Page 37 of Love Beyond Wanting
Laurel looked as happy as I’d ever seen her as she sat cross-legged on the bed.She motioned for me to join her.
“I think this time suits you, sis.”
She beamed and reached for my hand.“I think it’s going to suit you, too.What do you think of Maddock?”
I knew she only asked because it was obvious that I’d spent more time with him than anyone else I’d met so far, but the question made me self-conscious.
“What do you mean?”
Laurel shrugged.“Nothing.I just wondered if you two were getting along.I think he’s great.”
I nodded and tried not to act squirmy.I didn’t succeed.“I agree.He’s…he’s great.”
Laurel gave me a quick knowing glance, and then reached for Mr.Crinkles as he jumped onto the bed.“Okay, I can see something’s going on there, but I’m not going to push.Just so you know though—I’ve gotten to know Maddock very well.I promise you, he’s one of the good ones.”
I already knew that.“I know.”
She raised her brows and nodded.“You want to change the subject?”
“Yes, please.”
She laughed.“All right.How did Mom and David take the news about the time travel, the magic, my engagement?”
I smiled thinking back on their casual, carefree reactions thanks to Morna’s magic elixir.
“About that…I don’t want you to get angry, but I had a little help from Morna.She came by the apartment before you called me for the first time after traveling back here.”
“What?”
If Laurel was that surprised by that, I couldn’t imagine how shocked she’d be when I told her about our mother and David.
Before I could continue, Laurel interjected once again.“Please tell me you’re joking.She was there, and she wouldn’t do anything to help me?”
“She couldn’t.”I went on to explain to her all that Morna had told me—the reasons why Morna couldn’t provide more help or intervene any more than she did.As I told my story, she visibly relaxed.
“Well, at least her lack of assistance wasn’t because she doesn’t care.So, how did she help you tell Mom and David about everything?”
“She sent a potion that I put in their coffee before we got on the plane.So, remarkably, they seem pretty cool with everything.Although…I have one other doozy of a bomb to drop on you.”
“Oh yeah?”Laurel looked intrigued.
“Mom and David…they’re um…they’re dating or something?”
Her eyes just about doubled in size.“Shut up.”
“I’m totally serious, Laurel.”
“What do you meanor something?”
“Well, I haven’t really had a chance to visit with either one of them about it.I only found out because I walked in on the two of them naked.Then Mom and I had a big blow up that caused me to not speak to her for the better part of two days.By the time I’d cooled down enough to get curious, I was too sick to think coherently.”
Laurel shook her head and grinned.“Marcus is gonna freak.”
I agreed.Not that Marcus would mind it any more than we did, but there was no way he had even the slightest clue.
“I’ll let you be the one to tell him.Each time I bring it up, flashes of Mom’s bare breasts and David’s hands splayed over his crotch fill my mind.”
Laurel made a gagging expression and shook her head.“Ew.Just ew.Can I ask…what did you two have a fight about?”
