Page 76 of Teach Me to Laugh

“I just,” I paused. “I want you to know that my monster is finally gone.”

He stiffened and I thought for a moment that he was going to demand answers, but he didn’t. Instead, he nodded. “You know I’m here for you, for anything, right?”

“I do.” God, the man was the sweetest man ever. I knew it made me sound all girly and weepy, but I just couldn’t imagine that there was a sweeter man in the whole entirety of the world. I’d once thought Raina was lucky for having found her one—but I felt confident now that even she wasn’t as lucky as me.

“Okay,” leaning forward, he pressed his lips to my forehead, the tip of my nose, and finally my lips. “I’m sure you need nourishment. I intend to have you again before we call it a night.”

“Twice on a school night!” I played awestruck. “Beckett Davis, you’re insatiable.”

“I am.” He pushed his big body up off the bed. “Nourishment.”

“Peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches!” I proposed excitedly, and was met with the slapping sound of his briefs against his hips.

“What?”

“They were mine and Raina’s go-to dinner.”

“You and Raina need serious help.” He held up his finger, pointing to me. “Stay.”

“Hey!” I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest. “Rude.”

“Stay, Amara.”

“Fine.” I huffed placating—and then I mumbled, “If I must.” But he was already gone from the room and I knew he hadn’t heard.

It was no matter, when Beckett returned, he returned with a platter of grapes, cubes of cheese, slices of apples with a large dollop of peanut butter and a small pile of mini rainbow marshmallows. See, totally why I love the man!

We ate, shared a huge glass of raspberry juice, and made love again before we fell into the oblivion of the dream world.

I slept like a baby in the arms of a man I was entirely safe with. And I dreamed of a future where love and laughter and living were all I ever thought about.

It was bliss.

Amara

The flowing chiffon of the pale pink dress I wore danced in the evening breeze as Beckett twirled me around and around in his arms. His smile was huge, as it had been all day long, as we watched our good friends enter the world of eternal marital bliss. I’d chosen a pink dress because Maddy had chosen a soft yellow. There was a delicate beauty about the two colors that somehow suited Raina. Yes, her wedding was a blast of pastel colors—think mini eggs as favors—that made one consider anEaster rainbow, but damn, did Beckett ever look fabulously handsome in the pale pink silk tie he wore to match my dress.

He’d grinned at me when he’d found he’d be wearing pink—to which he’d then announced, “I’m all man, baby. Pink’s not going to intimidate me.” Clearly, pink didn’t intimidate him, because he rocked it.

“You’re beautiful.” He murmured, dropping his head to nuzzle my nose with his. I felt my heart do a little dance and leap at the gesture.

“I love you.”

“I know.” He twirled me around again. “I’m a lucky man.”

I smiled, because I was beginning to think that he was, indeed, lucky. He was lucky to have a woman who loved him as wholeheartedly, and faithfully, as I loved him. Just the same as I was lucky to have him.

We were lucky.

“It’s the toss!” Maddy exclaimed, suddenly appearing beside us. She gripped my arm and did a little bounce, clearly tipsy. “Come on!”

I laughed, moving away from my man to the center of the dance floor that stood beneath the stars. The Weir’s had an intimate wedding on the hotel ground before a crystal clear lake. It was stunningly beautiful, and all the guests had cabins booked to stay the night. It was perfectly Raina and Kaiden Weir. Perfectly wonderful.

That’s when I saw Raina dance onto the floor barefoot, with her lovely arrangement of pink and yellow peonies. She wore an ivory gypsy gown that had delicate bands of lace hanging limply around her upper arms. The bodice was snug and a tiny braidedgold belt hugged the small of her waist. Her hair was loose and wild, and she wore a thin crown of tiny pink flowers. She looked lovely, and fresh, and Raina. Entirely Raina.

“Ready ladies?” She called, winking to the small crowd before she turned away and tossed her bouquet.

I didn’t even move. It was like the arrangement knew where it wanted to go—and it wanted to slide right into my hands, because that’s what it did.

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