“That must be something. Mine never seems to go to sleep.”
“I read that the teenage brain doesn’t rest properly until about three a.m.. It’s why you have trouble getting to sleep then feel tired in the morning.”
“Hmm. Then how come adults are always tired?”
“Because we’re practically geriatric,” I say, fighting a smile.
He at least reddens as he rubs at the back of his head. “I was a bit of a douche that day.”
I shrug. “We’ve all struggled, I think. Don’t feel too bad about it.”
“Did he…did Dad tell you about my, um, misplaced advice?” he asks, eyes glancing between me and his mug as I make a noise in the affirmative.
“Yes. And like your dad, I hope we can all move on from this. Your dad and I just want to be happy, and I think if you kids can give our relationship a chance, then we can all be happy together.”
“You don’t just date the woman, you date her family too,” he says with a nod. “I read that in a magazine at the doctor’s office once. I forgot my phone.”
I’m starting to feel like I’m listening to a seventeen-year-old version of Archer. No wonder Leo likes him so much. “Well, it’s very insightful.”
He shrugs. “It applies to men too, I guess, since you have a family and Dad has a family and we’re all gonna live here one day.”
“You know about that?”
He squints a little as he scratches behind his neck. “Yeah. And I don’t mind. I’ve never had siblings, but it’ll be cool.”
“I’m not sure when it’ll happen, but it’s good to know you’re OK with it.”
“I’m going to uni next year, so I won’t be home as much, but there’s plenty of room here. We can make something here that none of us had before: a functioning family.”
“I like the sound of that, Niall,” I say, just as hands slide over my shoulders and Leo kisses me on the neck.
“I like the sound of that too,” Leo says, taking the seat next to me. He picks up my coffee and takes a sip. “Nice to see you two chatting.”
“I had to apologise for calling her your geriatric lover the last time she slept over. Which, judging by the fact you two are both wearing the clothes you wore last night was completely innocent again. Lame guys, lame.” Niall shakes his head as he stands with his now empty coffee cup and places it in the dishwasher, while I wonder how he knew what clothes I was wearing last night but decide not to ask. It’s probably evident by the fact my dress is crushed from sleeping in it.
“Hey, we were thinking of heading to the hospital fete a bit later if you want to tag along,” Leo says as Niall excuses himself.
“Yeah,” he says. “What time?”
“Twelve? We’ve got to go back to Darcy’s first then we’ll head over. I can grab you on the way through if you want.”
“Nah, I’ll come with you to Darcy’s.” He grabs the back of his neck again and frowns. “I…um…I’m really sorry, Darcy. I’ve been a total dick to you. Watching you with Dad, it’s really obvious that you two are cool together. I’ve never seen him like this. So, yeah, if I can come with you, that would be cool.”
FIFTY-THREE
DARCY
“There was a bag sitting right here,” Nana says, pointing at the empty spot on the floor. “It was full of willy warmers. Does anyone know what happened to them?”
“What bag? I know of no bag,” a croaky voice comes from the direction of the couch where a little hand is poking up, using the dragon willy-warmer as a puppet.
“Perhaps it’s a cave to you, Mr Dragon,” I say, grinning at the silliness of this moment. “Do you have many friends in there?”
“He has me. Ba-gock!” Archer’s other hand comes over the back of the couch and it’s got a rooster on it—the penis part is over his fingers and the ball part over the rest of his fist. “I’m here for dinner. But he doesn’t seem to have any food.” He’s using a high-pitched voice for the chicken.
“Well then, what are you going to eat?” I ask, playing along.
The dragon talks again. “I don’t know about you, but I’m having chicken. NOM NOM NOM!” He throws the chicken to the side while Nana and I laugh at his antics.
Abigail looks at her nails and rolls her eyes. “There are so many things wrong with this.” Then she gets up and takes the crocheted animals off Archer’s hands and throws them back in the bag.
“Hey, Mummy,” Archer says, running over to hug me good morning.
