Gary’s face twisted in a grimace. “Let’s not talk about you and Lee having fun. I’m still wrapping my head around the idea.”
“Honestly, so am I.” I laughed, my chest looser and lighter. “I guess I’ll go downstairs and get it over with.”
“All I want is for you to be happy,” Gary said, pushing off the bed. “If you’re happy now, then I’m happy for both of you.”
“Thank you,” I said, standing up to kiss his cheek. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry you found out that way. I wasn’t trying to hide anything.”
“I don’t think you can with that little girl in the house.”
We both cracked up as we turned to a knock at the door.
“Hey,” Lee said, easing the door open. “I don’t want to interrupt.” He looked between us. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine. I said I wanted to lie down to hide from my mother for a few minutes.”
Lee came up to me, sliding his hand to the back of my head. “You’re not dizzy? How’s your stomach?”
“Fine, Doc,” I said on a long sigh.
Lee’s mouth twitched into a smile when he turned to Gary. “My offer to punch me still stands. I won’t fight back.”
“Noted and appreciated.”
“Gary…” I started, gritting my teeth.
“Easy, sis. No one is punching anyone. Yet.” Gary glared at Lee. “You’re both adults, you’re both my family, and my mother told me to stop being stupid.” He held uphis hands. “So this is me stopping. I’ll go downstairs and finish my cold coffee and get Mom back home.”
Lee laughed as Gary shut the door behind him.
“Well, that was a morning,” Lee said, framing my waist and pulling me close.
“Yes, nothing gets by your daughter, I guess. So much for easing her into it.”
“She’s fine. She’s happy when I’m happy.”
“Are you happy?” I asked, skimming my hands down his chest.
“Happier than I ever thought was possible. And I mean that with everything in me.” He feathered the back of his hand down my quivering cheek. “How about you?”
“Same and same,” I choked out.
How much of my life had been spent talking myself out of wanting Lee? Along with the thrill came unexpected relief, and I was embracing it instead of running from it—although that inclination wasn’t totally gone yet.
But maybe it would disappear in time. Maybe I wouldn’t move on from Lee and end up moving onwithhim.
Either way, I’d enjoy the here and now and all the moments after, regardless if I got to keep them or not.
TWENTY-SEVEN
LEE
“One more. This is a little one. It’s not even a book. It’s a booklet,” Bennie said, bargaining for a third story as she eyed the book in her hand.
“I think two is enough. Hopefully Stella can read to you tomorrow, and I feel like she’s easier to con.” I lifted the sheet until she scooted under the covers and kissed her forehead.
“What does con mean? Stella says if we read three stories, I have to go to bed a half hour earlier. We gotiate.”
“Negotiate.”
