Page 35 of Found By Him

“You sure you’re okay with going to my cousin’s?”

“Yes, I think it’ll be a good distraction.” Her voice is husky with residual arousal and makes me want to call my cousin and tell her we aren’t coming after all, but I resist.

Becky stands at her oven,assembling a casserole for dinner when we walk in. When she glances over her shoulder, her face breaks into a wide grin. “You made it!” She rushes over to us, careful not to touch us with her messyhands, as she gives me a hug and turns to Gisella. “Ella, is it? I’m a hugger, is that okay?”

I texted Becky before we left to come over to give her a heads up about Gisella so she didn’t say anything that would make Gisella feel uncomfortable.

Gisella spreads her arms for my cousin. “Yeah, absolutely. It’s so nice to meet you, Becky.”

After they release each other and Becky steps back to the stove, I usher Gisella over to the breakfast nook table. Once she is seated, I cage her in with one hand on the table and the other on the back of her chair. “Do you want something to drink?”

Her smile sends warmth across my chest. “Sure, thank you.”

I go to the fridge and grab myself a beer and Gisella a glass of whatever white wine my cousin has open. Bringing them back to the table, I sit down next to Gisella.

While Becky peppers Gisella with questions, I take sips of my beer. I fight the urge to tell my cousin to chill out a little, but Gisella seems to be enjoying it. Her posture starts to relax, her laughter coming a little easier and much less forced.

Maybe Gisella was right, and this was the distraction she needed.

Eventually, Tim, Becky’s husband, joins us in the kitchen. He gives her a quick kiss on the lips before grabbing a beer and joining me and Gisella at the table. I nod a greeting and introduce him to Gisella.

After placing the casserole in the oven and pouring herself a glass of wine, Becky joins us. Becky and Gisella continue their lively conversation, and I’m happy to leave them to it.

When I glance over at Tim, he’s watching his wife with aslight smile on his face. I think back to when Becky first met Tim. Tyler was about eight at the time. Becky hadn’t dated much since she had Tyler, but getting pregnant at seventeen does change the trajectory of one’s dating life. I was happy she didn’t try to make it work with Tyler’s dad. He was an awful kid in school and, from what I’ve seen, is an even worse adult. I keep tabs on him to ensure there’s no indication that he might decide to bother Becky or Tyler, even if he signed away his parental rights long ago. I was already in the army when she met Tim, so I was unsure about their relationship when she called me. But as soon as I came home and saw how much he loved her and Tyler and how much he fit in with our group of friends, I gave Becky my stamp of approval and haven’t once regretted it to this day.

The ability to meld into this makeshift family that Becky and I have built around us was always the one trait my own past relationships all severely lacked. I didn’t bring many around them, but the ones I did never quite fit for one reason or another.

Even in the couple of days that both Tyler and Ian have spent around her, it’s evident they’re very much Team Gisella. It makes me even more settled about my decision.

The evening continues with more conversation, laughs, and lots of wine for Gisella and Becky. Tim and I thoroughly enjoy watching them unwind and get a little tipsy as the night progresses.

After many adorable drunken arguments from both of them, I’m able to convince Gisella it’s time to go.

Becky and Gisella are hugging for the fourth time when Becky says, “Ella, you have to come to Alice’s retirement party this weekend. It’ll be so much fun.”

Gisella stutters. “Oh, uh, I don’t want to intrude. I don’t even know her.”

Becky brushes off her concerns. “Alice loves everyone. She’ll want to meet you anyway. You have to come!” She whips her head in my direction. “Jack, tell her. She has to come.”

I stifle my laugh as I pull Gisella away from my cousin and into my side. I love how she melts against me. “I’m not going to force her to come if she doesn’t want to. But I would love it if she came to the party.”

“Really?” Gisella asks incredulously, curious eyes shining up at me.

As if I could ever not want her to come with me. This woman has effectively changed me, and I don’t even know what we are or what we’re doing.

“Yes, really.” I smile down at her, running my hand down her back to her waist. The contented sigh that leaves her settles deep into my chest.

After one more round of goodbyes and helping Gisella into the vehicle, we’re finally on the road back to her place.

As I glance over, Gisella has her head tipped back, her eyes closed, with a hint of a smile. She looks so different from how she did when I got to her condo today. I’m so relieved she could have a night like tonight after everything she’s been going through.

I walk her upstairs without incident, and she quickly gets ready for bed and climbs under the covers.

“Sit up,” I command, as I lower myself onto the bed next to her. She doesn’t hesitate. “Here, take these and drink the water.”

She holds out her hands for the pills and grabs the glass from me. “So bossy…” she mumbles with a smirk before she swallows the pills and chugs the water. Then she holds the glass out for me to take. “Thanks,Dad.”

I raise my eyebrows at her sass, and she giggles whileshe collapses back onto her pillow. I have zero interest in that particular kink, but everything else about this woman turns me on, so I would make an exception if she had wanted to.

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