“Hi, Mum,” Abby says as she hands the bag of willy warmers to Nana. “I thought you’d have Leo with you.” I smile because I love that she’s being considerate and understanding when getting to this point was difficult for her. Sure, Niall egged her on, but the dissent was already there. He couldn’t have made her do anything she didn’t want to. Abigail and I needed these past weeks to see each other as human beings as well as parent and child. As much as I missed Leo, our time apart led us all to this moment.
“I did,” I say, stepping to the side as Leo appears in the doorway with Niall right beside him.
“Leo,” Archer shrieks, jumping off the ground in hyperactive joy before he launches himself at Leo and almost bowls him over. I have flashes of Leo going down and twisting his knee again, but thankfully that doesn’t happen.
“Hey, buddy.” Leo laughs, hugging him back. “It’s so awesome to see you.”
At the same time, Abigail’s eyes light up. “Niall,” she says, rushing to him and landing against him in a hug that isn’t nearly as ferocious as Archer’s. “It’s good to see you.”
“Same to you, little sis. Thought I’d come over and make sure you stay out of trouble.”
They release each other and Abby laughs, her hand over her mouth. “Oh God, don’t call me that. It’s so weird.”
Niall shrugs. “Better get used to it. These two lovebirds are the real deal. So that makes us family.”
“So, I’m getting a big brother?” Archer asks.
“Do you want a big brother?” Niall responds.
Archer tilts his head in thought. “That depends, will you give me money?”
“No.” Niall laughs.
“Archer,” I admonish, trying not to laugh, because I never know what’s coming out of his cheeky little mouth.
“That’s exactly something a big brother would say,” Archer says unfazed. “You can stay.”
“My lord, we’re all jumping so far ahead of ourselves,” I say. “Leo and I only just started dating properly.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Nana says. “They’re not jumping the gun, they’re facing facts. You and Leo are together and this”—she gestures with her hand to everyone in the room—“is your happily ever after. Enjoy it, and don’t waste any more time fighting it. Lord knows, you’ve already done enough of that.”
“I guess this means you can put your hex book away,” I joke. “No need to pull out the cauldron.”
“Pish.” She waves a hand about. “A good cauldron should always be handy for when the need arises.”
“I’m not even going to address that, are you?” Leo asks out of the side of his mouth.
“Not on your life,” I say back while we watch Nana gather her things and ask Archer if he’s almost ready to go. He runs off to get his portable charger so his phone battery doesn’t go flat during filming.
“What time does the fete start?” I ask Nana, who is going through the bag of willy warmers one last time to check they’re all there.
“Nine. Although Helen and Norma are already there, getting things set up.”
“Norma?”
“Yeah. She’s new. Martha is out. She has osteoporosis, had a fall, so now her son has put her into a nursing home in case she shatters a hip or something.”
“That’s terrible. She didn’t fall because she was drunk, did she?” The amount those ladies drink during their crafting sessions could pickle the whole ocean.
“Not that I’m aware of. I think she slipped coming out of the shower.
Poor woman was lying there for two hours before anyone found her. Lucky. It could have been days if she didn’t have all of us.”
“Who found her?”
“Leo, actually.” She smiles at the gorgeous man beside me with absolute fondness. I’d called her to see if she wanted to go for a walk and she wasn’t answering. We check in on each other every day, you see. At our age, you have to so the cats don’t eat your eyes.”
“You don’t have a cat, Nana.”
“Neither did Martha.”
“A cat ate her eyes?” I can’t think of anything more disturbing.
“No,” Nana says. “But one would of if Leo hadn’t come to help when I called.”
I turn to Leo and nudge him lightly in the side with my elbow. “Saving old ladies while working two jobs and fighting for custody of your son. Is there anything you can’t do?”
“I think we established that I suck at barbecuing steak. But I have your secret recipe in my wallet, so pretty soon I’ll be awesome at that as well.”
“First he’ll take over Bayside,” Niall teases. “Next stop, the world.”
