by Kaylee Ryan
I find him standing on his side of the bed, still naked and sliding under the covers. “My bag?” I ask him.
“I put it in the closet. I hung up your clothes. Come to bed.” He pulls the cover back and holds it open for me. Not needing to be told twice, I slide in beside him. He meets me in the middle of his huge-ass bed and wraps his naked body around mine. “Night, Addy.”
“Night, Luke,” I whisper just before sleep claims me.
Chapter Twenty
Lucas
* * *
It’s Saturday, and I’ve spent my morning doing yard work. Addyson and Harper went shopping, and there was mention of stopping to get their toes done. According to Harper, going to the Dan + Shay concert next weekend requires a new outfit. I have a feeling, it’s less about the outfit and more about spending the day together. Justin and I have been monopolizing their time, and they don’t see as much of each other as they used to.
I told them to just come over here when they’re done. Justin is going to be here around six, and we’ll throw some steaks and chicken breasts on the grill, swim, and just catch up. However, before that, I have some errands to run. My first stop is my parents. It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve stopped by, which isn’t like me at all. When Ollie, my nephew, called me a couple of hours ago and asked if I was mad at him, I knew I’d fucked up. I promised him as soon as the yard work was done, I’d come to toss the football with him. He’s with my parents today since Anna had to work.
As soon as I pull into my parents’ driveway, he’s flying out the door, down the front steps, and is waiting at the door of my truck, football in hand. “Hey, buddy.” I reach down and pick him up. He’s small for six, but I was too at his age.
“Ready?” he asks, his eyes full of excitement.
“Yeah, bud.” I set him back on his feet, and he takes off for the front yard. We spend the next thirty minutes tossing the ball. Well, there’s more chasing than anything on my end, but he’s only six. He’ll get there.
“Ollie,” my sister Anna calls out for him. “Time for lunch.”
He doesn’t talk back or whine. He simply nods and, with his football under his arm, heads inside to get cleaned up. He’s such a good kid, and I feel bad I’ve gone this long without seeing him. His dad left when he was just a few weeks old. He sees him every other weekend and during the week when Anna needs the help. Although it’s as if she has to pull teeth to get him to actually do more than his every-other-weekend visit. The worst part? He has a new baby, a new wife, and he seems to be very attentive to them. At least for now. Only time will tell if he’ll walk out on her like he did my sister. I get it. Hearts change, you fall out of love, but your kid? That’s life. You don’t get the option to walk away. You’re man enough to create a life, you’re man enough to care for that child. There are no exceptions to that rule.
“You hungry?” Mom asks when I enter the kitchen.
“Always.” I laugh, messing up Ollie’s hair as I pass his seat at the table.
“Help yourself.” Mom points to the counter where all the fixings for lunchmeat sandwiches are laid out. Not needing to be told twice, I make a couple of sandwiches and take a seat at the table.
“Where’s Dad?”
“He and Tom are golfing today. He’ll be sorry that he missed you.”
“It’s a good day for it.”
“We haven’t seen you much lately,” she says.
She’s baiting me. “Just been busy,” I say casually, knowing it will drive her crazy.
“When do I get to meet her?” she blurts before taking a bite of her sandwich.
“Soon.” I shake my head at her. “I don’t need you scaring her off.”
“Me?” She acts as though I’ve offended her. We both know better.
“Yes, you,” Anna chimes in. “We know how protective you can get, mama bear.” She laughs and looks over at her son. “I get it.”
Mom looks wide-eyed and innocent. “I promise to be good.”
“Soon,” I repeat, trying to appease her.
She studies me a moment. “You’re smitten,” she gushes.
“Mom, give him a break.” My sister defends me.
“No.” I wave Anna off. “She’s right, but it’s more than just smitten, Mom. I really like her. She’s been hurt in the past, and I’m taking things slowly. I want you to meet her. We just need a little more time.” Truth is, things have been so great with us, I’m afraid to jinx us. Not that my family would ever do that, but the worry is there. Smitten doesn’t quite describe how I feel for her. No, the only word suitable is love.
I’m in love with her.
“Fine,” Mom concedes, completely unaware of what I’ve just admitted to myself. Not that she would know. I’m completely calm. There is zero panic rolling around in my head; instead, it’s thoughts of mine and Addy’s future. One I feel stronger about every day.
Once we’ve finished eating, Anna takes Ollie upstairs to get cleaned up, and I help Mom in the kitchen. “Tell Dad I’m sorry I missed him.”
“Will do. I’m sure he’ll be sorry he missed you.”
“I’ll stop by one night next week.” Even as I say the words, I’m wondering if I can bring Addy with me or if it’s still too soon like I claimed it to be a few minutes ago. The alternative is not seeing her. Maybe I can leave work early and still make it back to my place at the usual time.
