Page 83 of A Break in Communications

“Cool, have fun,” Veronica said, and she tugged on Kelcey’s wrist, pulling her along in the other way. “C’mon, blue-eyes, let’s go to the bathrooms.”

“Ew,” Anna groaned, watching them go. I sighed, letting my shoulders fall, finishing off my drink as they headed away.

“When do you think Kelcey will next be crying to us about Vern breaking her heart?”

“Veronica’s probably going to kick her away the day after Christmas. Mark my words.”

“Think they’ll ever actually get together?”

Anna snorted. “For all of our sakes, I really hope not. Which, given how difficult they both are, means they probably will. Mom’s never going to let this go, anyway…” She sighed. “Can’t wait to field nonstop questions both from Kelcey and my mother about Veronica’s emotional unavailability.”

“Preston girls are a trip…”

She grinned at me. “Sometimes they come around, though. I mean it, though. Let’s go now. I’m tired and just want a cup of hot chocolate and to get back to our book.”

Ah—Anna wanted to go out and head back to her apartment with me by her side and spend carefree little moments with me. Because she was in love with me. Was I seriously going to keep being like this over every little thing with her, for the rest of time?

Probably, yeah.

“Sounds like a dream,” I said. “It’s all the event planners’ responsibility from here. Is that the only thing you were serious about, though?” I said lightly, suppressing a smile, and Anna beamed.

“No, I was also serious about the part about wanting loud, messy sex with you.”

“Oh.” I blinked fast. “Yeah, the event planners can definitely handle this from here. Also, since when did you initiate?”

She laughed. “Since you’re letting the team down, Masters,” she said. “You’re going to have to start suddenly bending me over the desk more often.”

“I’m taking that as a challenge, you know.”

She smiled wider. “Oh, no. Whatever will I do?”

I bit my lip, smiling wider. “Ha… experience suggests, everything I tell you to. You’re a good girl like that.”

“Okay—okay, you win,” she laughed, covering up her face as a blush spilled out across her cheeks. “I kept my cool for a minute. You have to admit, that wasn’t bad.”

I had to admit that everything she ever did was perfect, and that nothing in the world would ever be a fraction as dazzling and breathtaking as she was in every word she ever spoke.

But that was probably just me. I kind of had it bad for this girl.

Epilogue

Anna

Granny Charlotte never got any nicer, no matter how many times I plied the old lady with chili.

She scowled at me as I stepped into the house, looking up from her book with aharrumph.“Oh, the no-good wife…”

“Uh-huh. Nice to see you too. You know Lucy and I aren’t married yet.”

She waved me off again, going back to her book. “Dammit, I know. That’s what makes you no good. What the hell’s taking you so long? It’s been ten years.”

“It has been one. We’ll be lucky if you’re still kicking in ten.”

“I’llbe lucky. Bad luck you if I am.” She set the book down, wheeling her chair out of the corner and towards me. “All the damn snow outside… I hate winter.”

I smiled warmly, stepping back to open the door wider to the soft glow of sunrise on the snow and offer help with the ramp—I knew she’d wave me off with a dismissive snort, but I knew she’d chew me out if I didn’t offer to help. Sometimes I wondered why my girlfriend, my whole family, and honestly myself, all liked this woman. “Well, if you can survive the bitter cold and miserable state of existing in this world for a bit longer, you can come see my mom, and maybe her cinnamon rolls can make things a little better.”

“Ah, at least there’s one good thing about winter, if that woman is making cinnamon rolls again.” She gave me adismissive snort when I offered to help her down the ramp at the front, waving me off, and I stayed close enough following her down the ramp to catch her if she slipped on the ice and the brakes didn’t hold. The woman could take care of herself, but I could be forgiven for being paranoid—didn’t really want the woman landing in the hospital again.

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