We all laugh as Leo says, “You better believe it.”
Archer comes running back in with his charger and phone. “I’m ready,” he gasps, puffed from his haste.
“What are you doing with that?” Niall asks. “Is that an iPhone?”
“Yeah.” Archer holds it up. “It’s just a six, and I can only take videos and call Mum, but that’s OK.”
“OK?” Niall says. “That’s awesome, I didn’t get a phone until I was in high school.”
Archer shrugs. “That’s because you’re older than me. Everyone has phones now. You should probably get with the times.”
Niall laughs. “This kid is great.”
“I’m smart too,” Archer continues. “I’m filming Nana’s stall to put on my YouTube channel. I reckon it’ll be like those social experiments with the homeless people that go viral. You make ten thousand dollars for a viral video, you know? American dollars. That’s more in Australian money, isn’t it, Mummy?”
“Yeah, mate. Around fourteen thousand, I suppose.”
“How’s it gonna go viral, Archer?” Abigail asks. “You only have like, thirty followers.”
“Thirty-five,” he shoots back.
“OK, thirty-five. Sorry. I’m sure it’ll be a sensation.” She lifts her phone and looks at the screen. “My friends are meeting at the beach before we walk to the fete. You coming with?” she asks Niall.
“Yep,” he says. “See you all there.” Then they wave and they’re off.
“Are we going to have to worry about them?” I ask Leo as we watch Niall and Abby walk along the footpath talking animatedly.
“I don’t think so,” he says, slipping his arm around my waist. “Niall understands the age difference and if he’s calling her his sister already, I think he’s drawing a line in the sand.”
“That’s good, and I’m glad they’re getting along. This morning has been so wonderful. I woke up in your arms, the kids are happy and getting along, and I can’t stop smiling.” I press my hands to my cheeks. They’re warm and round under my palms.
“I want to wake up next to you every morning,” he replies, leaning down to kiss the tip of my nose. “The moment you’re ready, I want you to move in. Esme is right. I think we’ve waited long enough.”
“Of course, I’m right,” Nana says as she bustles towards the door. “I don’t understand why anyone would think otherwise.” She stops in front of us, a big grin on her face as she looks from Leo to me before taking in the way we’re embracing. “Now this, this is what I wanted for you all along, my dears. Both of you. Why don’t I take Archer on my own and give you the opportunity to have a few moments of peace? You can come by the fete a little later.” She gives us a wink and nods as she hustles Archer out the door. The decision is made in her mind, so she doesn’t wait for us to respond. It’s not like we were going to object. A moment alone? What kind of heaven is this?
“See ya, Mummy,” Archer says, rushing out with Nana with his phone in his hand and his grin in place.
“Be good, OK?” I say to the dust in his wake.
“We’ll be fine,” Nana says with a waggle of her eyebrows as she closes the sliding door, leaving Leo and me to the quiet.
“We’re alone,” he whispers.
We stand still for about two seconds before we’re kissing and pulling at each other’s clothes. We get his shirt off and the zip of my dress is undone before I place my hands on his chest and pull back. “Wait, wait. Let’s not rush this,” I say, panting, fingers caressing his deliciously warm skin.
His chest rumbles and I smile up at him in a coy way. “I am desperate for you, angel.”
“Hmm, I like it when you call me that.”
“Good, it’s what you are to me.” He bows his head and teases the lobe of my ear with his tongue.
“You still have furniture in your apartment, right?”
“I do. I left it behind so the real estate could stage the room or whatever it is they do.”
“Then let’s go over there. I feel a little funny doing this in my Nana’s apartment—not that she’d care. In fact, she’d probably give me a trophy.” I laugh, excited and nervous to be on the precipice of reuniting our bodies as one, and I want to get myself ready, make this special, and go somewhere we aren’t going to be disturbed. “How about you give me a minute to shower and freshen up for you and I’ll meet you there?”
