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Jesus Christ.
I turn.
He smiles that big dopey grin the bunnies can’t get enough of. “Happy for you, man. The only commitment I’m willing to make is to my hetero life partner, Bowie here.”
From between the seats, Bowie snorts at the Jay and Silent Bob reference, lifting a fist over the seatback for Boomer to bust before they blow it up.
I’ve been witness to their epic bromance from the first day we shared the Slayers locker room. But maybe this is the first time I’ve really thought about it.
How they have each other’s backs.
How they’re there for each other.
How they’re never alone.
I’ve never had friends like that. Never wanted them.
But now I have Stormy, and she’s my partner in crime, my confidante. Fuck, she’s my wife— no matter how many qualifiers we quietly append to the title.
And when I think about what I want the next two years to look like for us… it’s that. I want us to be friends.
* * *
Stormy
I didn’t wantto leave the bed. I took Liam’s advice and slept in hours later than normal, waking with my head on his pillow and the sexy masculine scent of him filling my lungs with each breath.
I could have stayed there all day, but my sister’s for-real fiancé hopped on the same plane as my fake husband, and well…
“I want to heareverything!” She’s all intensity as she unwraps her giant scarf and slides onto the barstool across the island. She waves at my outfit. “Starting with this.”
I’m wearing the PJs I never got to last night with fuzzy socks and a giant bathrobe I grabbed in a mad rush when Misty called to say she was in the lobby.
“What? I just got up.”
“One, I’ve never seen you sleep past nine, and it’s noon. Two, you only wear that robe when you’re sick, and this flushed business you’ve got going on smacks of post-orgasmic glow more than fever. And three, I’ll bet you brunch that beard burn you’re sporting doesn’t stop at your neck.”
I sigh and start some coffee. “It’s times like this I wish I had a brother.”
“Yeah. Tough break.” She gives me a coy smile. “Tea, please.”
I could resist, but she’s such a grudge-holder, and I don’t think I can handle being on the receiving end of her payback again this decade.
Hence, I spill the tea while we wait for the coffee to brew. Or at least the abridged, fade-to-black tea.
By the time I’m done, we’ve moved to the couch. My half-empty mug of coffee is cold, and I’m a little breathless.
Misty blinks.
Nods.
Then leans in to take my hand. “This is the universe righting a grievous wrong, the scales of sexual satisfaction balancing at long last. You suffered through fifteen years that started with ho-hum mediocrity and devolved into shit-tastic betrayal. You were owed this penis.”
“Umm, it feels a little wrong to sayowed.”
Her hand flies up. “Don’t insult the gift. Keep it. Cherish it.Useit every day… and let me tell Amber and Bea. The whole company will know before their first coffee break. Ray’s dirty little stub will shrivel to nothing.”
