Page 87 of The Haunting Plot

My head whips to hers, the sudden movement making the room spin slightly. “Are you sure?”

“I really like you. I think you’re good for all of us, but before this goes any further, I need to know how badly you snore or fart in your sleep.”

Laughter bubbles out of me. “That’s a dealbreaker for you?”

“Maybe. I’ve never spent the night with someone before.”

I’m stunned by her honesty. I reach up to tuck her silver strand of hair behind her ear and cup her cheek.

“Kris and I didn’t share a bed. And I’ve never let someone I’ve been intimate with sleep over.”

“If you want me to stay in this bed, I’ll stay in this goddamn bed until you tell me to move, madame.”

“So you really like me, huh?”

I pull her forehead to my mouth, pressing a kiss there. “You tell me to jump, and I’ll jump. So how high?”

She pulls back to look up at me. “Would you let me fuck you?”

“Ray, I would let you do whatever you want to me. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t peg you with your own dick. We’ll work up to that.”

“I can’t tell if you’re kidding.”

She laughs as she nestles into me, the sound melodic and soothing. I will do anything to hear it every day for the rest of my life. I am one hundred percent in love with this woman.

——————

The next morning I awake to an empty bed and the sound of laughter wafting up from downstairs. I grin, knowing the same noise that soothed me to sleep is waking me up. I pull on my freshly laundered pants neatly folded next to the bed.

Raven’s face lights up when she sees me enter the kitchen, and I nod at all the moms gathered.

“Dad!” Jane says, a hint of surprise in her voice. “Did you spend the night too?”

I tug on the back of my neck, debating how to answer.

“He did,” Raven says, saving me. “I was hearing noises, and I asked him to stay.”

“What kind of noises?” McKenna asks, suddenly interested.

Raven swallows, and I hide my grin as she tries to come up with something to appease them. “Just, uhh… well, there was tapping on the window. And I thought I heard the TV turn on even though I already shut it off.”

“I told her it sounded like ghosts.” Raven rolls her eyes as I continue. “But she knew I was the perfect person to help her.”

“How did she know that?” Jane asks.

“Because of my socks.”

Everyone’s attention turns to me in confusion, or anticipation.

“She knew I could help with her ghost problem because I have my pair o’ normal socks.”

The room is silent for several seconds before the moms snicker, and the girls groan.

“Dad. That’s so lame.”

Raven mouths the words, “Thank you.”