Page 67 of The Right Move

Through the glow of the fire, I can see the smile on Ron’s face. “You’re a good dad.” He turns to me. “What about you two? Any kids in the future?”

My cocktail goes down the wrong pipe, turning me into a sputtering mess, but somehow, I still find the mental wherewithal to pull my marshmallow from the flame before it burns. All while replaying Ron’s question if I’m going to have Ryan’s babies anytime soon.

Annie and Ethan chuckle into each other, finding this entire scenario hilarious.

Ron cocks his head, as if he’s testing me for the answer, quickly reminding me that we’ve yet to fully convince him of our relationship or Ryan’s drastic and sudden change.

“I uh…we…” I stumble.

A blanket settles around my shoulders. “We haven’t talked about it yet,” Ryan says with full honesty. In fact, it might be the most honest thing we’ve said to Ron tonight.

“Settle down, Ronald,” Caroline condemns. “They’re new and young and in love. Let them enjoy it. They’re in the exciting stage, when your bellies fill with butterflies from the prospect of seeing each other. Although, that stage may have already passed for you two since you live together.”

“Well—”

“It’s still like that.” I cut Ryan off, looking up at him over my shoulder. “Very much so.”

Keeping his lips pressed together, he smiles down at me, those freaking dimples concaving with the glow of the fire lighting his face. “Can I sit with you?”

I look to either side of me, but between me and all my winter layers there’s no room left for Ryan on my seat.

He bends down, speaking quietly. “You can sit on my lap, Blue.”

As his girlfriend, of course I would. As his roommate who is forming an unhealthy crush, it’s a terrible idea.

I finish my cocktail for liquid courage and stand with the blanket still wrapped around me, my skewer and sad marshmallow in my hand. Ryan takes a seat, one palm lingering on my hip and guiding me down to sit on his lap. He situates the blanket over me, then pulls me closer, my back flush with his chest and the warmth of his breath lingering on the skin of my neck.

“Good?” he whispers.

“Good.”

Good doesn’t do it justice. I’m great. I’m fan-fucking-tastic. This man is huge and warm and these goddamn thighs are pure muscle.

Under the blanket, his hand slides from my hip bone, curving inward, palm covering my thigh. His fingertips slip between my legs, dangerously close to a spot I need them, before he kneads my flesh as if he were holding back from more.

Acting. Fake. Pretend.

But the blanket is covering us, and this little show of restraint is for no one else to see.

There’s a light pounding on my back—his heart rate speeding up and God am I tempted to rock my ass back a touch and see if—

“Indy,” Annie interrupts, holding out the Tupperware. “For your s’mores.”

“Oh. Thank you.” I smile what I’m certain is the guiltiest looking smile she’s ever seen.

Concentrating on roasting my marshmallow, I attempt to ignore the stunning man underneath me. More chatter about kids circulates between the two couples, and I need to join in before I do something impulsive like grind my ass against my roommate to see if he’s still hard from earlier.

Turning towards the Morgans, I ask, “What about you two? Do you have any children?”

Caroline reaches out to squeeze Ron’s hand. “We wanted to,” she says. “But it wasn’t in the cards for us. We have nieces and nephews who we treat as our own though. Ron and I are lucky to each have a handful of siblings, so we still got the family we always wanted.”

I swallow. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. Life has a funny way of fulfilling you, even when it isn’t in the way you assumed it’d be.”

Can’t argue there. Lately, life has been anything but what I assumed.

Looking at Caroline, I might be seeing my future self. Although, I don’t know that I’ll be as lucky to have a husband that loves me the way Ron does her. There’s a high chance kids won’t be in the cards for me either, but unfortunately, I’m an only child with no prospects of nieces and nephews to sublimate my need for a family.

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