Page 19 of Come Back to Me

“No.” She quickly pushes her finger to my lips, halting my words. “No buts. I mean it. Promise me.” Her voice comes out harsh.

It sends a pang of worry in my chest. I take her words seriously and do the only thing I can do. I nod and agree. “Promise.”

Eventually, she relents and resituates with her head resting on my chest once again. She feels incredible in my arms with her breasts mashed against me. It’s a moment I hope to experience on repeat this summer.

But I can’t quiet the desire building in me to want more.

More ofthis. More ofher. More ofus.

I promised her I wouldn’t talk about the future. Except that’s the only thing spinning through my mind as her breathing slows and she drifts to sleep in my embrace. Our time together already feels limited. Like falling sand in an hourglass.

While we wait for the closing date on the cabin, we shop for home improvement products at Uncle Jim’s hardware store. We buy paint for some of the interior walls, new plumbing fixtures for the bathroom and kitchen, and lots of sandpaper for the kitchen cabinets. Giana picks out a pale-pink paint for the primary bedroom walls. I wouldn’t care if she picked out mustard yellow as long as she’s happy.

I’m hoping for a sex do-over—a chance to give Giana more pleasure rather than pain—but we’ve been instructed by the bank that it’s best to keep our distance from the cabin until we officially close and get the keys. With still living at home, Giana’s house is never empty of eavesdroppers, never mind an audience. And until we get keys to the cabin, I’m stuck at Pete’s place. Giana and I have barely had a moment alone since that night at the cabin.

Before we know it, Pete and Nettie are already returning home from their honeymoon. I borrow Uncle Jim’s car again and pick Giana up on our way to meet the newlyweds at the hardware store. Uncle Jim and Pete’s grandfather have been gussying up the living space above the store and turning it into a nice apartment for Pete and Nettie. Giana and I are anxious to see their reactions when they find the surprise.

It's dark, and the hardware store is closed when I park along the curb out front. I hop out and round the front of the car before opening the passenger door. Giana steps out and reaches for my hand.

“I don’t know if I’m more excited to see Nettie’s expression to their very own apartment, or if I’m just plain excited to seeher.” Giana tugs me toward the double glass doors to the store. “We’ve never been apart this long.”

“I guarantee you Pete is gonna be head over heels for a place of their own. You don’t know how many times he went off about the bummer of the two of them having to live with his family after they got married.” I rest my hand on Giana’s back and usher her inside.

“Imagine having sex with your younger siblings in the next room,” she whispers over her shoulder. “Or worse—yourparents.” Her painted-red lips twist in disgust.

“Ewww,” I say, tickling her with a squeeze to her waist.

She squeals and pokes a playful elbow into my gut, and I chuckle. I follow behind her as we head to the back of the dimly lit store, not minding the view of her ass in the fitted blue jeans she’s wearing. My dick groans in my pants.

As we shuffle up the stairs, I lower my voice and say from behind her, “Ya know what I’m excited ’bout?”

“Mm-hmm?” Her voice purrs, doing nothing to ease my hard-on.

“Getting our keys in three more days.”

She spins on the step before we reach the top of the staircase and cups her hands to my shoulders. A flirtatious smile takes residence on her face, and I’m once again struck by her beauty. She bends a little and draws her lips closer to mine, and I meet her halfway, giving her a gentle kiss but craving more.

After she pulls back, she says, “I’m counting down the days too.”

I adjust my pants before we reach the top of the stairs and enter the apartment.

No surprise, Nettie spots us first. She lets out a high-pitched shriek, and both girls sprint toward each other. They tackle one another in the biggest of bear hugs, complete with continued squealing and laughing and talking a mile a minute.I approach Pete with a firm handshake and a smile. The two of us are used to going long stretches of time without seeing each other. So this was nothing.

I skip over asking for details of the honeymoon and go right into talking about the apartment. “What do you think of the place?” I shuffle around and check out Uncle Jim’s handiwork.

“It’s amazing,” Pete says, looking pleased but maybe still a bit in shock.

“Oh my goodness, we’re just tickled pink. What a blessing,” Nettie begins, her arm linked through Giana’s.

They look pretty adorable, the two of them, best friends, reunited once again. I can’t help but notice the way Giana’s skin is glowing. It’s almost as if Nettie’s absence somehow blocked some of Giana’s sun. Now that she’s back, Giana looks more settled. More like herself. Her freckles showing off too.

“I knew you’d love it,” Giana says.

“Are you kidding? What’s not to love? It’s a place to call our own.” Nettie unravels her arm from Giana and rushes to Uncle Jim, her now father-in-law, and gives him a hug.

It seems like a simple response.A place to call our own. But it’s packed with meaning.

“Well, you’ll have to get your own things to fill it with.” Uncle Jim rubs at the back of his neck, looking sheepish.

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