“Hmm.” He narrows his eyes in thought. “Can I wait for you naked?”
“You can wait for me any way you want.”
“All right,” he says, reluctantly stepping back. “Just don’t take too long.” Have I mentioned how much I love the way this man’s eyes shine when he looks at me. I mean, they twinkle. Twinkle. I feel like I’m the literal light of his life.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
FIFTY-FOUR
DARCY
“You still have your pants on,” I say when I walk into his apartment and find him drinking from a bottle of water while he watches the yachts in the bay. He’s quite a sight to behold—tan muscular torso, jeans that hug his arse perfectly. I have this urge to lick him all over, slide my fingers between the ridges his muscles create. I want to grab him, bite him, devour him. My lord, it’s been too long. He turns his head towards me and gives me the benefit of his soft green gaze, warm and fuzzy as it settles inside my chest. Now mine is bursting, I could write an entire book describing my feelings for him and it still wouldn’t be enough. He’s my one.
“The unwrapping is part of the fun.” He grins and offers me some of his water. I shake my head as I pull the sash open on my silk dressing gown, letting it fall open just enough to show him there’s nothing on underneath. “Holy fucking hotness,” he says, capping the water and throwing it on the couch before he comes straight for me. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy before, Darcy.” His hands slip underneath the silken material, rough, warm and strong against my skin. I’m total mush.
“Me either,” I admit, biting my lips as I try to control my smile. This is so crazy, feeling so strongly towards a man who, in the grand scheme of things, I’ve known for such a short time. But after all we’ve been through, it feels like we fought a lifetime to find each other. This is the real thing, that connection they write love stories about, the one you’d do absolutely anything for. “I love you, Leo.”
“I love you too, angel.”
With his fingers settling about the flesh on my waist, he pulls me close and wraps me tight as his mouth meets mine and we lose ourselves in a soul-searing kiss. The world around us slips away as my body remembers what it’s like to be alive, to have his hands on me, his tongue exploring, his need pressing. In one of his delicious displays of strength, he scoops me into his arms and continues kissing me as he carries me to the bedroom, bumping into the wall before he sets me on my feet at the foot of the bed.
“That floor is dece
ptively flat,” he says as he pushes the robe off my shoulders and kisses my smooth skin before he lets the material float to the floor. He steps back for a moment to admire the view. “This is my favourite outfit of yours.”
“I have to agree. I prefer you with a lot less clothes as well.” With a laugh, I pop the top button on his jeans, sliding down the zip before reaching my hand inside to find… “Um. What am I feeling right now?”
He grins, eyes shining with mischief. “You’ll have to undress me to find out.”
Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, I push his jeans down his hips then just about choke when I find one of the willy warmers covering his dick—a crocodile to be exact. I fall back on the bed, clutching my stomach laughing.
“You like that?” he asks, kicking his jeans off the rest of the way so he’s standing there in nothing but the willy warmer.
I lift my head and take another look at him, dropping back on the bed as I laugh some more, my stomach hurting as I force out the words, “You look so ridiculous. Oh my God.” I’m crying. “I love you so much.”
He leans over me on the bed, his eyes intense as he looks down at me. “I will love you, every part of you, until the day I die,” he declares, turning this crazy moment into one filled with absolute, heart-swelling joy. “You are the woman of my dreams and I never want us to be apart again.”
I place my hands on either side of his head, fingers sliding into his hair as he leans in and kisses me, soft at first, then deep and possessive until he’s completely stolen my breath.
““I never want to be apart either,” I say, sliding my fingers down the muscles on his back before they catch on the cord that ties the willy warmer to his waist. “But this”—I pull on the string and loosen it—“I can part with.”
With a laugh, he brushes his nose next to mine. “It’s surprisingly comfortable.”
“Really?” I say as I pull it from between us. “I’d have thought it’d be all scratchy from the wool.”
“Whatever they used is incredibly soft. It’s like a good quality sock.”
Love is a Beach: a romantic comedy Page 34
