The Beauty of Us

by Kristen Proby

“Yeah. I just . . . I can’t do the long-distance thing.”

  “What did his text say?” Kat asks.

  My chin wobbles as I think of his words, so I open the text and show it to them.

  “Wow,” Addie whispers.

  “I don’t even know what that means,” I say, and stuff my phone in my pocket. “How is he going to come for me? And when? I’m not a freaking mind reader.”

  “Maybe there’s more to it than meets the eye,” Kat says. “I mean, maybe you should give him a chance to explain things.”

  “No.” I shake my head as we walk out to our cars. “I am not built for a long-distance relationship. I need him to touch me. I need hugs and kisses and sex. Call me shallow, but I do need those things.”

  “That’s not shallow at all,” Addie replies. “Hugs and kisses are called affection, and it’s a very important piece of any relationship.”

  “Definitely,” Kat says with a nod. “And he hasn’t said whether he’d be willing to move here?”

  “He hasn’t said hardly anything at all.” I’m just frustrated again, which is so much better than being sad. “He won’t return my calls, even when I tell him that I really need to talk to him. It’s like, as soon as he went home, the amazing communication just stopped.”

  “Yeah, that’s not okay,” Kat says, and gives me a big hug before she gets into her car. “I’m sorry, honey. Let me know if you need me.”

  “What are you doing for your birthday?” Addie asks, which is brilliant because while we already know, Kat doesn’t know that we know.

  “I think Mac’s just taking me out to dinner,” she says with a smile. “We’re gonna keep it low-key.”

  We nod, and wave as she drives away.

  “Do you already have a dress?” Addie asks as we both watch Kat drive down the street.

  “Yeah, Trevor bought me one.” I scowl. “Maybe I should buy a different one. I don’t know if I want to wear something that he bought me.”

  “Now you’re being dramatic,” she says. “Wear the dress. Mac said he’ll have Kat out of the apartment by three so we can sneak in and get set up, and he’ll have her back by eight.”

  “Sounds good. Cami said she already bought all of the decorations.”

  “She’s so crafty,” Addie says with a grin. “It’ll be a fun party.”

  I nod and unlock my car. “I’m going to run home to shower, and then I’m heading into the office for a while.”

  “Okay. I’m taking today off. I feel like I haven’t seen Ella much this week.”

  “You definitely should go spend some time with her.” I hug Addie and smile when she pulls back. “Give her a kiss from me.”

  “I’ll give her lots of kisses from you.” She waves as I get into my car and drive away. I feel better. Still not great, but better than I did this morning. I needed the exercise, and I needed the time with my friends. I’m making the right decision. Now the trick will be to stay busy for a while and focus on something besides my broken heart.

  Cami has outdone herself. Since Mac and Kat have been gone, the rooftop garden that Kat loves so much has been transformed. Lights hang from anything standing still, and I’m not sure where Cami rented the jukebox from, but it’s amazing. Rockabilly music is filling the air, and we’re all dressed the part, in fun dresses, our hair in big curls, and bright red lipstick on all our lips.

  “You look amazing,” I say to Mia, who’s hurrying by with a tray of appetizers.

  “I’m stuffed so tightly into this dress that I can hardly breathe,” she says, but then a smile spreads over her lips. “And I do look amazing.”

  Everything is ready for Kat, and they should be here any minute. Anyone not working at Seduction tonight is here, along with Kat’s parents and Mac’s mom and brother, Chase.

  Even Mia’s parents are here.

  It’s a full house.

  “They’re here!” Cami announces, looking down at her phone. We cut off the lights and wait for the door to open, and when it does, the lights are flipped on and we all yell, “Surprise!”

  “Holy shit,” Kat says, her hand on her chest. She looks around, taking in the party decor, and all the people here to celebrate her, and then she launches herself into Mac’s embrace, hugging him close. “So much for a low-key birthday.”

  He laughs and kisses her soundly. “Happy birthday, my love.”

