“Then the DNA test,” JD adds, concluding the story.
“Yep. And here we are,” I reply, turning a circle with arms opened wide before letting them fall to my sides. “JD, I honestly don’t know what to do about all of this. This is not my life.”
“It could be, if you allow it to happen.”
He takes a step toward me and links our hands together, then pulls them up above my head and spins me around like a ballerina until I’m breathless from laughing. How is it that he can make me laugh so easily and smile so readily? I’ve never felt true happiness before. The feeling is so alien to me that I’m having trouble learning how to accept it whenever I’m around him.
I shake my head slightly in disbelief. “I don’t know if I can, but I’m willing to give it a try.”
JD ends our impromptu balcony dance by pulling me to his chest. I let out a sigh of pleasure as I rest my cheek against the hard plane of muscle where his heart beats strong.
“I hope that also includes us. No more of this maybe stuff. You and me. We are happening.”
I tip my face up. “Are we now?”
He answers my question with a kiss that leaves me breathless.
“Um, why do the two of you look like you’ve been off doing something naughty?”
My cheeks, which are sore from smiling so much the last hour, flush hot at Prescott’s comment.
After leaving my newly chosen bedroom, JD and I decided to take our own tour of the house and try to find the guys, but we got lost. Seriously, who can blame us? This place is huge. We turned our wayward wandering into an adventure, like a treasure quest. Careful to keep our voices down to whispers, we tiptoed around in case any of the rooms were occupied by the other families living here. We discovered a heated indoor pool, a wine cellar, a workout and fitness room, a home theater, and a secret nook hidden behind the back corner of the library. I have plans for that library. It was gorgeous and filled with so many books I am thirsty to start reading. Finally, we found our way back to the kitchen where we heard voices.
“This place is the bomb,” Dustin says, shoving a slice of salami in his mouth. “I may just have to move in here with you, Rory. We can bunk.”
“The hell you will,” JD barks, pulling me back against his front then circling his arms around me and lacing our fingers together at my waist.
Everyone looks at our joined hands and how JD is holding me.
“I won,” Prescott tells Dustin, who hands him a twenty from his pocket.
“Seriously? You bet on when I’d make a move?” JD scoffs.
“Yep,” his two friends say simultaneously.
Trevor takes out loaves of French bread from a breadbasket on the opposite countertop and slices each loaf in half. “Find a room you like?”
I can’t help when I peer up at JD with a secret grin. “Yes. A very nice room, thank you. And thank you for retrieving my bike. Can I do anything to repay you?”
Trevor’s hand stills mid-cut, and he holds the knife up. “Aurora, the only thing you need to do for me, sweetheart, is relax. You’ve had enough ugly in your life. It’s time for you to make something beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, want to see your nephew?”
“I have a nephew?”
This insta-family that has been suddenly thrust upon me has my head spinning. God, I wish Cam were here to see this. It’s like a fairy godmother appeared and granted me all of my wishes in one night.
Trevor holds out his phone. The cutest, dark-haired, dark-eyed infant toothlessly grins back at me.
“He’s so cute. Is he Tatiána’s?”
“Who’s Tatiána?” Dustin asks, folding a mound of salami between his bread.
Trevor hands me a pre-made turkey sandwich and explains to Dustin, “Tati is our sister. She lives in Spain, so we don’t get to see her much. I’ve only met her via video calls. Fallon usually visits her over the summer, and she, her husband Eduardo, and baby Rafael are supposed to come for Elizabeth’s wedding this summer.”
I hold my sandwich up so JD can take the first bite. Why does doing little things like that feel so natural between the two of us? We’ve known each other for years, but only in passing and because of Cam. It’s as if those years were just the build up to now. Are we going too fast? Should I slow things down so we can get to know one another better before we dive right into the deep end before learning to wade in the water first?
“Is this the same Elizabeth that Knox calls Hoops and Fallon gets sad over?”
After taking a bite, JD nudges my hand down so I can eat my sandwich.
