AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I laugh and Holly snorts.
“Oh yeah, what do you know anyway?” I toss back.
“I’m in fifth grade, so a lot—like that you never had a sleepover.”
Crap, the kid was onto us in the beginning?“That so?” Dead. I’m dead. And now I’m wondering if the boy played us or if he said something on the playground to another kid who helped fill in the blanks. Guess I have to plan for the birds and the bees talk, and soon.
“Sure is,” he says with amusement.
“So, best man, if you’re so gosh darn smart then you know I can’t kiss the bride without practicing.”
My lips seek Holly’s, pressing to them with a kiss. She smiles and that tightness in my chest is back, but it has a halo of lightness I hadn’t taken note of before. Whatever this feeling is, it hadn’t existed for me before.
I understand now why you shouldn’t throw around the word love lightly. It’s weighty, and I’ve only begun to discover half of how meaningful.
She pulls back and her brown eyes dance with mischief. She’s distracted me and found another water pistol floating nearby. All of a sudden, the three of us are at war. No choosing sides, no rules, no cares, just fun. The damn perfect last weekend of the summer. I swear it’ll go down in history.My family’s history.
It’s finally when normal people are moving about for the day when our skin begins pruning. I wrap in a towel around my waist and cover Holly with another, rubbing her arms to dry her off. Bhodi’s earned some gaming time, and Davina disappeared thirty minutes ago into the house.
“You ready?” I ask, swiping my cell from the porch table.
“I am!” She wipes off her left hand and pulls up her phone’s camera, pausing long enough to turn my face to hers and gives me a real kiss.
We’d schemed after making love last night. I’m sure the endorphins all around are what’s keeping my girl awake and making her wild. After this, I’m putting her to bed. Hell, we all need a few hours of shut-eye.
I text Dusty that I’ve popped the question right before Holly posts a snapshot of her engagement ring to her private social media account with the caption:I said yes!
She was awestruck finding out Dusty and I’d had a man-to-man about where we saw our futures heading. Holly and Dusty’s friendship has carried over to mine with him. I don’t exactly lack in the buddies department. Nevertheless, having someone who gets where I’m going from to share stuff like proposing with is huge. Also, Dusty never uttered a peep to Cece and that counts for something. Holly’s girlfriends are all finding out the same way, so there’s no pecking order and every one of them is thrilled for her.
We’re a combo of exhausted and giddy as our fingers fly over the individual screens, showing one another reactions and trying to keep up with responses.
When it dies down, Holly shoots me a shy, seductive smile.
“You know better than to look at me that way.”
“I do.” She smarts, squealing when I place my arms under her.
Lifting her off of the seat, I toss her over my shoulder.
“Where are you taking me?”
“It’s nap time.” I slap her ass. “And about time I hear you scream my name when I ask ‘who’s your daddy’?”
________________
30
________________
The rest of our time at the beach passes in a love-struck blur.
Cary and I agree that after both of us have rings on our fingers, we’ll see if we can make someone else who calls him daddy. From what I’ve seen of Dusty with Sylvie Rhys and the glimpses of my former brother-in-law, Bennett, with Emory, Cary’s going to be an incredible father. If all I bring to this marriage is the ability for Cary to see it in himself, then that’s the gift I’m giving my husband.
Him. He is what made the wait worthwhile. He’s perfect for us. Genuine. Loving—and getting better at firm. Flawed but willing to patch himself up and stand tall instead of running from what wounded him. Ours is a love I’m willing to drown in because I love Cary. But if the bonus is watching him raise up my child into a strong man? Don’t bother throwing me a line. I’ll ride the swell of every wave.
Minus a message from Kelsey that’s half congratulatory/halfJake wants to see you ASAP,I’m chipper when we finally get back to the condo.
Laurel cuts my morning nap short, shooing me out the door to get to Sweet Caroline’s before lunch. Our appointment with Davina and the wedding planner is later this afternoon. Bennett has Emory.
