Page 50 of Soaring and Saucy

“You got it.”

The three women held up their forks, tapping them in a mock toast, before attacking their meals and chatting about the future, timelines, and discussing the upcoming trip to Chicago – without Stephanie.

Almost two hours later, Stephanie was walking into her apartment carrying her half-eaten cheesecake when she heard her phone ding.

You can’t break up with me because we’re married.

(I hope you are okay – I’m starting to worry)

Chuckling, she called Lance immediately. He answered on the first ring, and she heard that warm laugh that was simply him. He might have been playing with her, but there was also a hidden element of vulnerability to his words, too. No one would ever understand their relationship looking from the outside in, but they didn’t have to – and she understood that now. The only thing that mattered was how she felt toward him and vice versa.

“I’m not breaking up with you,” she smiled. “I was walking in the door, and dinner took a while.”

“Was it good?”

“Delicious.”

“Is Peanut happy?”

“She’s ecstatic… and demanded praline cheesecake for dessert.”

“My boy’s got good taste.”

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re hardheaded?”

“All the time, princess. All the freakin’ time,” he replied, and she could feel the smile in his words, nearly sighing with indescribable joy. “So, what are you wearing?”

And heard laughter behind him in the distance as Lance suddenly said, “Shut up, guys – it’s my wife, and I really wanna know.” Stephanie was grinning at the taunts behind him as well as the exclamations from her husband in protest.

“Privacy! Curtain’s shut - you know the rules! Sorry, princess, I’m surrounded by a bunch of horny single men who have nothing better to do. Dang it, Tic-Tak – quit it!” Lance snarled angrily, and she heard a scuffle of noise followed by wild laughter as he picked back up the phone. “Forget it,” he grumbled sullenly. “There is literally no privacy here, and I’m walking up to the flight deck, laundry, or anywhere else to get five minutes alone.”

“Should we talk about maybe fixing the privacy issue?” she said softly, dropping the hint.

“Huh, well, privacy is kind of hard to come by on a ship. I’d have to… OHHHH,” he said suddenly and then let out a little chuckle that shot straight into her heart. “Are you saying what I think you are saying?”

“I’m saying that maybe you should go look at the apartment in person, and perhaps, we need to talk about what our future would look like.”

“What brought on this good news – not that I’m complaining,” he added quickly. He sounded so surprised, excited, and humbled – which was flattering. “I can go look at the place tomorrow and text you some photos or call you from there.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“Can I ask a question?”

“You are probably going to anyway,” she teased and heard his laugh once more, smiling at the sound of it.

“Yeah – I am,” he admitted and then spoke quietly. “Do you have a minute to Facetime? I’m up near the flight deck, and while there isn’t a lot of privacy, I do get reception.”

“Sure.”

A moment later, her phone warbled, and she clicked approve. Lance’s face appeared a second later. He looked like he was standing or leaning against a gray metal wall with arrows stenciled on it behind him, but it wasn’t the background she was focusing on. It was him. There was such a tenderness in his eyes and a welcome smile that was there just for her – and she knew it.

“You sure look beautiful, princess,” he whispered softly. “I missed those eyes and that smile.”

“Flirt,” she joked, wiping her eyes and laughing tearfully.

“Absolutely. It’s how we got in this spot – wife.”

“So, what was this mysterious question… husband?” she taunted, watching as his smile got a little wider and the expression on his face grew possessive and warm.

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