“The kind of man you are?”
“I want to take care of you, Remmi.”
“You do. That doesn’t mean I can’t pay for flowers.”
Wire pulls off to the side of the road, puts the car in Park, and turns to me. “I’m a guy who needs to know I’m doing right by my woman. When we go for dinner, I buy. In the car, I drive. Understand? It’s not because I want to control you or what you do. You make money, I’m fucking happy for you. You want to go spend it on clothes or a lamp to make our place look good, that’s great, but I get the big stuff.”
I know I sound like a parrot, repeating what he says, but I can’t help myself. “Big stuff?”
“Appliances, renos, that kind of shit,” he replies.
“Am I moving in?” I backtrack to when he mentioned our place.
“I fucking hope so. If you’re not ready now, I get it, but I’d like it to happen sometime soon,” he answers calmly, like it’s a natural given. “Maybe I should be asking you if we’re on the same page, because in my world, we’re together. Are we?”
My insides are glowing with happiness, and I nearly drop the flowers on my lap to reach over and kiss him. “Yes, sweetie, we are. But I still want to help out financially. I want to contribute. Couples share the load.”
His lips brush over mine. “We’ll figure it out.” He sighs. “We’d better get moving, or we will both be suffering the wrath of Kailyn.”
We make it to the party just before seven, and I have to admit that Wire wasn’t kidding when he said that Kailyn is prompt. She glances at the clock on the wall, tapping her foot when she answers the door.
“Cutting it close, Wire,” Kailyn says with a sly grin.
“I still have two minutes and twelve seconds,” Wire teases, and Kailyn furrows her brow, her eyes narrowing into slits before she gives him a playful punch in the arm. “Careful, slugger. You might hurt me.”
“Quit pissing off my wife and come inside.” Phoenix’s loud voice booms across the room.
“Yeah, man. Stop fooling around. I’m hungry,” Rebel announces. Falcon, standing near Rebel, gives me a chin lift.
“Come help me lay out the food,” Kailyn says, taking my hand and pulling me to the kitchen, where Sadie and Maya are already waiting for us. Kailyn hands us trays of finger foods, then reaches over to move the slow cooker where Swedish meatballs are simmering. Then she takes sliders and mini hot dogs out of the oven, arranges them on platters, and sets them on the counter.
“Can one of you boys go over to get Gertie and Hubert?” Sadie asks. Sadie looks at me. “Hubert was the superintendent of the building I lived at before moving here. He’s wonderful, and since he and Gertie met, they’ve been playing cards, going to movies together, and keeping each other company. They’re probably lost in a game of bridge or something.”
“How come Gertie is allowed to be late?” Bull complains. “After all, she only lives two apartments away.”
“And we’re only four apartments away from here and forty years younger,” Maya replies, raising her brows.
“I’ll go,” Wire interjects, heading for the door. He opens the door to find Gertie standing there with an older gentleman, who I assume is Hubert.
“I’d starve to death if I waited for you men to come and get me. Thank goodness Hubert was here to accompany me,” Gertie chastises the four hunky men in the room.
“Dinner is served,” Kailyn calls out. “Have a seat, Gertie, and I’ll bring you a plate. I’ll make a plate for you too, Phoenix.”
“Kaylie, you don’t have to do that,” Phoenix replies, getting up from his chair.
“I want to, honey.” Kailyn’s tone is sharp and rushed. “Stay where you are,” she insists.
Sadie, Maya, and I look at one another. Something is definitely up! Gertie sits in the most comfortable chair in the room, eyes fixed on Kailyn while clearly trying to hide a grin.
“Isn’t anyone hungry?” Kailyn asks.
Bull is the first one over and fills his plate to the brim. Rebel is right behind him, but Wire takes his time, chatting with Hubert before they make their way over. Kailyn places a small table in front of Gertie, then sets down her plate.
We all come back to sit together. Some of us are on the couch, others gather chairs around and join in. Kailyn arrives and hands Phoenix a plate that looks very different from the others, which are piled high. On Phoenix’s plate is an array of tiny foods. A little burger, a teeny hot dog, baby carrots, and the tiniest fries I’ve ever seen.
Phoenix looks down at his plate and then up at Kailyn in confusion. “Babe, are you trying to tell me something? Am I gaining too much weight?”
“Not quite, honey,” she replies quietly. “Try again.” With a sweet smile, she watches him glance down once more at the plate.
