Just One Night

by C. A. Harms

  “Is that all it takes? Fifteen minutes?” She was always challenging me.

  “Babe, you know I can have you going off like a rocket in five.” Palmer laughed because she knew it was true.

  We were explosive together.

  Palmer

  “Palmer is pregnant,” Corbin announced as he sat down on the couch and propped up his feet up on the coffee table. Stretching his arms up, he placed them behind his head and stared around the room with pride.

  Of course he would announce it this way. Mr. Showboat, grand entrances and abrupt words, no preparation, no warning. He was such a goof ball. Never a dull moment, that was for sure.

  I felt all eyes on me, and I, of course, stared ahead at him. He did this and I’m the one left to feel my face christened with embarrassment.

  “No way!” Clayton was the first to speak and it’s then that I looked in his direction. With his hands on his hips, he looked between his brother and me, and then to Emelie. I hadn’t noticed how quiet she was until now. I half expected her to be pissed that I hadn’t yet told her, but I was waiting until I was through the first trimester, or that was the plan.

  She glared at Clayton, and then looked down at her lap instead of looking at me.

  “Em?” What in the hell? “What’s going on?”

  “Yeah, Em, what’s going on?” Clayton added, still giving his brother the stink eye.

  Ever so slowly, Emelie looked up and smiled as she took a step closer. “Congratulations.” Reaching out, she hugged me tight but I wasn’t fooled. Yes, I knew she was happy for me, but she was also hiding something. She was an open book, or at least to me she was. I knew her too well.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Nothing.” She wouldn’t look me in the eye.

  “Clay?”

  Emelie reacted, glaring at her fiancé.

  “Will one of you tell me what’s going on?”

  Silence, everyone was now looking at Clayton and Emelie. But it’s Corbin who finally spoke up. “No frickin’ way!”

  Clayton smiled, nodding to his brother, and they shared some type of unspoken words.

  “How far?” Corbin stood and squared off with his brother.

  “Seven weeks.” Clayton is beaming with pride.

  “Nine weeks.” Corbin’s chest swelled and it’s then that I felt Emelie’s hand on my arm. Turning my focus back to her, I found her eyes gleaming with tears. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  “I didn’t want to take the joy of your announcement.” Immediately my own eyes filled with tears and I hugged her close. “You didn’t take anything away from me, you just gave me more to be thankful for. Our babies are going to be cousins and the best of friends.”

  We shared a moment, holding one another, allowing our tears to fall freely.

  “They’re both a ball of emotions,” one of the guys said but we didn’t care. If I could share this with anyone in the world it would be with Em. We’ve been through so much together and we weren’t just best friends, we were sisters.

  “Two more grandbabies,” our soon to be mother-in-law shouted with excitement and we all laugh.

  Everything was amazing, all I needed now was my parents here too. I’d not given up on convincing them to follow me to Kentucky. Who knows, maybe the news of their first grandbaby would change their minds.

  Jay

  “I think we need to take a trip to New York.” Ruby flopped down on the couch at my side. “Or maybe move there.”

  “We were just there last month.” She was fucking adorable when she pouted.

  “Yes, I know this.” Worrying her lips, she stared ahead at the television but I knew she wasn’t watching what was playing on the screen. “But I miss Leo, and Jade.”

  I loved how she loved my sister and my nephew. Ruby had an amazing heart, so kind and gentle. It was behind closed doors, when it was just her and I alone, that she’d let go and go wild. I loved those times too.

  Woman could make my toes curl, that was no joke.

  “I don’t know anyone here.” I wondered more times than I could count if coming to Houston was a mistake. It was I who followed her when she was accepted into a medical research program. But she hadn’t been happy, I’d noticed. She smiled, laughed, but she wasn’t the same girl. I hated seeing her struggle.

  I knew that I could work from anywhere, but it was her I was worried about.

  At least back in Florida she had Vera, who was the closest thing she had to a mother after her own passed. But here it was just the two of us and I knew I couldn’t give her everything she needed, even though I’d tried.

  “I thought I’d like it here.” When her lower lip trembled, that was my undoing. Reaching out, I gripped her by her waist and pulled her into my lap. Immediately she tucked her head into the crease of my neck and I felt her body shake.

  “You tell me what you want.” I’d do anything for her, anything at all. If that meant we chased after my sister so that Ruby would have her best friend close, then I’d do it. Hell, I would pack up our shit now and leave behind this crackerjack of an apartment.

  “I’m sorry, I’m just emotional.”

  “Baby, you know that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, right?” She nodded her head. “Let’s finish out this year, then after that you can apply anywhere you want to finish out your degree and I will follow you.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “You’re not asking.” Ruby lifted her head and I saw her fresh tears staining her cheeks. “I’m telling you, I go where you go.”

  Ruby

  The last year had been rough. Jay was supportive, more than supportive, actually, because I know I was a mess. It wasn’t the program, but more of location. Houston was beautiful, but it wasn’t where I wanted to be.

  So the minute that I’d found out there was an amazing research facility in New York, I applied and was accepted.

  The plan was for Isaac and Jade to only live in New York for a year, but I knew the first time I visited them that they’d found a place they both loved. The for sure sign was when his parents sold their condo and moved there too. Jade told us the only thing missing was us.

  Stepping into our apartment, I felt the immediate sense of home. Jay wrapped his arms around me from behind and together we scanned over the space. It was small, but it was ours. I couldn’t wait to fill it with our things and start making memories.

  Jay wanted to get us a bigger place and pay for it with the money his father had given him over the years that he’d yet to touch, but I refused. Maybe one day we would get a bigger place, but I wanted to know that we were where we were because of our hard work.

  I’d lived under my father commands and financial stability for years. It felt unbelievable to no longer have that strain.

  “What do you say we christen this place before the movers arrive?” I pushed my bottom back into his groin and immediately he growled.

  In no time at all I was spun around and my body was lifted off the floor, firmly planting me on the countertop that separated our small living room and kitchen. Wrapping my legs around his waist, he lifted my shirt and tossed it to the floor.

  I’m loving this place even more and I knew without a doubt I would never look at the island the same again.

  Acknowledgements

  From the entire gang of ‘Oh Tequila series, thank you for loving us.

  So many shenanigans, so many memories, and they all led to our happy endings.

  WARNING: Beware of Tequila, for it makes you do and say things you never thought you’d do and say before. It’s lethal, its consuming…

  Before you know it you’re waking up with a pink dildo in your hand and you are taped to one of your best friends. That shit will follow you for life, believe us, there are videos to prove our point.

  About the Author

  A LITTLE ABOUT ME, LET’S see where to start.

  I love HEA stories, as long as they come packing a little heat. I need some e
xcitement, some angst, and moments that make me fan my face, those are always good too. I am an Illinois girl, born and raised. Simple and true, it honestly doesn’t take much to make me happy. I love the little things, they truly mean the most. I may have a slight addiction to my new Keurig—oh my, that thing is a godsend. And so fast too. I have two children who truly are my very best friends. Their faces never fail to put a smile on my face. I have been married to my husband for sixteen years, and even though at times I want to beat him with a stick, I would never change the years we have had. We have learned and fallen, only to pick each other up, dust off the aches, and help each other make it right.

  I am one of those authors that adore my fans. I love to hear from you. After all, it is because of each one of you that I continue to write. I look forward to you feedback.

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