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“I’m sorry to hear that,” Kipp says. “All of it, really. But…I’m glad you have your grandparents.”
“Yeah,” I say with a small smile. “I am, too.”
“You didn’t mention about us being, well, you know,” he says, his words almost tentative.
“Does that bother you?” I ask.
“No,” he’s quick to say. “I mean, it’s not like our marriage is real. It’s no big deal. I was just wondering.”
There’s a twinge in my chest that I do my best to brush off. “I’ll tell them eventually. Maybe the next time I visit.” Once I figure out what to say.
“Yeah, I get it,” Kipp says. “Um, wanna watch some TV?”
“Sure. Let’s do it.”
Kipp walks ahead of me into the living room, practically leaping the last few steps onto the couch like the kid at heart that he is. I chuckle, not minding one bit when he shifts around to set his head in my lap. I sift my fingers through his hair, wondering what the hell I’m doing.
Wondering how I’m possibly supposed to give this up once Kipp decides he’s ready to go on his way.
Chapter 12
Kipp
“Having a husband is great,” I tell Jacob. “I have someone to eat dinner with and watch TV with. We take showers together, which is just plain good for the planet, you know? All that water conservation. And I have someone to cuddle with anytime I want.”
That might be my favorite part. All the cuddling. Or Teddy’s chest. Or his thighs. Or, damn, am I really supposed to pick a favorite?
Oh! Teddy is my favorite. There. Solved.
Jacob looks at me a little strangely, standing in front of my desk with his project notes in hand. Granted, he didn’t ask for an update on my life, but hey, he was updating me about his web design. Figured I’d return the favor. “Were you not doing those things before?” he asks.
Oh. Right. “I mean, Teddy and I are closer now since the wedding.” True. “I feel like I know him better.” Also true.
“Well, honestly, I’m happy for you, man. Are we going to meet him soon?”
“Yeah, maybe,” I mutter, wondering how much longer I can keep putting that off. We’re a pretty small company here. Everyone and their mother has asked about Teddy. “So, uh, you had a question about integrating the preexisting logo into your design?”
“Right,” Jacob says, getting back to it. Twenty minutes later, he heads off to his desk, and my phone rings.
Vaughn. My day was going so well, too.
“Hello?” I answer, leaving my office and heading for the exit. It’s close enough to lunchtime that I can take my break now, as well as this long-overdue phone call.
“Wow. He lives,” my brother says.
“Yeah. Sorry about that. I—”
“We’re coming to visit.”
My blood runs cold. “What? Why?”
“Why do you think, dumbass? You got married without telling anyone. Mom and Dad are worried.”
About me or my choices?
“That doesn’t mean you need to come here,” I say, well aware of the frantic edge to my voice.
“Too late. You weren’t returning our calls. We’re coming Friday.”
