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“What?”
“You want me to stay?” He threw the coat on the floor. “I stay.”
A giddy laugh bounced out. “No, no. You’re an important man with meetings.”
“Megan.” His big palms clasped my neck and my gaze locked to his. “You are important.”
My heart lurched and the weighty blue diamond on my finger felt warmer. Realer.
“Well, I’d feel guilty if you missed work. How do you feel about a quicky?”
He grinned and kissed my lips.
“Your wish is my command.”
***
After a not-so-quick quickie, Preston reluctantly left to attend business, leaving me fully sated and grinning like a moron in bed. The man never did anything halfway, that was for sure.
I smiled, grabbed my cell off the nightstand and dialed my mother.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, honey. You sound much better than you did last night.”
“Yeah. Today is a good day. I wanted to tell you something. Is Daddy…okay to talk?”
“He ah, it’s a rough day for him today.”
“Oh.” My shoulders slumped. I knew this was a possibility. Knew that every time I called it was a gamble and the odds weren’t in my favor.
“But I’d love to hear what you have to say.” My mother was chipper. “I can tell him when he’s having a good day, or have him call you back?”
“Thanks, Mom. But I want to tell you.”
“Everything okay?”
I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, actually everything is better than okay. I’m getting married.”
“What!” Her happy shriek vibrated the entire phone. “Oh, honey, this is wonderful! I’m so sorry with everything going on with your dad I haven’t asked much about you. I should have known someone had snatched up my smart pretty girl.”
Heat stained my cheeks and my eyes felt heavy with happy tears.
“Tell me all about this young man I’m going to call son.”
“His name is Preston and I,” I sighed, “Mom, I am so in love with him it kind of hurts.”
“Oh, honey.” A tissue rustled over the line and between the sound and my mother’s sniffles, I knew she was crying. “That’s the best kind.”
Running fingers through my hair I took in every elated pitch of my mother’s tone and it blanketed me with comfort. And it felt good telling her. Because it was the truth.
“The wedding is actually happening pretty soon, so I was hoping to chat with you about the details of getting you and Daddy here.”
“Whatever it takes, Megan. Whenever it is, we’ll be there.”
I couldn’t hold back the warmth and happiness flooding me. For the first time, the world around me looked a bit brighter and if I wasn’t careful, I just may start believing that this fairytale I was in was real.
Chapter Sixteen
“Smells amazing, sweetheart,” Preston said, and came to stand behind me. He looked over my shoulder at the stovetop I was working over. “Lasagna?”
“My famous lasagna,” I said with a smile.
“Can’t wait.” He kissed my neck and backed away. “Everyone should be showing up in about an hour.”
I turned to face him. “Thank you for this Preston. All of this.”
Stuffing his hand in his pockets, he glanced at the floor. “Just seemed like this was the kind of thing you needed.”
“It is.”
He nodded. “I’m going to change then I’ll come help.”
“Okay.” A smile crept over my face and it had to be the millionth one today. Starting with Preston in bed, a great chat with my mother, and the truth of my feelings being out, I was so excited to end with my best friends coming over and hanging out at the place I had come to call home.
Preston offered to order food so I wouldn’t have to cook but I was happy to take on the task. And he was right. I needed this. It felt right. My friends, my family, my life…all on the same page as Preston.
I was an hour and a few layers of noodles, cheese and sauce away from operation Total Integration.
***
“God, I’ve missed you!” Kate said and wrapped me in a hug, which was a bit surprising because she wasn’t a hugger. In fact, Adam was the only one I’ve ever seen touch her regularly. But I was so happy for the embrace and clutched her close.
“I’ve missed you too.”
She released me and damn it, I wanted to cry again. For some reason I had been doing that a lot the past few weeks. My emotions were unbalanced and I decided to blame the craziness of the wedding and, well, life.
“Hi, Megan,” Adam said with a smile and kissed my cheek. “We brought wine.” He handed it to me.
“Thanks. Adam, Kate, this is my fiancé Preston Strauss.” Preston stepped from behind me and shook both their hands.
“We’ve talked on the phone but it’s so nice to finally meet you in person.” Kate smiled. Adam and Preston instantly started talking and Kate elbowed my side gently. “I see the appeal.” She winked and I laughed.
“Let’s get this open.” We headed for the kitchen while the boys went into the living room. “I thought Emma was coming with you?”
“So did I,” Kate said taking a deep appreciative inhale of the lasagna cooling on the counter. “But she said she didn’t want us to pick her up and would meet us here. Guess she had something to do.”
“Yeah, I think she’s been out of town the last few days, or staying somewhere else.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Far as I know. She travels for work so I assume that’s it.”
“Emma’s never been overly open about things so you’re probably right.”
I got out four glasses and poured the wine. “This will be Emma’s.” I scooted the glass back a bit.
“You’re not having any?”
I shook my head. “My stomach has been kind of finicky lately.”
“You sick?”
“Must be, I’ve been battling a bug for the last few weeks. It’s all the stress, I’m sure. But!” I handed Kate her glass. “Enough about that. Tell me all about what you and Adam have been up to.”
“Oh, you know, just trying to get her to marry me, no big deal,” Adam called from the living room. Both Kate and I laughed.
“I told you he’d get grouchy,” I whispered.
We took the wine out to the guys. Kate sat next to Adam on the couch. A knock sounded at the door.
