Page 63 of Sticking Out

“Are you trying to turn me on?”

He snorts out a laugh. “I dropped my damn phone and it slid under the bed.” He lays flat out and struggles a bit to reach it. “How far could it have gone?”

“Let me see.” I walk around to the other side of the bed, lift up the bedding, and bend. “It’s closer to me than you.” I reach out and snatch his phone. “Got it.” A little tag is sticking out from the mattress, and I’m about to tuck it back in, when his phone rings and I jump.

“Good God, that scared me.”

He laughs as I glance at the screen. “It’s your mom. Sorry, didn’t mean to check.” I hand the phone over and fix the bedding.

“You look amazing, by the way,” he compliments me as he slides his finger across the phone. Deciding to play with him a bit, I give a little shake to my backside as I cross the room, open his closet and let the towel fall to the floor.

He groans, and I hear. “Yeah, yeah, I’m okay.” I glance at him over my shoulder and chuckle slightly. He gives me a warning glare. I go back to dressing and pull out the dress I bought last week. It’s a cute black number that hugs my curves. I knew this was the dress when Conner began to drool. Honestly, I can’t believe he wanted to go shopping with me. I probably wouldn’t be able to wear this and drive Conner crazy if I was pregnant, so I guess there’s something positive about that.

He ends the call with his mother. “They’re going to come for a bit.”

I pull the dress on and turn to him. “I’m so glad.” Lifting my hair, I point over my shoulder. “Zip me up.”

“If I get anywhere near you in that dress, the only zipping I’ll be doing is down.”

I laugh. “Come on, Conner. I can’t reach.”

“Fine.” He reluctantly stomps my way, his knuckles warm on my back as he works the zipper.

“I’m really glad they’re coming out. I can’t even imagine losing…” I let my words fall off. We all had a loss, and are all suffering in our own way.

His hands slide around my body, and he holds me in a tender way. “I don’t ever want to lose you, Dani.”

I turn in his arms, and there’s worry and hurt in his eyes. “Hey, you’re not going to lose me. We made that promise going into this, and it’s a promise I stand by.”

“Okay,” he murmurs, like he’s still not sure. Why wouldn’t he be? Does he know something I don’t? God, I’m just being paranoid, worried that this can be taken away from me quickly.

I go up on my toes and kiss him. “Now get ready. I want you in more than boxers when people start arriving.” Inching back, I admire his body as he goes to his closet and pulls on a nice pair of dress pants and a button-down shirt. I continue to smile at him as he dresses, and he just grins at me.

Once we’re both ready, we head downstairs, and start putting the hors d’oeuvres on trays and setting out glasses for wine and drinks. Soon enough the bell chimes, and we both hurry to the door, to let in Brighton and Noah.

“You look gorgeous,” Brighton says and gives me a hug.

Conner frowns and holds his arms out. “Hey, what about me?”

Brighton rolls her eyes and hugs him. “Always so needy, Wood.” I give Noah a hug and usher them both into the living room, where the cup is proudly displayed near the big fireplace.

Noah pats Conner on the back. “Looking good, Conner.” He steps up to the cup. “No liquor in that.”

“Nah, but I do have beer chilling in the kitchen.” Conner throws his arm around Noah’s shoulder and they head off. Brighton looks around. “I haven’t been here since Conner bought the place. You’re making it very homey, Dani.”

I smile at my friend. “I’ve been adding some touches. I’ve actually been redecorating my own place.”

She frowns, and runs her hands over one of the cushions I’d plumped earlier. “If you and Conner are trying to have a baby, are you going to keep both places?”

“I’m not sure what our plans are, but it does seem crazy to have two big places.”

“Well, I’d choose this one with the pool,” she jokes.

“Me too.” Honestly, I do want to talk to Conner about that, but I’m not pregnant yet, so I haven’t really pushed the idea and he’s not talking about it, even though we’re basically living together as it is. “Let’s go get wine.”

“Wine, yes.”

We head toward the kitchen and the bell chimes again. For the next half hour, Conner and I greet his friends at the door, as well as our parents, and my sister and brother-in-law. Rylee grins like the cat that ate the canary every time she sees Conner and me together, especially when he’s touching me. I don’t hate it, but I don’t know why she has that ‘I told you so’ look on her face. She never told me anything. Or maybe she has.

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