Tucker was fully in the room, now sitting at the edge of the bed. Chaplin left me and lazily walked over to his dad. Traitor.
“You got a haircut!”
“I did.” He replied while petting our cat.
“And shaved your beard?”
His smile grew exponentially. “I did.”
His eyes met mine, and holy fucking shit. I read enough romance novels to know I fucking loved a slutty little mustache on a cowboy. My eyes must’ve been shaped like hearts because he asked, “You like it that much?”
I laughed and nodded. Ignoring my nausea, I slowly got out of bed, stretching on my way over to the end of the bed. “I fucking love it, Tuck. You offer free mustache rides?”
He laughed, throwing his head back. I loved it when he laughed like this. His eyes shut and wrinkled at the corners, the way his shoulders shook, and the fact that you could see his entire smile. Tucker’s smile was so fucking contagious. God, I was so in love with him. I cut off his laugh when I grabbed his face and pressed our lips together.
He pulled back after a few quick pecks, but kept his face close to mine. “I love you, Sugar.”
“And I love you, cowboy.”
He smiled, showing off his chipped tooth, and began to stand. “Loverboy has everything set up for the little party. His only request was that when you're getting ready, younotto straighten your hair.”
My eyes widened and then narrowed in confusion. Ever since I was a young girl, when I figured out you could have straight hair, I have been straightening mine. I took breaks from it occasionally as I got older, opting for protective hairstyles like braids, but I rarely wore my curls. But maybe it was time; it’s not like they were hard to manage. This just had became routine for me. But if he wanted to see the full extent of my hair, he absolutely could. Plus, maybe getting into the shower would help curb the nausea. “Okay. But I need like an hour or a little longer to get ready. Is that okay?”
He smiled and checked his phone for the time. “Well, it’s almost noon now, and Cam just sent a text letting people know to come around two. So, you can have ‘til half-past one. That's okay, Princess?”
“Perfect. Would you like to join me?” I batted my lashes at him, earning a small chuckle.
“Sure, sweetheart. But you can't get my hair wet. It’s already been washed. I would love to learn your routine, though.” We were in Cam’s bathroom as he started the shower. I grabbed towels from the small storage cabinet next to the vanity. “Whydo you straighten your hair so often? From the few times I have seen them, your curls are beautiful.”
I blew out a breath. “I think it’s an insecurity thing. For as long as I could remember, I wanted to have normal, straight hair. Some days, my curls were just too much. My mom, well, step-mom, never really learned how to manage them, so when I was younger, she always would say she wished I had hair like hers. I assumed if she felt like that, then maybe there was something wrong with it. So I learned how to straighten my hair with minimal damage. Around twenty, I did a major chop and got braids because my ends were fucked. But I’d love to just wear my curls. I miss them.” I smiled softly at him in the mirror as he wrapped his arms around me.
“You were just a kid. You didn’t deserve that. You deserve to be loved just the way you are. Your hair is beautiful, Harper.” He kissed my temple. “Less straightening. Youandyour hair deserve better.”
I looked at him and nodded. He grinned and continued speaking, “Now teach me how to take care of it.”
We spent way too long in the shower. I explained the products I used, why, and what they did for my hair. After he helped me dry it while I explained what shrinkage was. Truly, my number one enemy. When my hair was wet, it was pretty far down my back. But dry? It landed right above my collarbones. We added product to my hair, and he finger curled a few pieces while I started my makeup.
“Honestly, I have never had a man do this, and wow. Thank you, Tucker.” I looked in the mirror, still wrapped in a towel but feeling so beautiful. My makeup was simple: just mascara, winged eyeliner, blush, and highlighter.
“You look beautiful, Princess. The curls with the pink look fucking hypnotic. If we had time, I would absolutely bend you over this counter and make you watch how good you take it. But we are going to be late to your own party at this point.” Hepulled his shirt over his head. It was a crime that he had to wear them. He was absolutely sculpted.
“Oh fuck. Okay, I need to grab clothes from across the hallway, and then I’ll be ready. Meet you in the car?”
He gave a curt nod, “No dillydallying.”
I walked out of the bathroom and called over my shoulder, “Careful, old man, your age is showing.”
* * *
When we arrived at my house, Wren’s car was already there. I’m not surprised we didn’t hear her leave since we were on the far end of the house. We quietly entered my house and heard them talking in the kitchen. I signaled Tucker to keep quiet because I was going to eavesdrop. Where we stood, we couldn't be seen by them. Neither of us moved.
“I think the question she asked is fairly simple, Cam. How serious is this to you?” Of course, Reed was here too. He didn’t sound angry, probably just sick of Cameron tip-toeing around his answers. My brother preferred straightforward answers. He wanted straight black and white with no room for a gray area. He was okay with adapting that mentality, but in this situation, he clearly wasn’t.
“There is no judgment here. You know that. We just want to know how you are feeling.” Wren’s voice was soothing. It was almost like a good cop, bad cop situation.
I glanced at Tuck before Cam responded. I closed my eyes while I listened. I could almost imagine the blush creeping up his freckled cheeks and him rubbing the back of his neck, feeling a little awkward saying how he feels out loud.
“I am in love with both of them. I-” He let out a long sigh and began speaking quickly, almost rambling. “It’s hard for me to put into words, but basically, if Michigan allowed triads to getmarried, I would absolutely propose today. If Harper came to me right this minute and said she was pregnant, I would be thrilled. If she asked me to move in, I’d sell the house. If Tuck asked to move in with me, his apartment would be empty within the hour. This all happened incredibly fast, but I don’t think I have ever been happier. As a matter of fact, I know I have never been happier. I have been giving and giving and giving to the point I thought there was nothing left of me. When I used to think about the future, I imagined myself alone in that house. But now? I imagine them, kids, and even Chaplin. They are my home.”
