Page 33 of What About Now

“Yeah, I plan to have dinner ready and the house in order when Brogan gets home, so she’ll sit and relax after working all day.” I don’t tell him that it’s that time of the month for her, and I plan to pamper her. That’s information for me and my wife only. “Tell them I said hello.”

“Will do. Kiss Brogan for me.”

“Over my dead body,” I clip, and the fucker laughs in my ear as he hangs up. “Asshole,” I mutter, but I’m smiling. Lachlan knew exactly what he was doing, and that it would get me riled up. Just wait. One day it’s going to be him, and I’m taking notes. I’ll be repaying him the favor tenfold.

I crank up the radio and get to work dusting the house. That leads me to cleaning the bathroom, and before I know it, it’s time to start dinner. Brogan mentioned a few nights ago that meatloaf sounded good, so thanks to my mom, who is still annoyed with me that she has not met my new wife, and that I got married without telling her, I have her recipe, and I’m ready to get to work. I just hope I don’t fuck this up.

I promised my parents that we would come to their place for dinner soon. I’m going to talk to Brogan tonight so we canset something up. I’m stoked for them to meet her, and I know without a doubt they’re going to fall for her, just as I am.

It’s a little after five when I hear the front door open. I’m in the kitchen pulling the meatloaf from the oven when Brogan walks into the kitchen.

“Something smells good,” she says.

“I made my mom’s famous meatloaf.”

“You made meatloaf?”

“Yeah, you said it’s been sounding good to you. I also made mashed potatoes, but from a box, and mac and cheese.”

“Thank you for this. What can I do to help?” she asks, taking off her coat and hanging it on the back of the chair at the island.

“Nothing. I’m all set here. I’ll make us each a plate. I have the table set and two glasses of tea ready to go unless you want something else?”

“No. Tea is great. Thank you, Maddox.” She comes over and places her hand on my arm as I’m cutting up the meatloaf. “This is really sweet of you.”

Leaning over, I press a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “I wanted you to be able to come home and relax. The grocery shopping is done, and I picked up some of your favorites. I know women get cravings, and I hope I hit them all, but if not, I’ll gladly go pick up anything you need or want.”

“Maddox.” Her face turns that adorable shade of pink that I love on her.

“I’m your husband, Brogan. We’re partners in this life, and I’m here for you, even for snacks, tampons, or whatever else you need. Never be afraid to ask or talk to me about this stuff.”

“Are all men this open?” she asks.

“I know my four best friends are, and as for me, I’m just me. What you see is what you get, and you get all of me. One day, I hope I’ll have all of you too.” I turn back to dishing up our plates, and then to carry them to the dining room to find her still standing there watching me.

“You’re spoiling me.”

“Good.” I nod toward the dining room. “Let’s eat.” Once we’re sitting at the table, and we’ve started to eat, I ask, “How was your day?”

“Good. My husband surprised me with my favorite drink, and the day flew by after that.”

I almost choke on my bite of meatloaf, and not because it sucks—it’s fucking delicious. No, it’s because she referred to me as her husband. Fucking finally, I feel like we’re making progress. In the past month we’ve lived together, I fall a little more for her every day.

“I’m glad.” I wink at her, and she giggles, and just like that, she steals another piece of my heart. We talk while we eat and it’s the perfect dinner at home, just the two of us.

“I’ll clean up,” I tell her once we’re finished. “Go take a hot bath or shower or whatever, and you and I have a date with a rom-com and all the snacks you can eat. I even have the heating pad on the couch. I found it in the bathroom when I was cleaning.”

“Maddox, really?” she asks, smiling and blushing at the same time.

“I can’t pretend to know how it feels, but I have a mother, and grew up with Forrest pretty much raising Emerson, so I know it can be hell.”

“Is all of this in theHow to Make My Wife Melt into a Puddlehandbook?” she asks.

“No, this is the ‘I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I want to be there for you,’ Maddox edition.” I tap my temple. “Go on. I’ll clean up and meet you in the living room.”

“Thank you for this, for dinner, and… everything.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” She turns to leave, and I quickly clean up dinner and pack away the leftovers. Thirty minutes later, she steps into the living room to find me lying on the couch. I pat the spot in front of me, and she barely hesitates before she lies down. I wrap the blanket around her and pull her to my chest. “You need the heating pad?” I ask her.

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