“Hmm. Would you still say no if I did?”
“For now, yes. I can barely keep them in order. Adding a dog would just bring more disarray.”
I shift my position to straddle him, and I bop the tip of his nose with my finger. “You know that I will still come home with a dog without your approval.”
He grips my hips to yank me down. “And that’s why I love you.”
“Thought so.” Then we kiss because we have all night to be tangled in the sheets while the moon shines in.
* * *
Harry and Loristare at me as I slide my suitcase down the hall from the garage.
“Can’t my dad be a gentleman and do that?” Lori questions as she observes the scene.
I continue to kick my suitcase as it moves a few inches since it’s on wheels. “He can, but he’s busy grabbing another bag from my car.”
“Duh, leave it there and he’ll carry it later. He’s supposed to be strong. Otherwise, why does he bother with his protein shakes?” I love the wit and attitude of this almost teenager.
“Come on, Lexi. I’ve been waiting for you to come back. Now I can eat my cake.” Harry turns to nearly stomp to the kitchen.
I’m slightly taken aback but not surprised, he’s a kid. “Thanks for showing your true excitement that I’m back and that it’s more fun than cake,” I call out. “Never mind that we have my stock profile to talk about and you’re holding my financial future in the palm of your hand,” I add.
Lori grows quiet, and that just means she’s about to share some of her wisdom that is far too clever for a girl her age. “Finally, my dad can be happy… it loosens him up.” That’s sweet, and I give her a soft smile. “It’s perfect, really.” My heart melts more. “Now he won’t freak out when he finds out that there are boys meeting our group when I go to the movies on Friday.” My own smile drops while hers just rises. “Thanks, Lexi.” She nearly skips away.
I blow out a breath, already trying to think of a way to calm this blow to Holden; better yet that Lori just charmed me and now I need to form a team with Holden. To think that I got him to agree to buy her concert tickets for her birthday. Chaperone duty here I come.
But a few minutes later, I enter the kitchen with Holden, and Lori comes to hug me, then Harry, before they hop onto their stools. As if it was an everyday occurrence, and my heart is completely soft for them.
We all assess the peanut butter and jelly cheesecake that’s waiting for us to cause some serious carnage on the snacking front. I interlace Holden’s arm with mine and lean my head against his shoulder.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Holden continues to look forward. “That’s good to know since I just carried all your stuff upstairs and will never ever carry that stuff down again since it’s dead weight. But yeah, I love you too,” he teases me.
My eyes follow the line from Holden to the kids already using their fingers to grab crumbs.
And this scene is perfect.
It feels like home.
EPILOGUE: HOLDEN
15 MONTHS LATER
“This is the worst idea in the entire history of civilization,” Lexi chastises me.
I continue to look intently at the movie screen with my jaw tight while everyone rustles into their seats in the cinema, waiting for the movie to start.
“Lexi,” I grind out a warning, letting her know that I’m not impressed by her words. She throws a piece of popcorn at me, and I reluctantly drag my eyes away to ten rows up ahead.
“Holden, everyone knows when the parents of a group of thirteen-year-olds discuss having a chaperone to the movie theater that you absolutely, 100%, under no circumstancesevervolunteer to be that parent. Yet, here we are. Every. Single. Time.”
My attention completely snaps in her direction. “First off, Mrs. Overthrew the Parent Committee President?—“
She waves her finger in front of me. “Don’t you dare. Kate McClearly had it coming, and I’m the best damn parent-board president there is. Everyone loves me.” Her loud whisper squeaks. “I started the moms-who-wine club. Thank. You. Very. Much.”
I want to smirk with pride, but I need to focus on what the actual fuck is going on right now. “Don’t you remember what you were like when you were thirteen?” She winces because I’m completely right. “Besides, that little punk sitting next to her doesn’t seem to care that I can watch his every finger. He’s unaffected.”
