“I feel great. Sleep next to you was exactly what I needed. And don’t worry, so far I don’t feel sick. Hopefully, I won’t get it.” He grips the back of my neck and pulls me into a claiming kiss, obviously not caring at all about the chance of lingering germs.
It’s easy to get lost in him when his hands and mouth are on me. Hot desire pools low in my gut, and I rub my thighs together, feeling needy. Just as he is pressing his growing erection into me I smell the burning.
“Shit!” I jump away from him and quickly snatch my pancakes off of the smoking griddle. The would-be golden circles are the color of charcoal and ruined, but I can admit the kiss was worth it. Remington opens up the kitchen windows to let in fresh air and clear out the burnt pancake smell.
“Sorry.” His alluring smirk tells me he’s about as sorry as I am. Cleaning off the griddle, I start a new batch and sip my tea.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Remington says. “I was so upset thinking about you here all alone and so sick. You should have called me or even my mom. Someone should’ve been with you.”
“Remington,” I sigh, knowing he won’t like this. “Taking care of myself, even sick, is something I have been doing since I was a little girl. This morning was the first time, ever, someone has trulycaredfor me like that when I was ill.”
The ripple of anger is unmistakable, but it is never aimed at me. It’s the same one that runs through Remington’s body any time I tell him something unsettling from my past. I can tell he wishes he could time travel and beat the crap out of my demons, erase the option of my pain before it was ever able to touch me. I love him even more for wanting to protect the little girl I used to be, and it’s helping heal what parts of her are left in my soul.
“I’m so sorry, baby. That’s unfair, and it rips my heart out knowing you didn’t get the care you deserved. But that isnothow it is going to be now. We’re a team. We have each other. We also have my family. So when I’m on shift and can’t be here, promise you will call them for help? My mom will be so upset knowing you were sick. Even if she didn’t come over, she still should have known you weren’t well to be able to check in on you with a call or text.”
I plate up our breakfasts and set them on the island. Hopping up on one of the stools, I look at Remington who’s still waiting, arms crossed.Stubborn man.“Asking for help is not easy for me, but I promise I will try and be better about it. Just be patient with me, okay? It’s a big adjustment.”
“Fair enough.”
We eat our food in comfortable silence for a while. I take small bites making sure my stomach is able to handle the real food. When about half my plate is gone I feel worn out and ready to rest again. Even though I feel better, being so sick has drained me. Thankfully, I thought to call out of work last night when I wasn’t feeling well so I could rest and recover all day today.
“Speaking of adjustments.” Remington clears his throat and looks at me. My heart rate and anxiety automatically take off. He must read it on my face because he quickly reaches out, cups my face, and rubs my jaw. I melt into his touch and he kisses me softly. “This is a good adjustment, deep breath.”
I do as he says, closing my eyes, and breathing in his cedar and fresh soap scent.
“Eyes, Lainey.” His voice is a deep, sexy command that has me connecting my gaze to his immediately. “I want you to officially move in with me.” His smile as he says those words takes my breath away.
“W-what?” I stammer, and my mind tries to catch up. “You don’t think it’s too soon?”
“Baby,” Remington chuckles, “you basically already live here anyways. You only go back to the apartment when you need to pick something up. I think we should just call it what it is. Let’s make it official. Lainey Quinn, will you please move in with me?”
I can’t help the whoop of joy that fills my lungs as I throw myself into Remington’slap—good thing he’s a big, strong firefighter and can catch me, keeping his balance. “Yes, yes! I will officially move in with you.”
Our smiles reflect the happiness we feel, and nothing has felt more right than being with the man I love, in our home.
Maybe soon I can tell him about the other things I have always wanted but never thought were possible.
37
Lainey
Jess, Kendra, and I are dancing around my apartment as they help me pack up what belongings I still have left here. Sutton is on the couch, resting with her feet up and playing DJ. I was so happy when she said she would come hang out with us. Ever since the night we decided on a nursery theme and started putting things in motion, there have been glimmers of my friend emerging from the depths of her grief. I can’t even imagine how heavy it feels to carry it around every day, but I know that she is working through a lot. She told me the other day that Deck would want her to be strong for not only their baby girl, but herself, too. Getting out of the house is hard for her, but the more she does it the lighter she seems.
“Rem’s birthday is right around the corner, do you have anything fun planned?” Sutton asks me as a song fades out.
“Actually! I wanted to ask if you girls would help me plan something for him? I was thinking of having a housewarming party for us moving in together but actually making it a surprise birthday party for him. What do you think?” I fuss with the box that I am packing, wondering if I can make hisparty special enough without a ton of time to plan. His birthday gift I had picked out was already in the works weeks ago, but I also wanted to do this for him.
Jess claps her hands. “Yes! Oh my lord, that manneverlets us do anything for his birthday. The most the guys have ever done is grab a beer. This is going to be so fun.”
“I can’t wait to see his face when we pull a fast one on him.” Sutton grins, genuinely grins, at me.
“Please, please, please, plllllease let me be in charge of planning for you?” Kendra’s little body is buzzing with the idea of doing her favorite hobbies of bossing and organizing.
Laughing, I give in without much of a fight. “That would actually be great, thank you. This way my anxiety over Remington finding out too easily from hearing me making calls or seeing things around the house will be reduced significantly.” I mockingly wipe sweat off my brow.
Jess helpfully says, “I will take care of the fire crew and rallying all the troops. Obviously the people on shift won’t be able to come, but they are all used to that kind of thing. Nobody will be upset about it. And the girls can still come even if some of the guys are working.”
“He does so much for me and for everyone else. I really want to make his thirtieth birthday something he will always remember.”
