“Uh . . . Do you two have to have sex all over the house?”
I laugh, and P looks slightly embarrassed but not ashamed or guilty. “Sorry, Lola.”
“I’m not.”
Lola rolls her eyes at me and takes a seat in one of the other chairs with her coffee in her hands, looking out at the ocean. “I know. You two are pretty cute together, but seriously only in places with a lock that I don’t go.”
“So, my bedroom?” P asks, and Lola nods immediately.
“Yes. Please.”
If she only knew all the places I’ve already fucked P in this house.
“Seriously though,” Lola takes a sip from her mug and then looks over at us with a satisfied smile, “I’m so happy you guys are together.”
“Me too.” Penelope kisses my cheek and lays her head on my shoulder. “You have to be so sick of us though. I’m sorry.”
Lola waves it off, but I shrug my shoulders looking over at Lola, who smiles back, nodding at me.
“What’s up?” P’s an intuitive one, and she’s eyeing us both with suspicion now.
“Yeah, I don’t think Lola can stand us living here much longer.”
“Well, Lincoln anyway.” Lola just loves to fuck with me.
P laughs. “Well, you aren’t going anywhere.”
“I have my eye on a place.” I turn and look P directly in the eyes. “But you’re right. I’m not going anywhere unless you’re going with me.”
“You’re buying a house? For us?” She looks suspicious.
Lola stands up, a big smile on her face. “And I know this great interior design team who’s going to help you decorate it.”
Her eyes are sparkling with happiness that’s really fucking good to see.
Penelope looks fucking giddy, which is something I haven’t seen since we were kids. “You got us a house?”
“I went and looked at one. But I’m not fucking stupid enough to close on it until you’ve approved.”
She grabs my face in her hands and kisses my lips. “Smart man.”
“There’s just one last thing I need to do.” She looks suspicious again.
“What?”
“We need to go back to Kansas. I have to talk to Asher.”
She’s studying me. “Yeah, what happened with you two? He wouldn’t tell any of us why you weren’t coming to his graduation.”
“He asked me not to come. And he has every right to be pissed. I haven’t been a good uncle, and he has.”
She agrees but doesn’t want to say it outright. “He has really stepped up with Sebastian.”
Lola’s eyes meet mine, and I know she’s been as good of an aunt as she can be from California. We’ve talked about it a little bit since I’ve been here. Ash really wanted me to do the same right after P left, and I just couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t look at the kid that reminded me of the past, and I was a shitty human for a little bit.
“Was it a bad fight?” P knows me too well.