Page 50 of Never Always
Maeve pinches her lips together. “Or just tell us what you did in the bedroom while he wasconfessinghis love.”
I pull on my ear. Sue-Ellen nearly screams, “I knew it! You are a dirty, dirty girl. Who has he turned you into?”
“Shut up! Do you want Mama and Daddy to hear? They’ll never forgive me.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Like they don’t already know.”
The thought makes me flush. “I’m done with this topic. Maeve,” I say, meeting her gaze after covering my sister’s face with a clean cookie sheet. “You are going to make a beautiful bride. I can’t wait to see the wedding.”
“I’m going to ask Clover to be my Maid of Honor. Do you want to be my only bridesmaid? It’s going to be small and I feel like you were there to see him put a diamond ring in the turkey, so you know what to expect from a wedding between us.” She laughs. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. The turkey was the least expected way any man could possibly propose to a woman.”
Sue-Ellen cackles. “That’s going to be the story of all stories to tell your kids one day.”
Maeve’s smile turns dreamy. “I know. Every Thanksgiving.”
“It’s beautiful,” I add.
Grange and Rexy come into the kitchen, arms linked. “We’re here to interrupt girl talk for seventh helpings of pie.”
Grange presses his lips on my cheek on the way by.
“Your pie will be eighth servings.” I blush again, and my pulse beats against my neck.
“Gross,” Rexy snarls, releasing his friend to take Maeve in his arms. “How’s my live-in bride?”
“On a dreamy cloud,” she replies, pressing her lips against his.
“I love you, turkey,” Rexy says against her lips.
Tears spring to Maeve’s eyes. “I love you, too.”
_________________
Everyone has gone. My parents are back at their hotel and Maeve and Rexy drank too much and decided to take an Uber back to his house. She was spending the night there. The day was a success in every single way. My worlds collided and there weren’t sparks or explosions. It was a seamless blending of all of my loves into a coagulating pool.
I’m in Grange’s button-up shirt, and nothing else. He’s in a pair of boxer briefs, on his knees on the other side of the coffee table, a chessboard in front of us. I’m not trying too hard, still residing in that pleasure-filled bubble that wraps around me anytime we make love. It was slow and tender. He cradled my face, he almost kissed me. Grange’s hands were reverent, a touch I know he reserves for only me. I make a move, my bishop.
“Check,” I say, lazily raising my gaze to meet his.
He narrows his eyes at me. “You’re not even trying.”
“You can tell?” I laugh, then take a sip of my wine. We had more leftovers after we crawled out of his bed and made our way to the living room. I grabbed the last of the bottle before we started playing.
“I can tell. You’re not making me work.”
I lift and lower my shoulder. “What can I say? Amazing sex lets my guard down.”
“Noted,” he growls, biting his lip.
“How long will you be gone? In Kentucky?” I ask, watching as he makes the move I would if I were in this position.
“A week, maybe a week and a half. It depends what they have scheduled for us. I’ll be able to call you every day.” Grange’s forehead creases in worry. “Are you okay with distance? Deployments? I should have asked that before.”
I’m listening, but the photo of him and his mother catches my eye and pulls me in. A lump forms in my throat.
“Grange, I have my own life. Distance is fine. Space is okay. As long as I know that you love me and only me. As long as I know you’re coming home to me, and you’re not… well, we’re exclusive, then we are fine. I’m going to Australia, too, remember?”
“Can I go?” Grange asks. “If my schedule permits, that is. Can I go with you to Australia?”
