Thoughts, fantasies…and memories.
Sunlight glinting auburn in Eden’s hair. The curve of her thigh peeking from beneath those petticoats. Her black satin corset falling to the floor. The sweetness of her mouth, the sounds tumbling from her lips.
I killed a few hours doing laundry, cleaning up the house, and cuddling with Jiji, all while trying to keep myself from texting Eden. As though he could hear my agitation, Maverick invited me and Mark over for a Davies game night at his place, and I immediately accepted.
Of course, Mark’s wife, Libby, had a standing invitation to these game nights, but she usually took the opportunity to enjoy the peace and quiet at home instead. She’d attended often enough over the years to hold her own, even if she wasn’t quite as good at video games as Eden.
I couldn’t wait to introduce the two of them. My sister-in-law was an amazing person and I had a feeling she would hit it off with Eden right away.
Unfortunately, Mark waited too long to confess his undying love to Libby in their youth—she and their other best friend, Henry, started dating in high school and got married in college. Somehow, they all managed to stay friends despite my brother’s heartbreak.
When Henry and Libby realized they weren’t right for each other after only a year of marriage, they got divorced. Mark eventually gathered the courage to speak up about his feelings, but it took almost a decade before he overcame the fear of messing things up further.
Miraculously, their friendship survived that hurdle, too. It was like our own Spruce Hill soap opera.
If Maverick’s experience had taught me to be careful about not giving my heart to the wrong person, Mark’s taught me that when it was right, it was right, and hesitation might mean losing everything.
Carter threw open the door when I showed up, his eyes alight. “Uncle Milo! I was just telling Uncle Mark about your girlfriend.”
“Of course you were,” I grumbled, tousling his hair.
“How did I get so far out of the gossip loop that this is the first I’m hearing about a girlfriend?” Mark demanded as I threw myself down on the other end of the couch.
“First and foremost, she’s not actually my girlfriend.”Not yet, anyway.
“Dad said she’s the one from Comic Con,” Carter cut in, dark brows scrunched together. “I thought she was the love of your life.”
Maverick showed up with three beer bottles and a can of Sprite, shaking his head. “I don’t think those were my exact words, buddy, and I learned my lesson. I’ll be keeping my big mouth shut about Milo’s love life from here on out.”
“Wow,” Mark breathed. His gaze darted between us as he absorbed the information. “I missed more than a little gossip, I think.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed a game controller from the coffee table. “When it’s official, I’ll let you know.”
“She owns a lingerie shop,” Carter whispered to Mark.
“Lingerie, huh? Do you even know what that means?”
Carter’s expression was perfectly serious. “Nightgowns and stuff for ladies, I think.”
“Does she do gift wrapping?” Mark asked. “Maybe I should stop in. Libby’s birthday is coming up.”
“Seems like a better gift foryourbirthday,” Maverick muttered.
Carter blinked at him. “Why?”
“I think we should stop talking about lingerie. And Eden. And my love life,” I suggested, though I should’ve let Maverick sweat longer under his son’s guileless gaze.
The three of them fell silent while Carter loaded up the game, then he gave me a quick side-eye and said, “She’s really, really pretty.”
My brothers burst out laughing.
“I’m going to have to crush you for that,” I said to Carter, keeping my eyes on the television screen.
The game proved to be a distraction for about half an hour before we took a break to eat some pizza, then Mark tipped his head at me between bites.
“How serious is it?” he asked softly.
Though our middle brother looked like a surfer with his tanned skin, sunkissed blonde hair, and the laid back charm to match, he’d always been astute, able to read people at a glance. Whatever he saw in my face must have been enough to answer the question, because his lips curved upward.