  Kat wanders through the crowd, hugging her parents first.

  “We did it,” Cami says, holding her hand up for a high five. “She was surprised.”

  “Of course she was,” Mia says, and sips a glass of champagne. “We’re good at keeping secrets.”

  “We kept this one for a long time,” Cami says, then frowns. “What else are you guys keeping from me?”

  “Nothing,” I say with a laugh. “Don’t be so suspicious.”

  “Thank you, ladies,” Mac says as he approaches and offers us each a hug. “You did a beautiful job.”

  “She deserves a good birthday,” Addie says as she pats Ella’s back. The baby is in the cutest damn rockabilly dress I’ve ever seen. She even has a matching headband.

  “I’m going to make a toast,” Mac says, and wanders off, looking for Kat. “Can I have your attention, please.”

  We all quiet as we turn our attention to Mac. He has Kat’s hand in his, and he’s gazing down at her lovingly.

  “I just want to thank you all for being here tonight to help me celebrate the birth of the most important person in my life. Kat, you deserve to have the best celebration. You are the most caring, loving, beautiful, funny, and intelligent person I know, and I’m so blessed to call you mine. You make every day better. I’ll never be able to repay you for that. Happy birthday, my love.”

  “Thank you,” Kat says, and lets Mac bring her in for a long, close hug.

  “I have to go to the restroom,” I murmur to Cami, and make a quick exit before anyone else notices. I can’t stop the tears falling down my face.

  I rush into the bathroom and Cami follows me in, worry written all over her face.

  “I heard about Trevor,” she says quietly. “Addie filled me in.”

  “I don’t know why I’m crying again.” I grab a wad of tissues, then press them to my eyes. “I’ve cried all of the tears in the world already. I can’t turn them off. And I know that Kat deserves this amazing party, and the wonderful man she has. I’m so happy for her, and for you and Addie. I don’t begrudge you your happiness in any way.”

  “I know,” Cami says. Her voice is soft and she’s rubbing circles on my back soothingly. “But you thought you’d found that too.”

  “I did.” I nod and finally surface from my tissue hell. I finally broke down and bought waterproof mascara, and so far it’s worth its weight in gold.

  “It’s okay to be sad.”

  “I’m so tired of being sad,” I reply, and blow my nose. “Maybe I shouldn’t stay. I’m kind of a downer.”

  “Or you could drink a lot. That usually makes you feel better.”

  “Honestly, I don’t feel like drinking either.”

  Before she can respond, we both pause as we hear someone shouting.

  “Is that Mia?” I ask, and we both hurry out of the bathroom. I stop short when I see Mia yelling at Trevor, whose gaze is on hers. He’s not replying, he’s just listening as she rails at him in my defense.

  Landon is standing behind her, arms folded over his chest, legs shoulder width apart.

  “Why does Landon look like the Secret Service?” Cami asks. “Damn alpha man.”

  “I have to go.” Just then, Trevor looks over to where I’m standing, but I don’t say a word to him. Instead, I walk over to hug Kat and Mac. “Happy birthday.”

  “Thanks.” Kat smiles. “He looks pretty sad too.”

  I just shake my head and walk away. Mia calls out to me and hurries to catch me before I make it to the elevator.

  “Don’t worry,” she says. “I’m going to kick his ass. But maybe you should listen to what h
e has to say.”

  “Mia—”

  “Drive safe.”

  The doors close and I can’t wait to get to my car and speed away. I don’t want to speak to him. I don’t want to see him.

  But when I pull into my driveway and walk up to my house, Trevor pulls in behind me.

  “I need to talk to you,” he says. Every muscle in his body is tight, his eyes are narrowed. His hair is messy from his fingers.

  God, he looks fantastic.

  “Trevor, I said everything I needed to say the other night.”

  “Yeah, well, you wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say, so I’m here to say it.”

  “Fine.” I unlock the door and step inside, throw my keys in their bowl, and stomp toward the kitchen, knowing he’ll follow me. I turn to look at him from across the room. “Say it.”

