I'll see Brooks at the wedding and then never again?

So what to any of it. All of it.

Josh pushes himself inside me, squeezing my hips in his hands. His nails dig playfully into my peachy ass. And boy is it just peachy with me.

I wrap my arms around his neck for balance and let him bury his face in my breasts. What there are of them anyway.

A small moan escapes my lips and he lifts his mouth to cover mine. I bite his bottom lip, which he answers with an absolute massacre to my ponytail. I let my head fall back as Josh's hands pull at my hair.

It's over in almost record time. Still, beats a pie chart.

...

I roll over in bed and am thankful to find that Josh's already left for work. It's not that I don't love him, because I totally do. And I can't wait for all the morning sex. But I will miss my own mornings in my own loft with my own company.

Independence and all that boss girl stuff. I like my alone time, what can I say?

Josh's scent lingers on the pillow beside me, fresh and comforting. A linger I can get used to.

I dutifully scroll through my morning texts. Sometimes I think waking up three hours behind half my friends and family makes me feel like I'm missing stuff –more than the usual amount.

Trix and Meg (and Lauren) are all supportive of my new impending roommate. My parents were also thrilled to hear the news, even if they were a bit dodgy about me not asking permission first. I explained to them that I momentarily forgot it was 1950.

Excuse my lapse in judgement.

Still, we have less than one month to decide where we'll live, find a spot, and then seal the deal with a ball-point pen to paper a la the lease.

Lauren and Brody's nuptials are now officially next month. Troy and Beck's baby watch is in full swing. And baby Isla is crawling all around with zoomies.

Exciting things happening all around.

Josh and I embarking on this mini adventure —miniventure —is just one of many things to celebrate.

I don't vibe check my aura on the reg, but I'd wager it's glowing a nice rosy pink nowadays.

My coy and existentially cozy mood stretches into the day. Follows me to GZ2, the partner gym, and into the chic boutique where I select a bomb sundress for dinner this weekend.

The glow even consumes a fresh spirulina and kiwi wheatgrass shot with me. It's so delish I'm thinking of even DMing it right to Cece. We're on that level, right?

Glows all around.

🤍

Hi Bremmies! We are entering the second act. AH! What's in store for all our fave, swoon-worthy, and often times toxic couples?? Drop predictions here!

While I write, write, write the second half of NRO, I invite you to read and enjoy my holiday romance, Eggnog & Evergreen! It was on Wattpad's Official Holiday Reading List last year and has the perfect amount of Hallmark vibes for this time of year!

https://www.wattpad.com/story/268423560-eggnog-evergreen