Page 80 of Cups of You

Amber laughed before putting the plate down on the counter. She threw an arm over Benjamin’s shoulder and pulled him down to her.

“Exactly. Makes me hungry for something a little more filling than food.”

In a move that Amber thought she could get used, Benjamin had her up against again lifting her like it took nothing at all.

“Well in that case, why don’t we head back upstairs, so I can give you a little more sex and later we’ll move on to the service.”

Amber smirked and leaned in running her lips over his cheek. The scent of musk and coffee was one she would never get enough of.

“Why? There’s a perfectly good counter right here.”

Benjamin’s grip tightened and he groaned. “God, I love it when you’re smarter than me.”

EPILOGUE

two years later

The sun was high overhead and Benjamin pulled his shirt away from his chest. The air was thick, like wading through molasses as he walked the campus.

“Maybe they should plant more trees to give students shade as they walk to class,” he griped throwing a grin in Olivia’s direction. Her cheeks were flush from the heat but otherwise she didn’t seem the least bit affected. Her excitement was palpable, and he pushed away his exhaustion in the face of it. This was an important visit for her, and he didn’t want to dull her shine.

Olivia rolled her eyes. “It’s the same southern weather we always get in May. Shouldn’t you be used to it by now, dad?”

“Just because I’m used to it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

She shook her head and grinned before turning her attention back to the tour guide.

Benjamin had been surprised when Olivia announced her desire to stay in the state for college. He had been momentarily worried that she would stay local instead of branching out, but those concerns were swiftly done away with when she had thrown down her college applications and asked for his help filling them out.

It was an impressive list of schools she wanted to apply to, and he quickly called for reinforcement from the best librarian he knew to help.

“Dad, you aren’t going to start crying in front of everyone are you?”

The snort he let out was loud enough to grab others’ attention and Amber looked back from where she was talking to the tour guide with a raised eyebrow. Benjamin waved her off with a sheepish grin.

“No, I’m not going to cry…right now.”

“Oh my gosh dad,” Olivia groaned. “It’s not like I’ll be that far away. Atlanta is only like two hours away. An hour if you let Amber drive.”

He shuddered at the thought of Amber driving them back and forth. “Are you trying to put me in an early grave?”

“Her driving wasn’t that bad.” She paused and glanced at Amber. “Though, now that I think about it, maybe you should take the bus.”

Benjamin laughed and threw an arm around Olivia’s shoulder. “I promise not to embarrass you in front of your new campus mates, but I can’t promise I won’t shed a very manly tear when you officially walk across that stage in June.”

“Dad.”

“Come on,” he wheedled. “My favorite kiddo is graduating high school and becoming a real adult. That is plenty cause for a few well-placed tears.”

“Fine,” she groaned not sounding the slightest bit put out. Olivia’s arm wrapped around his waist. “I suppose I would be upset if you didn’t mourn me leaving the house.”

“Exactly.”

“And,” she continued. “I know how much you hate when the house is too quiet.”

He nodded. Every few days Randy and Sam would come by with his godson Jacob which would fill the house with plenty of toddler chatter and occasionally the clang of something being dropped. Overall though, the house was too silent without Olivia’s presence and even though it wasn’t a large space, he wasn’t always sure how to fill it.

“This is true. I suppose I’ll have to volunteer to babysit your cousin, Jacob, more often.”

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