After a quick hug and a yell of goodbye up the steps, I’m back in my truck and headed to my next stop. I’m barely home ten minutes when I hear a car pull into the drive. Glancing out the kitchen window, I see it’s Addyson. I move to the garage and open the door for her. She pulls her car into her spot and climbs out. I’m there waiting for her. “Hey.” I snake my arm around her waist and kiss her hello. “Where’s Harper?”
“I dropped her off at Justin’s. They’ll be here in a couple of hours.”
“You need help carrying anything in?”
“Luke, at this rate, I’m going to have more of my belongings here than at my place.”
“I like that plan,” I admit.
She shakes her head in disbelief, but there is a small smile playing on her lips. “I just have two bags, so I can manage.” She opens the back door and pulls out two bags.
Hitting the button on the garage door, I follow her into the house. “Did you have a good day?” I guide her to the couch once she sets the bags down on the kitchen island.
“Yes. It’s been a while since Harper and I have spent the day together.”
I take a seat on the couch, and pull her down on my lap, snuggling her close. “I missed you.”
“I was gone a few hours.”
“It’s four in the afternoon. You left at nine.”
“That’s less than a workday,” she counters.
“Too damn long,” I grumble, pulling her closer.
“Do we have everything we need for tonight? Do we need to run to the store?”
I don’t comment on how she says we instead of me, joining us together, as if this is our home and we’re having guests over. A man can dream. “No, we’re good. I have chicken and steaks. Justin was going to grab some beer, and whatever else he thinks we need.”
“What else are we having?” She turns to face me.
I lean in for a kiss, which she accepts willingly. When I pull away, I say, “Salad, baked potatoes, and whatever else he comes up with.”
“Do we have dressing? I know we were out.” A sexy blush covers her cheeks. It’s finally dawned on her how it sounds.
“Yeah, baby, we’re good. I picked some up when I was out today.”
She looks away. I’m sure embarrassed, even though she has no reason to be. I want our lives to be one. “Luke,” she says softly. That’s when I know she sees what I picked up today.
“You might not live here, not officially, not yet, and I know you’re not ready for that,” I rush to say. “But I thought it was time we started turning this house into a home. Besides, you make it feel th
at way. I love having you here.”
She stands and walks toward the framed picture on the mantel. The one and only picture in my house. I watch as she picks it up and studies it. Not able to stand being away from her, I go to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on top of her head. “We look good together.”
“Yeah,” she agrees, taking in the image of us from the benefit a few weeks ago.
“We make a good team.”
I can hear her sniff. “I’m ridiculous,” she says with laughter in her voice. “This picture shouldn’t have me in tears.”
“Are you happy, Addyson?”
She turns in my arms. “Incredibly.”
“Good. Then when you’re ready, you can add your own pictures next to mine.” I kiss her forehead. “Now, we have about two hours before they get here. I say we take a nap.”
“Right.” She laughs. “Nap.”
“No, really, I’m beat. I mowed the yard, ran the weed eater, and then tossed the football with Ollie for about thirty minutes. I’m exhausted.”
“Poor baby,” she coos.
“They want to meet you,” I say, testing the waters. “My family wants to meet you.”
“I’d like to meet them too.”
“Yeah?” I ask in disbelief.
“We’re doing this, so I’m going to have to meet them at some point. Just tell me when and I’ll be there.”
“I’ll set it up. You should plan on doing the same,” I tell her. “Now, about that nap.” Clasping my hand around hers, I guide her down the hall to the bedroom. We don’t bother stripping out of our clothes as we climb on the bed. Before long, we drift off to sleep.
The sound of the doorbell wakes me. Peeling open my eyes, I peer over Addy and look at the alarm clock on her nightstand. Five after six. Shit. We slept late. Placing a kiss on her cheek, I pull myself away from her to go answer the door.
“Hey,” I say, greeting Justin and Harper. “Come on in. I’ll be just a second.” I close the door behind them and head back to my room. Addyson is sitting on the edge of the bed, hand over her mouth covering a yawn.
“I didn’t think we’d sleep that long. Actually, I didn’t think we would sleep.” She grins.
“Yeah, well, don’t go looking all cute or our friends might have to entertain themselves,” I say, stepping to stand in front of her.
“No, sir.” She lays her hands on my chest and pushes me back. “No, that is not going to happen when we have, I mean, when you have guests in the other room.” We have guests, in our home. She may not call my house home, not yet, but we’re getting there.
“I can be quiet.” I step forward again.
She hops off the bed, and steps around me, going to the door. “You might be able to, but I can’t.” She winks before rushing out the door. I hear her greet our friends and then laughter carries down the hall. Hers I can pick out among the others. It’s a sound that seems to have brought this house, brought me to life. I never want to lose it. Flipping off the light, I head down the hall. I find them in the living room. Harper and Justin are sitting on the couch while Addyson is in the chair. I walk to where she’s sitting and lean against the arm of the chair.
“Hope we didn’t interrupt.” Harper wags her eyebrows.
“Not this time,” I say, causing Addyson to smack my leg playfully.
