I breathe a sigh of relief. Is this bird parenthood? The adorable little parrot blinks at me, and a realization hits me like a freight train. He or she will be my first ever pet that I’ve had a hand in choosing. Once I aged out of foster care, it was hard enough to just take care of myself, let alone a pet, so I never got one. I would die for this bird already.
“The vet is expecting me in half an hour, so I’m going to take off. I’ll see youat home later?”
I snap out of my reverie at the sound of Gage’s voice, and look up at him.
“Yeah, please keep me posted on what the vet says. I’ll see you at home. Thanks again so much for doing this,” I reply, trying to rein in my emotions about our new addition to the flock.
“Anytime. Bye, sweetheart,” he replies before leaning in and giving me a peck again, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. The same as him saying, “See you at home,” feels all too natural.
Michelle sidles up to me when he gets into his car, giving a low whistle.
“Celeste, I mean this in the most respectful way, but you hit the lottery with your husband. Damn, you’re one lucky woman,” she says, bumping my shoulder and waggling her eyebrows.
“He’s the best,” I laugh, and it’s true.
As he drives away, after coming all of the way here to help me rescue an abandoned bird just because I asked, all I keep thinking on a loop is that this fake marriage is starting to seem very real.
Chapter 15
Gage
Celeste and I have been like two ships passing in the night for the past few weeks since the day we took in the abandoned quaker parrot. She gets up earlier for her morning diner shifts, although I always make sure I see her for at least a few minutes and have a cup of coffee with her before she goes. It’s become my favorite part of the day, those quiet few minutes when we just exist with each other and talk a little.
The other morning I walked into the kitchen to find her already starting coffee in her maddeningly sexy little grey sleep shorts, and black worn out concert tee that was slipping off of her left shoulder.It was extra early for us both to be up, I guess we were both having trouble sleeping.
“Morning,” she half yawned, with a little grin my way when she heard me approach.
Between the little grin and seeing her so adorably sleepy, it took me a minute to form words.
“Morning. You’re up extra early, did you sleep ok?”
“I never sleep ok. What about you, you don’t need to be up this early,” she countered.
“I’m not sleeping great either.”
She slowly nodded in understanding. We both have had a lot on our minds lately.
“Since I have extra time, why don’t I make us my favorite for breakfast. Egg in a hole,” she suggested.
“That sounds great,” I told her.
She moved around the kitchen easily, and I watched transfixed as she ripped little circles out of the pieces of bread, got them toasted with butter in a pan, before cracking an egg into each hole. She topped them with salt, pepper, and a little salsa before handing me my plate. I relished the way the runny yolk soaked into the bread. Then the coffee machine finished brewing, and she got two mugs out.
“You only take a little cream, right?”
“You got it. Thanks, mi vida.”
I couldn’t help the endearment. I had made a fuss about taking care of her, but I was still getting used to someone living with me and taking care of me, too. Having someone who knows how I take my coffee, and is willing to make me her favorite breakfast when we both can’t sleep, was and still is incredible. It actually pained me to see her leave for the diner that day. I wished we could have sat and enjoyed our coffees together all morning.
She stops by my work for a drink after her shift sometimes. It’s fantastic to see her, but I don’t get to pay nearly as much attention to her as I would like if it’s busy. Then she’s usually asleep when I get home from the bar. She’s also busy with her community service, anger management classes, and researching how to start her dream non-profit.
There’s no getting around it. I miss her. When our days off happen to overlap, we have a great time hanging out together. The house feels more lively with her in it, not suffocating like I thought it might. Her throaty laughhas become a favorite sound of mine. So much for keeping this a strictly friendly, business type of arrangement, because the walls I’ve always kept up are crumbling like sand with her. Damn my dad for being right that this would happen.
We did manage to get in a quick family dinner a little over a week ago, where the kids and Gina monopolized her. They love her, and I love how she interacts with them. The way she and Gina get along like two peas in a pod, and how much Ava especially worships her new “auntie,” makes it all feel so right and natural. Although, poor Gina is having a hard time convincing Ava that she can’t make her hair red like Celeste’s without some serious work at the salon that she is too young to get.
As much as I’ve resisted having a serious relationship, and not allowed myself to let anyone get too close, Celeste is under my skin and becoming a wonderful part of my family. The few kisses we’ve shared for show, the casual touches, the flirting and teasing, all have her invading my thoughts constantly. It’s been inevitable from that moment nearly three months ago now when I first met her, and even more so now that we’re living together. Am I terrified? Extremely. This is everything I’ve tried to avoid. It doesn’t make my current feelings any less true.
I want my wife.
