“Is she okay?” he asks, pulling off the oven gloves.
I nod, walk over to him, and pull him into a hug. He wastes no time wrapping his arms around me as I inhale his scent.
“I’m guessing maybe Bottomless Brunch took a turn,” I say, pulling back and searching his face.
He looks so damn tired, the weight of the world on his shoulders, and I hate that I can’t take the burden for him.
“I’m okay, Caleb.” He reaches up and tries to smooth away my frown lines, something I seem to do a lot more lately.
I catch his hand and run my finger over his ring.
“Are you okay that I proposed to you both?” I ask, flicking my eyes to his.
Noah tilts his head. “Yes, why would you ask that?”
I shake my head. “I worry I might have taken something away from you, like maybe you wanted to propose to Jessica too.”
He smiles, his eyes softening. “I think it was only a matter of time, whether it be you or me, and I think your proposal was perfect.”
“Yeah?” I ask, wrapping my palm around his nape and tugging his face closer.
“Yeah,” he replies before his mouth moves to meet mine.
Our kiss is slow, unhurried, one that has my heart racing and dick hardening.
I don’t know how long we get lost in our embrace, but the sound of the motion sensor makes us pull away from one another.
“That must be Jessica and Mason,” I say, turning to check the camera. “As well as Avery and Lily.”
“Luckily I made more than enough food then,” Noah says, peering at the camera. “Something tells me they could do with the food if their lack of coordination is anything to go by.”
“Well, that explains Mason’s text,” I say as I make my way to the front door to let them all in.
Jessica smiles widely when she sees me and throws her arms over my shoulders, her lips meeting mine.
I chuckle against her mouth. “Miss me?”
She pulls back and nods. “I always miss you,” she says, her eyes sparkling.
“In you go,” Mason says gruffly. Avery gives him the side eye, brushing past him with disdain.
“Caleb,” she says in greeting. Lily trails behind her with a huge smile and follows Avery into the hallway.
“You okay, man?” I ask Mason as he steps inside.
“Yep, of course, I’m fine.” A blatant lie. I want to call him out on his bullshit, but something tells me now is not the time.
I close the door behind him and glance at Jessica as she smirks at his retreating back.
“Hmm, I know that look. What are you up to, little one?” I ask, reaching for her and pulling her to my side.
“Nothing.” She bats her eyes innocently at me.
“Liar.”
She bites her lip and then goes up on her tiptoes, her lips grazing my ear as she whispers, “Something is going on, or there’s something they’re not telling us.”
I shake my head. “So you’re meddling,” I translate.
