AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Until he showed up in my life.
He was like the perfect mix: dangerously intoxicating with the way those dark, brown eyes could look at me, but also warm and safe enough to make me feel as if I could reach for him and rely on him not to hurt me. I didn’t know how to describe it; I just knew it was what I’d always wanted when I’d jealously watched Beau and Bentley fall in love.
And now I almost had it for myself.
Just two more days to go.
I only hoped nothing messed it up before that, especially when Vaughn sent a follow-up text.
VAUGHN: I love you.
Because my soul definitely belonged to him.
LUCY OLIVIA: I love you too. Have fun tonight. But maybe not too much fun.
VAUGHN: Don’t worry. I’m saving up my favorite kind of fun for Sunday.
37
LUCY OLIVIA
It’d been over an hour since Vaughn had sent me his last text when another one came in.
I would’ve thought he was already out with the guys by now, but maybe he was checking in with a progress report. I could only hope he wanted to tell me how lame Trick and Luke’s company was, and that he wished he was with me instead. But when I picked up my phone, I discovered it was Chloe who was reaching out.
CHLOE: Hey, can I borrow some of your earrings?
Immediately suspicious because she didn’t always return the things she borrowed in a very timely manner, I replied:
LUCY OLIVIA: Which pair?
CHLOE: Don’t know. Since you’re the queen of dangling earrings, I was hoping I could just come by and browse.
I laughed. That sounded like Chloe. When she’d been younger, she had raided her older sister Skylar’s closet constantly because she was usually too bored with her own clothes. I swear, she believed all of us women in the family were like her own personal department store to shop at whenever she pleased. But that was kind of one of the things I loved most about her, so I shook my head fondly and responded.
LUCY OLIVIA: Sure. I’m home all night.
Moms with three-month-olds didn’t exactly have that active of a Friday-night life. Or at least, this mama didn’t. I mean, unless you called changing poopy diapers exciting.
CHLOE: Yay. Thank you. Be there in five.
I swear, she must’ve been outside when she texted, though, because it felt more like thirty seconds before my doorbell rang.
Picking Ava and myself up from the rocking chair where she was just finishing up a bottle and we were watching a rerun of New Girl, we shuffled to the door and found Chloe on the front step, looking like she was ready to go clubbing.
“Okay,” she was already saying as she swept inside right past me. “So this is what I’m wearing tonight to meet a new guy, and I need something, you know, absolutely dazzling to match.”
As she spun to show off her outfit, I whistled.
She finally focused on me, flashing a grin. “Thank you.” Immediately noticing that I was holding my daughter, she gasped and surged forward. “Well, look at you. Someone’s been eating her Wheaties. I just love these cheeks.”
She stretched out her hands to smoosh my daughter’s face, and Ava kicked and gurgled happily, eager to receive the attention, which made Chloe’s voice go sky-high as she cooed, “Oh my God, look at that smile. She’s smiling at me.”
“Meh,” I argued, just to tease her. “She’s just had a lot of gas today.”
“Whatever.” Chloe nudged my arm and rolled her eyes. “She’s totally grinning.”
“Maybe,” I finally allowed. “She does seem to be a very happy child.”
