“Bran got it as a gag gift for Christmas one year. We had a tradition where we had to get each other one funny item.”
“I bet there was a lot of laughter in your house.”
Sonny starts giggling and then snorts.
We both turn to face him. Something blueish purple rockets out of his nose and bonks me on the head.
My eyes widen and Grey rushes over as we both realize what it was at the same time.
“Don’t put blueberries in your nose,” he says, reverting to Norwegian in his panic. At least I think that’s what he says because I recognize the words blueberries and nose.
Sonny’s little face crumbles and Grey hugs him, explaining why that’s dangerous.
We have a family hug and then spend the rest of the afternoon preparing a delicious dinner.
My heart trips at the sight of the football player and former single father doing domestic things, thoughtful things, and delicate things with his big hands. Hands that find their way to me while Sonny watchesBiler og Lastebilerand we clean up.
A piece of my hair comes loose from my scrunchie and I repeatedly try to blow it out of the way since my hands are wet. Grey tucks it behind my ear and then kisses me on the cheek. He wraps his arms around from behind.
“That piece just doesn’t want to grow,” I say absently.
“Was your hair shorter before?” Grey asks. “I can’t picture that, or did it have something to do with your treatment?”
I turn around and his look is so tender, it soothes my heart. I meet his crystal-clear grey eyes and take a deep breath. “Marriage Club rule number one. We always tell each other the truth. It used to be a lot shorter. But before that, it was a lot longer. Down my back.” I use the edge of my hand to demonstrate.
“Todd and I were at a birthday party for someone I worked with. A guy there started flirting with me. I informed him that I was engaged. Todd must have witnessed it because the next day, when I met him at his house after visiting the gym, he cut it off.” My voice shakes.
“Todd cut off your hair?”
“It was in a ponytail and he just cut it. He said that he didn’t want other men to look at it, admire it, or want me for it.”
Grey scowls and pulls me into a protective hug. “That guy was slime.”
“There were red flags. I should’ve gotten out sooner. Never should have accepted his proposal in the first place. Looking back, this is super embarrassing to admit, but I just wanted to do something that would make my father happy. I figured Todd got tense and acted that way because of work stress. I made a mistake trying to see the best in him.”
Grey listens and holds me close, letting me pour my sadness and anger into him.
His tone is almost a growl when he says, “It wasn’t your fault, Everly. And I won’t ever let him hurt you again.”
Todd is a dull memory from that night in Concordia, but I trust that Grey will keep that promise no matter what.
But he should also know that Todd has been texting me again, though it’s not an official Marriage Club rule, and given Grey’s tendency to Hulk out, I’m hesitant to tell him.
33
GREY
Iwake up to the pleasant patter of rain and the scent of chocolate. Rarely do I need an alarm to wake up, but I overslept. It’s almost nine am.
From downstairs, I hear the rise and fall of Everly and Sonny, singing and laughing. How we’ve woven into each other’s lives is nothing short of a miracle and I’m grateful, but I can’t deny that I still feel like part of me is stuck in the past. Maybe to avoid the future?
But there’s no stopping time, especially considering today is my birthday, something I prefer not to think about.
Downstairs, Everly and Sonny greet me like a king, complete with a paper crown. Sonny starts singing the Happy Birthday song.
“Let’s wait to sing it until we have candles on the cake.” Everly wears myKiss the Cookapron.
So I do and then ask, “Cake for breakfast?”
