“Sadie’s been really sick for a few weeks,” Dakota explains, face exuberant as he gazes at his wife. “We knew we probably wouldn’t be able to stay for much longer.”
We all congratulate them in the way people do when they live on opposite roofs and can’t really do much but holler our warmest regards from yards away. But, soon after, Evan and Blaire arrive for our counseling session, and Blaire gives Dakota and Sadie all the affection and excitement the rest of us weren’t able to properly give ourselves.
We’re staying.
I can’t believe how relieved I am to know we get more time here, and I know exactly how I want to celebrate. It doesn’t take much to pull Todd to the side while the rest of the group is in the throes of celebration, and I use our prize to make three requests.
“No… no… noooooo!” Owen yells when my red shell hits Toad at the perfect time, crashing him off of the map completely and allowing me to slide into first place. “I love how you just get a red shell exactly when you need it.”
I cackle into the air, never taking my eyes off the tiny screen. Cat Peach, my favorite character, jumps into the air, spins, andmeowsbefore landing perfectly on a stretch of the road I know I can get ahead on. “I love how you are such a terrible sport when you’re losing.”
It’s nearly midnight, and we’ve been playing Mario Kart—my first request—since our quick counseling session with Evan and Blaire ended this afternoon. Only pausing to bake makeshiftpizzas with the few ingredients we’ve been supplied that will work: bread, pasta sauce, and sandwich cheese, which has made this night somehow all the more perfect. Like we’re at home. Like any other night on our couch—or in this case, the small bench seat in our kitchen—with my feet under Owen’s butt, eating pizza, and perfectly content, because we’re together.
He grabs my controller, playing one handed on his while attempting to wrestle mine away.
“Cheater!” I yell. I will not lose this game. Taking a risk that could mean a huge detriment to me, I slip out of the seat and do my darndest to pull my giant husband from the bench.
He barely moves.
“How are you so big?”
“Genetics.” He pays me almost no mind, continuing to play and take the lead.
“You should work out less.” I poke him in the abs and nearly bite my tongue.Please do not listen to your foolish wife.“Muscles, ewww.”
Owen pauses the game, grabs my hand, and manages to pull me into his lap at this miniature table. “Ya know what I think, wifey?”
I don’t, but I sure can feel his defined, bare pectorals pressing into my back. I think he’s going to be silly, to keep up this little game we have going on, but, instead, Owen kisses my neck, rendering me boneless.
“I think you are the most beautiful…” He presses a kiss below my ear. “Fun…” Another kiss on my shoulder. “Mario Kart loser in all the world.”
The warmth I feel at his affection, the familiarity of his arms around me, has me turning into him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
He gasps. His blue eyes grow dark and intense, and as much as I want to follow through with what’s happening between us, there’s something I need to do first.
“O,” I say, kissing one cheek, then the other. My fingers play with the hair curling at the back of his neck. It’s impossibly soft and the feel of it against my hand is exactly the fortification I need. “I want to give you a haircut. Please.”
His eyes close and his Adam’s apple bobs, slow and steadying, like he really needs to think about the best way to respond. “You’re sure?”
I nod, but then realize his eyes are still closed. “Please look at me.”
When he obeys, I let my fingers scratch ever so slightly beneath his curls. “I made three requests. Mario kart, shears, and a stool.”
I smile, my love for him more and more challenging to contain. To bottle up and hold inside, without more. Bringing my hands around to cup his jaw, then rubbing my fingers in the hair there, I whisper, “I’m ready.”
17
BODY LIKE A BACKROAD
SAM HUNT
OWEN
“I’m ready.”
I’m ready. I’m ready. I’m ready.
Brooke says what is now one of my new favorite phrases in the English language... right next to “I want to be your wife”and “I love you.”
