Page 89 of Jinxes and Drumsticks

“That’s nice.”

“And I’ll tell any woman that even looks at me with desire in her eyes that I’m a married man,” I say.

She finally snorts a laugh, and then sniffles again. “You’re not a married man.”

Might as well be. I think it, but I don’t say it. I think if Lillith ever breaks up with me, I’ll just resign myself to a life of celibacy and bachelordom. “Okay, I’ll just push them in the lake, then,” I say.

“The concerning part is I think you might.”

“They’d probably like it.”

“It’d be all over Insta,” she says.

“And the comments will be flooded with jealous fans,” I say, chuckling lazily. “I’m kidding. I promise I won’t assault anyone with bodies of water.”

“Kind of you,” she teases.

“I am very magnanimous,” I say.

“So you like to tell me. While you’re edging me.”

We’ve come full circle. I chuckle against her hair.

The week has been pretty blissful. There have been a few days where I’ve had to be in the studio with the guys, or had to leave to get provisions for Lillith so she doesn’t have to use DoorDash or Instacart or something. But the rest of the time is time I’ve spent getting to know Lillith.

I want to do nothing more than take care of her. I know she’d never let me, but I’d quit drumming for her. I’d leave it all behind. And I love her for the fact that she’d never ask me to do that. I love her for the fact that she tempers our whirlwind romance and makes it feel like a soft summer breeze instead.

I just love her. So damn much.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I fish it out. It’s Wren.

Are you guys fucking?

I thought you could see the future. Just do your ole magic razzle dazzle.

That’s not how it works. I know you know that.

We are not fucking. Unfortunately. Why? Did you want to watch?

Gods, no. Alright, I’m coming in.

The door opens just as I get her final message. She groans when she doesn’t find us in the kitchen or in the living room. “You fucking liars,” she calls.

“We aren’t fucking,” I call back. “We’re cuddling.”

Wren appears in the open door and leans against it, her tan arms crossing over her front. She’s wearing a yellow sundress that Satoshi is going to come in his jeans over. When she takes in the scene, her dry expression crumples into something gently concerned. “Aww, Lilipad... ”

“Don’t perceive me,” Lillith whimpers, hiding her face in my chest. “I’m not here.”

“We’re having a tough morning,” I say, giving Wren a pressed smile.

“I can see that,” Wren answers, coming to sit on the edge of the bed. She smooths her hand over Lillith’s back in calming circles. “Lilipad, sweetie. What’s going on?”

“I don’t want him to go,” she says, though it’s muffled.

“I’ll keep him safe. You don’t have to worry, Lilipad,” she says.

“I know you will,” she says as the front of my shirt gets wetter. “I just wish I could go, too.”