Page 91 of Secret Love

The next night I show up at Tru’s with a huge bouquet from The Enchanted Florist. It’s a hit—Tru and Stephanie both ooh and ahh over how pretty it is. I’d offered to bring dessert too, but Tru shut me down on the phone last night, saying I’ve cooked for her, it’s time she treats me to a good meal too.

“You look nice,” Tru whispers when it’s just the two of us in her tiny kitchen.

“You look good enough to eat,” I whisper back.

“Oh, how I wish,” she says, pure mischief.

I groan. “Do you want to torture me now when I can’t put my mouth on you?” I ask, backing her into the stove, my hand on her jaw.

“Yes,” she says.

I sing the first line of “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles in her ear. Weston isn’t the only one who can turn to song.

She ducks under my arm and points at me, but I’m momentarily distracted by the way her nipples are standing brazenly in her soft, pink, silky blouse.

“Behave,” she whispers, biting her bottom lip.

“I can’t remember which one of us started it.”

“I think we’re both in a way,” she says, laughing.

I put my hands on her waist and lean in to kiss the back of her neck. “I miss you being in my bed. Or being in your bed. I don’t even need a bed…”

She laughs again and picks up the huge salad bowl. “I’m missing you too.”

Stephanie walks into the kitchen and points at the bowl. “You got it. That’s the only thing we’re missing, I think. You two ready to eat?”

“So ready,” I say.

Tru shoots me a look.

What?I mouth at her as we walk to the table.

Dinner is excellent. The food is delicious and the company is even better. We bounce around topics and Stephanie is great. She touches briefly on what she's going through, just saying she's making some big changes and getting out of her marriage of thirty years. I expect to see tears, but there aren't any. She actually seems excited about the future, which feels really hopeful.

Everything flows so easily, but I think I still catch them by surprise when I look at Stephanie and say, “I really like your daughter.”

“Oh!” She laughs. “I’m so glad to hear that. I really like her too.”

Tru puts her hands on her face and shakes her head, laughing.

“Oh my goodness. I did not see that coming out of your mouth,” she says. “This guy is full of surprises,” she tells her mom, and I grin.

“I feel like the most predictable guy in the world, but I'm glad if I'm keeping you on your toes in a good way.”

She laughs. “You definitely are.”

I look at Stephanie. “I just wanted to let you know that I think you've raised a great human, and I like everything I know about her. Every day I learn something new, and I just like her more.”

“Well, you know how to make a mom feel good,” Stephanie says, clutching her throat.

Now her eyes are filled with tears, as she beams at the two of us.

“You told me he was sweet, but wow,” she says to Tru.

“I know,” Tru says. “You should see the way he is with his daughters.”

Stephanie looks at me. “I really love hearing that too. Tru says you've got three beautiful girls.”

---