Page 50 of Always You

“Told her to fuck off, and then I told her she better be nice to me because I could make her disappear out of your life real quick.” She gives me a guilty look, and my anger simmers down as I let out a full belly burst of laughter.

I can’t believe she said that, but then a big part of me also believes every word.

My girl is feisty as hell.

And I love how she’s not afraid to show it if anyone tries to come between us.

“Sorry.” She covers her face with her hands, and I peel them off, wanting to see her eyes.

“You’re a badass. When was this?”

“Funny enough, the day before, you ditched her for Dana.” She chuckles.

“Karma at its finest.” I smile as her face goes back to that stern look, her eyebrows furrowed.

“I’m sorry. Here I am, schooling you about how it’s not your place to decide what’s best for me while I basically threatened your girlfriend, telling her I’d make you break up with her if she didn’t play nice with me.”

My hand reaches out to cup her cheek as I bite my lip in amusement.

God, I wish I’d been there to witness it. My fingers spread into her neck, the beat of her pulse fluttering against my palm in a tortuous way. The moonlight dances in her green eyes and when her full lips part, it takes everything I have to not close the distance between us.

“Don’t be. You were right. You come before all those “bimbos,” as my mom calls them. In fact, you come before everyone. If they can’t handle that, they can fuck off. And Liza isdefinitelynot my girlfriend. I don’t have girlfriends, you know that.”

“Well, your mom is right. She’s wrong about every other thing, but she’s right about those bimbos.” She laughs.

I disconnect my hand from her cheek before I wrap my arm around her neck so I can tuck her back against my side.

“She’s definitely right about that.”

Her body leans against mine as she stares into the creek.

“Sometimes I wonder what the future will bring us. Who will be there, who won’t.” Her voice is quiet, but her words are loud and clear, laced with the fears she’s been having for the lastdecade or so. There are moments when I wish I could trade my mom’s life with her mama’s. Giving her the health that she needs and giving my mom a reason to keep fighting. I know it’s a shitty thing to say about the only living parent I have, and I regret it the second it runs through my mind.

“What’s your dream?” she asks, lightness back in her voice.

“To get the fuck out of here.” I chuckle, tugging her closer.

She slaps my belly, scowling up at me.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

“That’s not a dream. You can do that anytime.”

“Okay, then what’s your dream?”

She lets out a deep, content sigh, as if just thinking about it makes her happy for just a moment.

“My dream is to become a writer. A wife. A mom. I want a loving husband who might forget our anniversary, but it doesn’t matter because he makes up for it for the rest of the year, making every day special. I want kids. Two. Maybe three. And I want a big porch, where I can write all the stories that are stuck in my head while the kids are in school.”

I want that for her.

I take in her words while my mouth turns dry, a tight grip settling around my heart. Most kids would talk about how they want to achieve great things, big things. A glorious career. A big wedding. Money. But not Charlotte Roux. No, she just wants the simple life, as long as it’s filled with love.I wish I could give her that. I wish I could be more than just her bad boy best friend.

“What?” she screeches when I don’t respond.

“Nothing.” I shake my head, thinking about the one thing I’d dream of if it were up to me.

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