“That’ll be less of your lip, sunshine. Get in the car.”
She laughed, opening up her side door.
I looked over at her as she buckled up, pulling her long, dark auburn waves away from her shoulders so they didn’t get caught in the belt. I watched her tongue dart out, wetting her bottom lip as she tipped her chin down, her coal-black lashes almost resting on her high cheekbones. She ran her hands over her sweater, smoothing it; an orange sweater I’d bought her covered in tiny little pumpkins. It was too fucking cute for words. Fucking cute and smoking hot, the perfect combination. If I was still in college, I’d have put her poster up in my dorm room.
She turned, rubbing her palm on her nose, and caught me staring. “What?”
I pulled her into me, her mouth still open mid-sentence, and took the opportunity to sweep my tongue around. She tasted like cherries from the Chapstick she always kept in her bag, and spearmint from when she’d brushed her teeth before we’d left. I couldn’t imagine a day when I’d ever get enough of tasting her. Every time was like getting your hands on the ripest peach at the height of summer, juicy and perfect.
Nine days away traveling was too fucking long for me not to see her, not to touch her, not to breathe her in. I struggled to keep my hands to myself at the best of times, but when we’d just come home from an away stretch, it was fucking impossible.
“Nothing, you’re just the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life, is all.”
On cue, the rosy blush I loved so much crept through her cheeks. Emerson Pink I called it, and it was my new favorite color in the world.
Her cheeks rounded as she tried to hold back her smile. “Start the engine, Romeo, there’s a baby I want to see.”
“Yes, boss,” I winked.
We pulled into Jasper’s driveway, following Felix. Cooper must have arrived just before us because he had Jasper in a bear hug, standing at the front door. We’d missed him on the ice while we’d been away, while his life had been changing in the best possible way, and Coop’s was soon to be the same.
All our lives were changing.
My throat started to get all tight and tingly, and I coughed it away, turning off the engine. Felix was already out of his car and was banging his hands against my window, leaving fucking palm prints on the freshly detailed glass.
Dick.
Emerson squeezed my leg. “You go and say hi, I’ll bring the bags in.”
“Okay, but just the bags. I’ll come back and get the rest.”
“Yes, you will. I can’t carry that giant bear.”
I grinned and kissed her again, opening the door to join Felix.
“As always, we look fucking awesome.” He slapped me on the back and we walked over to join Jasper and Coop.
“You know it.”
Jasper, however, looked worn out, but also happier than I’d ever seen him before. I pulled him into a massive hug, squeezing him hard.
“A fucking dad, man! Congratulations, buddy. Fucking awesome.” I sniffed as my throat thickened again.
Felix punched me in the arm. “Jesus, dude. Are you crying already?”
Yes.
“What? It’s an emotional reunion for all of us.” I pinned him with my best Cheshire Cat grin, “It’s not every day you get to see your first goddaughter for the first time.”
Jasper had been keeping us updated on the group chat the four of us had, sending pictures, and she was a little beauty, but we hadn’t seen her in person yet.
“You take that back!” Felix said, pointing at my chest. “It’s not official.”
Cooper crossed his arms over his chest, letting out a low chuckle. “Fuck’s sake, put them out of their misery.”
Felix and I stepped back. Jasper coughed into his hand, clearing his throat. “Coop, Freddie, Wolf, and I have made a decision.”
They eyed each other in amusement, and something that told me I wasn’t about to get the news I was expecting.
