Page 34 of Make Me Yours

“You should consider talking to someone about that,” I say, only half kidding. “Being able to be alone for a day or two is an important skill.”

Elaina kicks off her ballet flats, settling more fully onto the couch. “Yeah, yeah, or I can just keep being a chatty extrovert and living my one wild life the way I want to live it.”

“Co-dependent and up in everyone’s business?”

“Yes,” she says seriously. “Now spill it. You talked to Weaver yesterday, right? What did he say? About your mom and dad and all the drama?”

“Not much,” I say, briefly filling her in on what I learned on our trip up the coast.

She exhales a relieved sigh when I’m done. “Well, that’s good news, right? I mean, the best news possible, in any event. He didn’t bang your mom and he’s willing to apologize to your dad. Not that it matters.” She wiggles her perfectly shaped brows. “When he asks permission to marry you, he’ll have to ask Gramps. That’s only right. Gramps is the one who put in the hard work raising you to be the magnificent woman you are today.”

I burst out laughing, then laugh harder at the annoyed expression on her face.

“What?” she asks. “What’s so funny? Don’t you want your forever guy to ask permission from your family?”

“No, and I wouldn’t have thought you would, either. You’re the most independent woman I know.”

She tucks her legs beneath her. “Well, yes, but I’m also a romantic. I think asking permission is romantic. And practical. I mean, better to know up-front if your lady’s family hates your guts, right?”

Her words send a pall over my dreamy, sex-obsessed thoughts. I already know Weaver’s family hates my family and vice versa. Even if I wanted happily ever after with a guy who makes me as nervous as he does turned-on, there’s no path forward for us.

This is a temporary thing. We have a month at most, maybe, and then he’ll go back to his life and I’ll go back to mine.

And that’s fine. Better than fine. I don’t want a long-term relationship right now, anyway. I just want to make the most of the time I have with this irresistible man.

Which is something Elaina might be able to help me out with…

“Do you have an idea where I might be able to get some sexy panties around here on short notice?” I ask.

She squeals, clapping her hands. “I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist banging him again. I have a feeling about you two, I swear.”

I roll my eyes. “You’ve never even seen us together.”

“But I’ve seen you separately, and you vibrate at the same frequency. And you’re both fucking gorgeous and will make seriously beautiful babies that I can babysit every Friday so you can have a date night.”

“The baby fever still making you insane? Or more insane than usual?”

Her lips turn down. “Yes. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m not in any position to have a kid. I work all the time, and I don’t have a fuck buddy, let alone a life partner. It’s just stupid hormones, I guess.” Her expression sobers. “Speaking of, you’re using protection with Tall, Sexy, and Frosty, right?”

I nod. “Yeah. And I’m on the pill.”

“Good.” She nods. “Then you don’t have to worry about anything except having fun and showing off your new panties. I have an adorable bra and panty set I bought in August andhaven’t had a chance to wear yet. If you’ll watch the cash register, I can run up and grab them.”

“I’m never going to fit into something in your size,” I say, eyeing my tiny friend as she bounces to her feet.

“Of course, you will.” She turns, slapping the back of her fluffy skirt. “I have a big butt for my height. And you’re a C cup, right?”

I nod. “Yes, but?—”

“Then you’ll be fine. You’ll probably have to put the strap on the widest clasps, because I’m a little smaller around the ribs, but it’ll be fine.” She winks as she sashays toward the staircase at the back of the café, leading to her apartment on the second floor. “It’s not like you’ll be wearing them that long anyway.”

I try, but I can’t fight the grin pulling at my cheeks. “You make a solid point.”

She squeals again, calling out, “I’m so happy for you,” as she dashes up the stairs.

It’s nice. Supportive. And I know Elaina’s mostly kidding about the marriage and baby stuff.

I don’t even know if I want marriage or babies, especially babies. I love kids, but I don’t think I want to raise one. Either way, it’s never been something I’ve thought about too much. I’ve been so busy keeping our family business alive that the years have slipped away faster than I realized. But as a teenager fresh out of high school, determined to stay in my hometown and help Gramps the way he’d always helped me, I never would have imagined that one day I’d be almost twenty-five, still single, and living above my grandfather’s garage.

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