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“So many of them.” It was Dustin’s turn to shift to sincere. “As many promises as you want. From now until forever.”
This was definitely perfect.
We talked for at least another hour, until I started yawning and couldn’t stop. “I promise, it’s not you, it’s me,” I assured them between yawns.
“We know,” Dustin teased.
Phillip made me promise to get some sleep, we all exchanged I love yous, and I forced myself to hang up, despite wanting to fall asleep with their voices in my ear.
My phone buzzed a few minutes later with two new texts. Phillip had sent me a picture of a Twinkie, and Dustin provided a picture of Richard Nixon.
I couldn’t help my smile at the two dick pics, provided in the way only the two of them would.
The next day my bruises were a lovely shade of violet-turning-yellow. I hated it. When I got good morning texts from both Phillip and Dustin, I had to warn them not to be horrified when they saw me.
They assured me they didn’t care, and I’d need to say no if I was trying to get out of tonight.
That was enough to silence me. I definitely didn’t want to put off seeing them again.
The day crawled slowly, and I wasn’t sure if it was because I didn’t dare do much, or because I was looking forward to tonight.
No, I knew it was a mix of both, but my impatience was more about tonight. The long bath in a tub big enough to cover my boobs and knees with water at the same time was a nice break, and it was strangely comforting having Luna help me dry and style my hair.
None of that stopped me from counting the seconds until Phillip picked me up. He gave me a long kiss on the front step, and another before he opened the car door for me.
“I’ve never had this with anyone,” I murmured against his mouth.
He pulled back and studied me. “Kisses and chivalry?”
“Not like this. Not where it feels genuine and natural rather than done like it was expected and preferred forgotten.”
He kissed me again. “Their loss. And we need to go, or else I’ll keep you out here for way too long, and Dustin is preparing for dinner.”
This entire situation felt surreal. I remembered being there yesterday at the office, but the pain from the accident had been close enough it muted the memory. Phillip’s kisses made it all feel more real, though, and I was happy to keep making new memories. As many as possible.
Phillip kept contact with me in one way or another—my hand, my thigh—most of the drive to Dustin’s. When we arrived, Phillip knocked and Dustin called, “It’s open.”
We found him in the kitchen, putting something in the fridge, the counters empty. He gave Phillip a quick kiss, then wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer for a longer one that stole my breath.
Dustin didn’t let me go after, and I loved the feeling of being pressed against him. He brushed his lips over my cheek, my neck, and the edge of my ear. “Someone stole my thunder yesterday, and I didn’t get to tell you everything I wanted to.”
“I’m listening.” I turned my ear—one of the non-bruised bits of me—toward him, angling for more attention.
He obliged, nipping lightly at my earlobe, his hot breath teasing my skin. “I don’t care if the entire rest of the world thinks I’m a party boy. What you think, what Phillip thinks, is more important than anything. I want you in my future, for as far as I can see and beyond. I want stability and a family and I want those things with you.”
“I want those things too.” Forever and beyond was a long time, and instead of fear, I was excited at the possibility.
Phillip stepped behind me, and I was wrapped in comfort and kisses and strong, protective arms.
“I was told you were making dinner.” Go me, ruining the moment.
“Technically I said he was preparing for dinner.” Phillip’s words rumbled through my back.
“That feels like a tiny, semantic difference.”
Dustin smirked. “But it’s one that makes all the difference.”
I was missing something. “Then… what’s for dinner?” Yesterday it was supposed to be me, but that didn’t seem to be the case now.
