Page 97 of Make it a Double

“I can only take credit for the idea. It was Liv’s super sleuthing that got her here,” I said.

When I found out that Beckett’s birthday had come and gone without so much as an acknowledgment, guilt had damn near eaten me alive. I’d gone into work the next day, crying to Liv about how bad I felt, so we started brainstorming ideas. While we hadn’t been able to make the bounce house happen, Liv called Tatum to invite her to the shower and a small gathering after.

“I know it’s not the birthday extravaganza we originally planned,” I said, pushing to my feet and waddling toward him. “That’s on the agenda for next year when this one isn’t occupying my stomach, but I thought we could still celebrate with store-bought cake and cheap pizza.”

“And beer,” Duke said. He and Grady were still holding Lukas’ arm, though Lukas had stopped struggling. His eyes were glued to Tatum, a mischievous smirk on his lips.

Beckett opened his arms, and I went without question. Being here, surrounded by friends who’d turned into family, felt right. “I love you,” he whispered, kissing the top of my head.

I laid my head on his chest, feeling his heart pound beneath the surface. “I love you, too.”

“Well, what do we have here?” Tatum asked, taking a seat next to Grams. I didn’t know Beckett’s sister at all, but that seemed like a disastrous pairing.

“You ever watched a man get shocked before?” Grams turned to look at Tatum, chuckling to herself. “You look like the type.”

Tatum smirked, crossing one leg over the other and leaning forward to brace her chin on her fist. Her eyes were laser focused on the scene in front of her, and a coquettish smirk tipped up her lips. “This is my kind of party.”

BECKETT

“I’m so glad you came,” I said, giving Tate a hug. “This was the best surprise.”

She gestured toward the woman sitting beside me. “I can’t take any credit. It was all her idea.”

Sawyer’s cheeks were pink. “It was nothing.”

“It was everything,” I corrected, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Don’t discount what you’ve given me.”

It wasn’t just the fact that she’d arranged to fly Tate in, but also the birthday party she threw together just because she could. Save for my sister, no one really gave a shit about my birthday back home. Neither of my parents had called. Neither had any of my friends. I’d gotten a few well wishes, but that’d been it.

I didn’t know when it’d changed, but that part of my life seemed like years ago. Pinecrest felt more like my home than the place and people I’d known since birth. Sawyer hadn’t only given me a safe space to be myself that night at the fair, but she’d also shown me what was missing. It only became more apparent the more I got to know her and those she surrounded herself with.

Tate made an exaggerated gagging noise. “Okay, gross. I’m leaving now! Y’all have fun touring the house, or whatever.”

Sawyer covered her face and giggled as my sister skipped inside our cabin. The girls had forgotten to book a place for her to stay, so Tate was going to be crashing on my couch.

Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but right now it most certainly was.

Sawyer and I had been glued to one another all night. There was barely a moment that passed by which we weren’t touching one another in some way. Most of it was innocent, but every now and then she’d see how much I could withstand if she discreetly rubbed her ass over my dick when she scooted past me in the kitchen.

I had to move away from the counter so she didn’t make me embarrass myself.

When it came time to leave, I realized there was no fucking way I could let our first time having sex since, well, the first time, be while my sister was under the same roof. Not to knock Lukas’ craftsman skills, but I didn’t trust how soundproof the walls were, nor did I particularly care to test it out.

“Ready, sugar?”

She nodded, biting her lip as she looked up at me through thick lashes. “I’m excited.”

I brought her hand to my lips. “Me, too.”

It was Sawyer’s idea to go see the new house. Romantic in theory, but I wasn’t sure how far she’d thought this out. There was absolutely no furniture in that house, and most of it was taped off so they could start painting next week. At least it had electricity so we wouldn’t be stumbling around in the dark.

If that was what she wanted, who was I to tell her no? I was incapable of denying her anything. She could tell me she wanted to hold the moon in the palm of her hand, and I’d find a way to give it to her.

The drive to the new house wasn’t far. I was glad we were coming at night so we could get an idea of things we’d need to add. Maybe some lights along the gate to help mark the entrance.

Sawyer and I stayed put as I cut the engine. We could hear the bugs singing their nightly songs outside of the SUV. I never realized how loud the countryside was. Wholly different from a big city, but loud nonetheless. And I could see the stars better than I ever had before. It was pitch-black out here in my little slice of nowhere.

I looked over at Sawyer. She tore her gaze away from the house and gave me a warm smile. There was something about this moment that felt so familiar. The same charged energy that’d passed between us after the fair was present now, sending small currents zipping across our skin. The hair stood up along her arms as I leaned across the console.