  “You look amazing in that dress.”

  “I’m quite sure that’s not what you were going to say.”

  And when you say things like that, you make me soft.

  “Riley, I don’t want to break things off. I’m so sorry that Stephanie and Angie caused so much trouble. I had no idea it was happening until after the fact.”

  “It’s not just them,” I say, resigned to having this out here and now. “Don’t get me wrong, they didn’t help at all. But it just felt like the whole situation was full of drama. These women are warning me off my own boyfriend, and when I try to call and talk to you about it, you ignore me.”

  “I wasn’t ignoring you.”

  “Not returning my calls or texts is ignoring me. I need attention, Trevor. I need to see you and talk to you every day. I need to feel like I’m at the top of your priority list. And you obviously can’t do that for me.”

  “I’m such an idiot,” he says, pacing the room. “I wasn’t ignoring you, I promise. I wasn’t getting all of the calls or messages. My phone was fucked up, and I know that’s my own damn fault and I should have made it a priority to get a new one, but, Riley, I promise you, I’ve done nothing but spend the past few weeks doing everything in my power to figure out a way for us to be together full-time.”

  “You weren’t backing away?”

  “No, baby.” He takes a step toward me, but I step back and he growls in frustration. “Do you know how fucking hard it is to be in the same room with you for the first time in weeks and not have you in my arms?”

  “Yes.” I cock a brow and wait for him to keep speaking.

  “I love you,” he says. His chest is heaving, his green eyes on fire. “You’re the best thing that’s ever come into my life, Riley. Being without you was pure torture, so I put my head down and worked my ass off. If I was working, I couldn’t miss you.”

  “I did that too.”

  “And I have very good news.”

  He smiles, and for the first time, hope takes up residence in my heart.

  “Go on.”

  He steps forward, and I don’t step away, making him smile wider.

  “I came up with a way for me to be in Portland full-time, and for the restaurant to get more exposure and bring in a good chunk of money.”

  “Okay.”

  He takes my hand and kisses it, and I can’t stand it anymore. I rush into his arms and kiss him, my heart and soul pouring out in love and relief as we cling to each other.

  “I missed you so much,” he whispers.

  “I need you to finish what you were saying.”

  “Right.” He clears his throat and lifts me in his arms. He sits on the couch and cradles me to him. “A new show on the network, featuring Seduction and, more specifically, Mia.”

  “Is this just an idea, or has it already been approved?”

  “You think so much like me,” he says, and brushes his fingertips down my face. “That was what I was working so hard on, and why I was unavailable so much. Chris, my boss, and I were coming up with a show proposal and a presentation to give the muckety-mucks who approve these things, and as of yesterday, it’s approved.”

  “What exactly does that mean?”

  “It means that if you want me here, I can be here full-time, overseeing the new show. We can be together all the time, Riley. No more long distance, and miscommunication.”

  “And no more crazy ex-wives or chicks who think they’re better for you?”

  “No one is better for me, sweetheart. You are all I need. Always. What do you say?”

  I link my fingers with his and frown as I think it all over. He wasn’t avoiding me, he was working hard to be with me, and life was just messy.

  That’s not necessarily his fault. Sometimes, life is just a pain in the ass.

  “Riley, you’re killing me here.”

  Chapter Twenty

  ~Trevor~

  She’s not saying anything, and I swear my heart has stopped beating. She’s frowning, thinking over everything that I just said, I’m sure.

  Finally, she looks into my eyes and smiles.

  “Of course I want you here.”

  Holy shit, I can breathe again.

  “That’s excellent news because I’ve already hired a moving company, put my house on the market, and my boss’s boss has approved the show.”

  “Wow, this is fast. This morning I was working on getting over you, and now here you are.”

  “Getting over me.” I stand with her in my arms and walk back to her bedroom. “Maybe I should remind you what you’d be getting over, exactly.”

  Her lips twitch, but she keeps her face neutral. “I have an excellent memory.”

