White top.Check.
Blue accessories.Check.
I had never really done anything for the Fourth of July before, so when Law said I had to make sure to dress up, I had no idea what he meant, so Leah took us shopping last night to buy anything we might need. We also made sure to grab wine, because Leah said you were never supposed to go to a party without a gift.
I checked myself in the mirror one more time before we all left to head to Law’s parents’ house. When we pulled up there were around twenty cars parked all along the dirt road. I had no idea who was going to be here, since I had only met a few of Law’s family, so I wondered if this was a town party now. I felt a little more at ease with this thought, especially with being so integrated with the town now.
I hopped out of the truck without Law’s help. I had told him after a while to just let me fall when I got out because I needed to be able to get in and out of this truck without him. Cary exited the house, like she had been waiting there for us to arrive. She walked right past Law and straight for me, bringing me into a hug.
“Darlin’!” She squeezed me tighter. “I’ve missed you so much!”
“What am I, chopped liver?” Law said, exasperated. He’d learned over the past month just how much his mom and I had bonded.
“You don’t answer my calls or texts. You barely visit me anymore.” She turned toward him and shook an index finger at him. “The only way I know you’re alive is from this girl right here.”
She looked back toward me.
“It’s good to see you too, Cary. This is my best friend, Leah.” I grabbed Leah, who was standing close, and brought her over in front of Cary. “And that’s her boyfriend, Axel.”
I pointed over to Axel.
“Oh!” Cary clapped her hands together in excitement. “You both will have to tell me more about Anya. She won’t tell me anything.”
Cary pouted and then grabbed for Leah’s arm, leading her inside. I tried to mouth sorry to her but received daggers for eyes back at me when they walked across the threshold.
“She’ll survive,” Law said beside me and we both joined the party inside. He grabbed me a glass of red wine and a beer for himself, and we mingled in with the crowd. A few of the parents of the daughters I taught at the studio stopped me to ask about progress and to give thanks for working so hard with their children.
I could see the impressed look on Law’s face each time we were stopped. He even left me a few times to go talk about racing and the last few tracks he had been out with a few other people. We worked in unison to get through the house and then outside to the food without missing a beat with anyone. I would watch Law across the room and he would smile back at me, raising his beer glass to me in hello. I would blow him a kiss and the moms would swoon next to me, telling me how lucky I was to have a man like Law.
I couldn’t have agreed more with them.
I was standing on the back porch with Leah and Cary, waiting for our burgers to be finished by Luke, when Law came up behind me. The slap of his hand against my ass caused me to jump into the air and spin around, punching him in the arm. He lifted me in the air and threw me over his shoulder and twirled me around. I was happy I still didn’t have my wine glass in my hand.
“Put me down.” I laughed and pounded into Law’s back. He turned me around so that I was looking upside down at Leah and Cary, who were both laughing at us. In fact, everyone was staring now. Law lowered me to my feet and planted another kiss on my lips, accompanied by another smack on my ass as he skipped off toward Tony, who was holding his beer for him.
I shook my head and tried to insert myself back into the conversation I was having with Leah and Cary, but I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering back over to Law, who was staring at me.
“Here you go, ladies.” Luke handed us three plates with ready burgers and we scarfed them down while watching a few of the men set up fireworks a few yards away. Law was with them, setting up board after board. I was just about done with my food when Law came up to us, clearing out our plates as the sun was setting.
“Let’s get a good front row seat.” Cary dragged Leah and me toward where lawn chairs had been set up at a safe distance.
“If you don’t mind, Mom, I’m going to steal her away.” Law grabbed for my hands and pulled me off to the distance where a picnic blanket was set up with a bottle of wine. “I have no shame in admitting that I wanted to be the only one to see your face tonight.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, but I grabbed for the already opened bottle of wine.
“Pretty sure, when the sun fully sets in the next hour that you won’t even be able to see it yourself.”
“I’ll be able to see it in the firework lights.” Law tried to amend. I laughed at him and took a swig straight from the bottle. “Classy.”
“But I’m your classy city girl.” I tossed a wink at Law and took another sip.
“If I had to say so myself, you’re more country girl than city nowadays.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe I’m just your girl.”
Law brought me into his arms at my comment and we watched across the way as our friends and family mingled together. I caught Leah’s eye once and she just shook her head at Law and me.
I didn’t care, though. I loved that Law always wanted us to experience things together first before he let me out into the world. It was his way of making sure I enjoyed something first before subjecting me to it again. I had appreciated it over the last month, especially because it meant I got to see him in his element more often. He wanted to show me the world and I wanted him to let me.
