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Sixteen
Sydney
“Gabs … we had sex.” As I held the phone to my ear, sitting on one of the lounge chairs on Ford’s patio, I tucked my legs against my braless chest and stared out into the Hollywood Hills, waiting for my best friend to respond. “Hello?” I inquired when several seconds of silence passed. “Are you even there?”
“Oh, I’m here … barely. You woke me out of hangover-land, and she’s retaliating with a vengeance.” She yawned. “Also, I’m trying to decide if I should start screaming in celebration or if I should drive my ass over there and slap that man for taking so long to come to his senses.”
“God, I love you.”
“I’m not kidding.”
I twirled my hair into a bun. Since I didn’t have an elastic, I held the long strands on the top of my head. “You’re perfectly allowed to do either—or both. But how about you hold off on the slap and maybe just give him a jab in the ribs?”
“Sounds like he fucked the hangover right out of you. I’m jealous as fuck.”
I laughed, waiting for my head to hurt.
But only one thing on my body ached at this hour.
And I only felt it when I squeezed my legs together.
“Oh, Gabs, he did.”
“That’s the only reason I’m forgiving you for calling me this early.” Her voice rose as she added, “Because I couldn’t be happier for you right now.” There was movement in the background and then, “Ouch. Gabby cannot talk too loud or sit up too fast; she’s slowly dying.”
“You realize you’re talking about yourself in third person, right?”
“I hardly even know I’m a person right now, never mind what I’m actually saying.” She cleared her throat. “But now, I’m flat, in darkness, buried under the blanket—and much better.” She paused. “Tell me the details. Was there talking or just humping?”
“We started with talking, which then led to humping.”
“And?”
“The guilt was gone. He wants this.” I sucked in a breath. “He wants us.”
Gabby sighed. “Thank fuck. I was starting to worry about that man and his ability to see what was right in front of him.”
“He saw.” I remembered the words he had said. The way they hit me. The way they made me question. The way they settled every bit of apprehension I’d been feeling. “It just took him time to admit to himself that I’m what he wants. He knew all along, like I knew I wanted him, but coming to terms with that isn’t easy, not when you have a child to protect.”
“You’re the queen of understanding, you know that?”
The sun was just starting to rise in the sky, a sight that made me smile. “I don’t know about that. I just get the dynamics of family because kids are all I know.”
“But you’re harmless, Syd. You’re like a yellow Lab. Who protects their kids from yellow Labs?”
I giggled. “I’m not perfect. Maybe things wouldn’t have worked out. Maybe they still won’t. Who knows?”
“I know. And I know they will. And I know you wouldn’t hurt that child, no matter what.” A bit of quietness passed until she said, “Sooo, how was it? Why aren’t you spilling all the epic details?”
My eyes closed, my body clenching as the memories from last night filled my head. “It was intense. Passionate. Wickedly amazing.” A heat moved across my cheeks. “Beyond anything I’ve ever had—and ever experienced. He knows my body in ways”—I sighed—“in ways I don’t even know myself.”
“Then, why aren’t you in bed with him right now? Doing it all over again? Getting laid for the both of us? Girl, things are dry as a well over here. I need to live vicariously through you.”
My legs dropped onto the lounge chair, and I crossed my feet at the bottom, the light from the sun just starting to spread across my face. “I can’t sleep, so I figured I’d call you and then make us some breakfast. Eve is at her grandparents’ house. I assume she’ll be back late this morning. That gives us time to talk.”
“You mean, plan how many children the two of you are going to have.”
I laughed so hard that a boob almost popped out of the top of Ford’s button-down. I adjusted the shirt and replied, “Calm down, Gabs. There won’t be any babies for a long time. We’re at the kissing stage, not the kid stage.”
“Mark my words: it’s going to happen.”
“I have a lot of college to get through first and then job hunting and teaching—things I want to accomplish before I even think of starting a family.”
“Stop being so driven. It’s the worst trait ever. I don’t know how I can be friends with someone as inspiring as you.”
Her sarcasm made me grin, and I sat up, my feet falling to the deck. “Dinner tonight?”
“Obviously.” She groaned, “And you’re buying. Consider it payback for waking me up so early.”
“Deal.” I pushed myself off the chair and headed for the sliding glass door. “See ya tonight.”
We hung up, and the moment I opened the door, I froze, shocked by what was unfolding in front of me.
Music was playing lightly through the speakers.
Mixing bowls were on the counter in the kitchen.
Coffee was brewing, the smell immediately hitting me.
“Mmm.” I closed my eyes, realizing how badly I needed some caffeine.
As my lids opened, Ford was smiling from the island.
Shirtless.
His hair messy, his beard untamed.
