Leaving Sydney on a kiss as she walked to the kitchen to feed the animals, I shut the front door behind me and hustle my ass back to my place to throw on different clothes and get to the guys.
She loves me.
I’m beyond late, but I don’t care. They can deal. There was no way after she just returned my feelings and opened her heart and her life up to me that I could have left without making love to her. She wants a future with me. I grin goofily as I make my way to the new spot we chose to fish at today. I did let them know I was still coming at least.
I hop out and start grabbing my gear, spotting Mark reeling in his catch.
“I see we’re having luck today!” I holler to them from the back of my truck.
“You mean to say Trystan and I are having all the luck today!” Mark banters back, eyeing his prize. It’s a decent-sized bass. A keeper. He unhooks it and takes it to a basket holding the keepers nearby. Looks like they’ve had a really good start. I reach them and set up my chair.
“I still stand by my statement.”
“Oh? Well, that’s good. Errm…Brynleigh texted me last night to say you guys had a really tough call. I just figured you were late because it may have had you down and all.”
“Uh, yeah, last night’s call was absolutely awful. I won’t deny that.”
Trystan reaches out and squeezes my shoulder in solidarity, and I feel gratitude for having these guys in my life.
“So, then, how is it you still stand by your statement?” Mark asks, arching his brows at me.
“She loves me, man,” I answer, a wide grin splitting my face and making my cheeks burn.
They both stop what they’re doing and look over at me with big ol’ boyish grins themselves.
“You mean she loves your cock!” Mark barks out with a laugh behind it. Trystan smacks his shoulder.
“No, well, yes…” I chuckle back. “She said she loves me.”
Mark picks up his lemonade, swallowing before smiling wide again.
“Well, then, luck is indeed on your side, my friend. How many people can say they’ve found not just one great love in their lifetime, but two? Fuck, I’m happy for you, man.”
Trystan nods in agreement, reeling in his line to get it back out there in a better spot.
“Thanks guys.” I toss my line out, and snag a fish right off the bat. Today is going to be an awesome day.
We pull in a pretty good mess of fish, enough for a decent little fish fry. Maybe we could manage to get Mark and Ava in the same vicinity again without any fake titties to distract or disrupt them from getting to know each other better. I’ll have to bring it up with Sydney. It could be our first “officially living together” party. Holy crap. I’m moving in with her. I’m so excited I can’t see straight. Do I just slowly start bringing things over? Or are we literally going to go over and start packing?
The idea of getting to wake up every single morning to her face is even more exhilarating than the moment I saw my toothbrush in her bathroom among her things. I get to have coffee with her whenever I wish, kiss her whenever I want, make dinners, lounge on the couch and read or watch tv, watch her fall asleep with her head on my lap before I carry her up to bed and crawl in with her to sleep. I never have to go back to my lonely, cold bed.
“Guys, are you good cleaning the fish and storing them tonight?” I look up at Trystan, suddenly needing to get back to her. “If so, I’ll take your spot next time, Trystan. Beer bitch, you’re still making up for Friday night.”
Mark swears under his breath as he starts cleaning up his tackle box and gathering his gear.
“Absolutely, dude. You got plans or something?” Trystan asks, likely already knowing the answer.
“Or something.” I grin like a fool and carry my things to the truck. “Thanks for a fun day. I’ll chat with you guys soon.” I don’t want to spring the whole “we love each other” on them and turn around and say, “Oh yeah, by the way, I’m moving in with her too”. That might make their heads reel a bit. I’ll tell them later. I think Trystan would roll with it and be happy for me. Mark…he’d likely try to say, “it’s too soon” or some shit to make me second guess it. I’m not second guessing. Sydney is my forever. I’ve felt it in my gut for at least the past month. I’m not wasting any more time with her just to fit into society’s standards. I need to start thinking about a ring.
“See ya,” they say in unison, smiling big back at me.
“He’s going to marry her,” I hear Trystan say to Mark, thinking I’m out of earshot.
“Damn straight!” I yell back to them, glad to hear Trystan gets me. I don’t wait for either of them to say anything.
Chapter 19
Sydney