  “Really.” I set her on her feet and get to work on freeing her from this dress. “This is sexy as fuck on you.”

  “You’ve seen it before.”

  “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.” I stop undressing her and lean my forehead against hers. “I missed you, Riley.”

  “I missed you too.” She cups my face in her hands and tips her chin up, offering herself to me, and it’s the sweetest offer anyone has ever given me. I kiss her thoroughly, greedily, as I make quick work of the rest of her clothing, and suddenly she’s standing before me naked, aside from her killer red heels.

  “Leave those on.”

  “I like it when you’re bossy.”

  I grin and lean in to kiss her neck. “Lie on the bed.”

  “Only if you’re getting naked too.”

  “Well, I think this is a naked zone,” I reply as she arranges herself on the middle of the bed. She bites her finger, her blue eyes shining as she watches me shed my jeans and T-shirt and then climb onto the bed over her, kissing and licking my way up her amazing body.

  “You taste fantastic.”

  “I almost forgot how good you are with your mouth,” she says, and bites her lip. I’m taking my time. There’s no hurry, and I want to rediscover every inch of her. I lick the backside of her knee, making her gasp.

  “Your knees are so sensitive.”

  “I had no idea,” she mutters, and moans when I nibble the inside of her thigh. “Or maybe it’s just your mouth.”

  “Both.” I lick both thighs now, all the way to the crease. “I can smell you.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”

  I smirk and kiss her pubis. “It’s a very good thing. You’re wet.”

  I glide my fingertip through her wet center and up around her clit, making her moan and circle her hips.

  “You’re killing me.”

  “No, baby.” I press a kiss to her core and then lick down her lips and up again. “I’m making you feel alive.”

  Her hips buck when I suck on her clit, and her hands grasp on to my hair, holding me firmly in place.

  As if wild horses could pull me off her right now.

  “I want you,” she says.

  “And you’ll have me.”

  “Now.”

  I stop and look up at her, her chest heaving with each breath. Her nipples are hard pebbles, begging for my mouth.

  And they’ll have it.

  “We’r
e going to take our time, sweetheart.”

  “I’ve waited too long for this to take our time.”

  I pull myself up and over her, thread my fingers in her hair, and kiss her deeply.

  “I can taste myself.”

  “Do you like that?”

  She nods.

  “I don’t want to rush this, Ri. I feel like I was without you forever, and then I thought I wouldn’t ever be here again. I just want to enjoy every second of this.”

  “Trust me, I’m enjoying it.”

  I pinch her nipple and she yelps, then laughs. “Okay, okay.”

  I press a kiss her to lips, her cheek and neck, and then I camp out at a nipple for a while, kissing and biting. Tugging. Her hips and legs are shifting in pure pleasure.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  Her navel piercing is screaming out for me, so I kiss my way down and tug it with my teeth and then place wet kisses all around it.

  “I think you should get your piercing back.” My thumb presses on her clit, waking her up again. “If you want it, that is.”

  “You don’t have a problem making me come,” she says, and shakes her head when I replace my thumb with my mouth and suck her. “I don’t need it.”

  “Good.”

  And now I can’t wait any longer. I go to fucking town on her, fucking her with my fingers and kissing her until she falls apart, crying out and shivering, then coming back to earth.

  I need her.

  Now.

  Unable to wait, I cover her once again and brace her legs on my shoulders as I slowly slide inside her.

  “Holy fuck,” she groans.

  I couldn’t agree more.

  I thrust slowly, shifting my angle and watching her face. She’s flushed now, and so fucking responsive I have to look away or I’ll come myself.

  But then she clenches around my cock, her muscles tightening in another orgasm, and I can’t control it. I come with her, groaning as we both ride it out.

  When I can move again, I fall to the side of her and wrap my arm around her waist.

  “You’re good at that.” She drags her nails lightly up and down my arm.

  “I was just reminding you.”

  “Thanks.”

  I kiss her cheek and sigh, finally content.