“Yep. Even if Ididwait fifteen years for mine.”
“You did, but it’s clearwhyyou waited. Now look at you, movin’ in together–albeit, with Mags right next door–and you’re goin’ to build the house of both of your dreams,” he replies. “After buildin’ mine, of course.”
I scoff. “Of course. Build the first cabin for the two people on the ranch that go travelin’ the most.Thatmakes sense.”
"Aww, anyone would think y’all miss us when we’re on the road.”
"Miss you sharin' the load, maybe," Toby says with a chuckle as he stands in the doorway of my workshop. "Damn that bookshelf is amazin'. Might put my order in now for a couple just like it. Dee loves her books just as much as the rest of the women."
"Their book club is gettin' bigger now," I say. "Did you hear they're takin' over Greg's bookstore one night a week now to talk books?—"
“And about us men, no doubt,” Toby adds. “Bet they’ve got Mags makin’ all the corned beef hash they can eat for it too. It’s almost temptin’ enough to start readin’ again.”
Landry’s brows jump. “You mean you stopped?”
Toby bounces a shoulder. “I don’t read them.Skippyreads to me. It’s kind of relaxin’.”
“Hmm. Wonder if Star would read to me. Or I could read to Star.”
“Bet it would make those cold nights on the road a hell of a lot hotter,” Toby says, waggling his brows.
"Onthatnote, are we hittin’ the road, or are we just goin’ to stand here talkin' out our asses?" I say.
“Oooh, someone’s missin’ their other half.”
I rub the back of my neck. "Does it get any easier? I thought the mountain spirit was makin' me scratch because I was takin' my time with the Call, but now I get itchy whenever I'm away from Char. "
"Nope," Landry says. "But itdoesgets better. "You learn to tamp it down a little when you know you're comin' home to them at the end of the day. Better still when you put that all-important ring on their finger and youknowyour lives will be tied forever.”
"Hmm…”
Both of my brothers stare at me. “Hmm?” Tobes asks, brow raised.
“Yes,” I muse. “Hmm. That’s all you’re gettin’ out of me on that subject. Therewillbe a ring goin’ on Char’s finger butwheneverthat happens, that’s between me and her.”
Landry claps me on the back. “Good decision. We all know he can’t keep a secret to save himself.”
Toby looks genuinely offended. “I can too!”
Lan and I turn to each other before glancing back at him. “Hmm,” we say at the same time before laughing.
“C’mon,” Tobes sighs. “We need to get this show on the road if you want to get the bookcase in before Charlie gets home from work.”
It takes us another hour to get the bookcase up the stairs and in through the apartment door. There were a lot of 'pivot' moments reminiscent of Ross from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. but we got there in the end.
Once my brothers leave, I’m standing in the living room of my new home with Char, contemplating whether I should start unpacking her books when I hear a car door close outside.
Moments later, Charlie walks through the front door, a bright smile curving her lips when she spots me walking toward her. I scoop her up in my arms, laying a hot wet kiss on her lips, the itchy, coming-out-of-my-skin sensation vanishing from her presence alone.
“Well,that’sa nice welcome,” she breathes, snuggling into my chest. “Feel free to do thatanytime.”
I chuckle and hug her tightly. “Will do,” I say before letting her go.
She moves toward the bedroom but stops dead in her tracks when her eyes land on the new addition. Her head slowly swivels back to me, her blue eyes glistening before she walks over to the bookcase and smooths her hands over the wood. "Austin, this is…"
Coming up behind her, I wrap my arms around her middle and rest my chin on her shoulder. “Wanted to make somethin’ for you so that whenever you looked at it, you’d think of me,” I say quietly.
Turning around she tips her face up, giving me one of her big bright smiles that never fails to warm me up. “It’s amazin’.You’reamazin'. I love it."
