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“I’m not making the same promise to limit my spending like Tuesday did,” Lark adds. “I only get to shop when Delta or Marina are in the city.” And being the thick as thieves friends we’ve become, she starts a story to get the heat off me. She reaches over to touch my forearm. “So I’m happy to have a shopping friend. I’m sure Harbor is as well.”
“I like being your baggage handler. Instead of tips, Lark goes—”
“Okay,” she says, riddled with laughter. “That’s enough.” We all join in, causing her to drop her head forward in embarrassment. I can empathize. But also, I recognize how I put them on pedestals because of the shallow reason of their looks. Each of them is so much more than their physical appearance. They wear their hearts right in the open for everyone to see.
I thought Loch was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but I don’t know how I got so lucky to be here with all of them. My memories may lack, but my heart is overflowing.
Harbor wraps his arm around her shoulders, and though he’s still laughing, he brings her head to the crook of his neck and kisses her.
My presence feels invasive to the intimacy. I look away, feeling overwhelmed and teary, though I’m not sure why. Loch’s head comes to mine, just barely touching, as he rubs my thigh under the table. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head at first, unable to speak without my emotions overflowing. I swallow and then whisper, “I’m just so happy.”
With his finger curled under my chin, he lifts until our eyes meet, and whispers, “So am I.” He kisses my forehead, then sits up while taking my hand to hold and resting the bond on his leg. “Are we ready?” he asks, the bill already paid and the server clearing our plates.
After a round of hugs and goodbyes outside, we take a taxi home since Brady is off on the weekends. I lean my head against his shoulder, still smiling, as we travel through the city. “I love them.”
He chuckles. “You’re telling me you love my family before you say it to me?” The words cut through the air, causing me to sit up.
Nothing in his tone was heavy. It was the opposite, in fact. Playful even. Reading between the lines has me wondering if he’s ready for such declarations, though. “Loch . . .” I don’t even know what I’m saying or if I should bring this up, but I can’t stop myself from finally finding the opening I need. “You don’t think it’s too soon to say that to each other?”
His hand runs under the hem of my dress, stopping to hold me just above my knee. “Do you?”
I take a breath, letting the shock wear off. Angling toward him when I lean back, I giggle. “I asked you first.”
“Well . . .” He starts, his gaze dashing out the window briefly before returning to me. “Ask me that a week ago and I would have had a different answer.”
“I wish I’d known you then.”
“No, you don’t.” His response comes so fast that I do a double take.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m only who I am right now because of you.” He takes my hand, our fingers folding together, and kisses the top.
Bringing our hands to my mouth, I turn my wrist and kiss his hand the same way he kissed mine. “You’ve always been this person, Loch. You just needed a nudge in the right direction.”
His arm comes around me, and he places another kiss on the side of my head. “You were right before. You’ve reminded me who I used to be before I got caught up selling every minute of my life away.”
“What if you billed yourself for a few hours each day and bought your time back?”
A single laugh escapes, and he shifts, finding my eyes in the dark of the cab. “That’s actually quite brilliant.”
“Thank you.” I do a little faux curtsy that would get me kicked out of the palace. I poke him in the chest. “All you have to do is buy back your time.”
“And how do you suggest I spend it instead?”
“I have a few ideas.” I catch the cabbie watching us in the rearview mirror. “That I can’t wait to show you at home.”
The word slips out without permission. We both catch it. I can tell he does by the slow-spreading smile on his face. Kissing my hand once more, he whispers, “Home.”
He unlocks the door and then turns around. I’m not sure what lit the fire in his eyes, but he’s smoking hot. “Ack!” I scream in a fit of laughter as I’m scooped into his arms and then tossed over his shoulder as he pushes the door open and then kicks it closed behind us.