“We were sleeping,” she tells her best friend.
“Is that what we’re calling it these days?” Justin jokes.
“Trust me, if it were anything else, your ass would still be standing on my front porch.”
“I have a key, remember.”
“Yeah, well. Use it with caution, my friend,” I warn him, and the four of us cut up with laughter.
The remainder of the night is low-key. Dinner, laughing, talking, and enjoying great company. Justin and I have done this—just hanging out—a thousand times, but I must admit it’s so much better when the love of your life is by your side.
Now I just need to find the right time to tell her.
Chapter Twenty-One
Addyson
* * *
It’s the day of the concert, and Harper and I decided we needed to get ready together. Like old times. The guys didn’t give us too much of a fuss. In fact, Justin offered his place and fled to Luke’s.
“Remind me again why we couldn’t have done this at either my place or yours?” I ask Harper.
“He likes me here.” She looks at me in the mirror.
We’re currently in the master bath doing our hair and makeup. “What about you? Do you like it here?”
Her eyes meet mine again. “I never want to leave. Not because of the house, but because of Just. I love him, Addy,” she confesses, turning to face me.
I wrap my arms around her in a hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks. It’s fast, you know, but I don’t really care. I know what I feel.”
“There is no timeline,” I say, quoting Luke’s words to me.
“Yeah, I like that.” She nods and turns back to the mirror. “What about you? If I recall, my boyfriend isn’t the only one who offered up his house.”
“I trust him.” Three words I never thought I would be able to say again.
“Wow.” She turns to look at me. “Addyson, that’s huge.”
I nod. “I know, but he’s so open, and there’s something in his eyes, you know? It’s the way he looks at me, and the way he touches me, like I’m something precious to him. I’ve never been on the receiving end of that.”
“Remind me to give that man a hug.” She laughs. “He brought back the light in your eyes.”
“I love him,” I repeat her earlier words. Surprisingly there is no panic, no fear of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not with Luke.
“Have you told him?” she asks, excited.
“Have you?” I counter.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Are you going to?” she questions.
“I don’t know,” I confess. Telling my best friend and telling Lucas are two completely different situations.
“He loves you, you know that, right?”
“I know.”
“Then what’s holding you back?”
“I’m not sure. I guess I’ve been hurt so many times I’m just working up the courage to put myself out there again.”
“Too late for that. You’ve already put yourself out there. Everything but actually ending the suspense for that man and telling him how you feel.”
“When did you tell Justin?”
“Every day.” She smiles. “About a month ago.”
“I’ll let you slide on not telling your best friend.” I give her a pointed look.
“Good for you.” I smile at her in the mirror.
“Good for us. All of us. Who would have thought drinks at Stagger would have ended up with both of us finding love? And I wasn’t intentionally not telling you. It’s just things have been happening so fast for both of us. It just kind of happened and kept happening.”
“Right? Not in a million years, and I forgive you. I’m so happy for you, Harper.”
“I wouldn’t change it.”
“Not for anything,” I agree. We finish getting ready while laughing and catching up. We’ve just slipped on our boots when we hear the front door open and close.
“Harp, babe, you ready?” Justin calls up the steps.
“You ready?” she asks me.
“Yep.” I take one final look in the mirror. My hair is full of loose curls pulled into a side ponytail. I decided on a brown sundress with teal accents to match the teal in my cowboy boots. Harper is wearing a blue denim skirt and a pink halter-style top, and her boots are black and pink. We look like the coordinating small-town girls that we are.
Grabbing my phone and small crossbody, I shove the rest of my things in my bag and follow Harper downstairs. “Addy.” Luke holds his hand out for me, and I go to him. He raises our joined hands in the air and spins me a
round. “You’re beautiful.” His eyes rake over me.
“Stop that,” I scold him playfully.
“What?” His brows dip low.
“Looking at me like that. We’re leaving for a concert.”
“And?”
“And…” I blow out a hot breath. “That look, it does things to me… every time you look at me like that.”
“Like what?” he whispers, his lips next to my ear.
“Like you want to devour me,” I reply just as softly.
“I don’t know how to stop it. I do want to devour you.”
Yes, please.
“Ready?” Harper asks over her shoulder. She and Justin are standing at the door waiting on us.
“Yes.” Luke takes my bag and puts it in the back seat of his truck, locking the doors. We climb into the back seat of Justin’s truck, and hit the road. Harper and I pregame, if that’s what you want to call it. She connects her phone to the truck’s radio and plays DJ. We go from listening to Shaggy to Charlie Puth to Dan + Shay. Of course, we had to work them in since that’s where we’re headed. The guys laugh at us and sing along with our little truck-ride concert.
We arrive at the arena two hours before the show starts. The tickets Justin snagged are VIP, which means we get to meet Dan + Shay. I’m pumped about it, but not nearly as excited as Harper. She’s texted me all week since our shopping trip. Justin pulls his truck into VIP parking and kills the engine.
