Page 36 of Numbers Boy
“Thank you!” they chorus.
“Can we please come back soon, Mom?” Lilly asks, her face twisted into an adorable pout. The effect is heightened by the fact that her makeup smeared slightly while she was asleep.
“That’s up to Steve, Lil.”
Both girls turn to him, matching pleading expressions on display. But it’s Isabella who asks this time.
“Please, Steve? We can help take care of Stacy if you need it, too.”
“Girlies, of course you’re welcome to come back.” He opens his arms, and they both swarm him with a hug. “And you don’t need to use Stacy as an excuse either. I meant it when I said I had fun. You both are awesome people. I’d love to spend more time with you.”
Amy and I exchange another look as they all squeeze their group hug tighter. If what I witnessed earlier didn’t convince me, now I know beyond a doubt that Steve has earned the girls’ stamp of approval. And I get it. I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with him, too.
Once goodbyes are finally over, Steve looks at me, an almost shy expression on his face. I reach out and pull him to my side, then press a kiss to his temple.
“You’re good with them.”
I hear more than see his answering smile when he says, “I loved getting to know them.” He looks up, and there’s that smile. So sweet. “Want to go cuddle some more and finish the movie?”
“Hell yeah. Although, full disclosure, I have no idea what’s going on in the movie.”
“Same,” he jokes, pulling me down the hall and then next to him on the couch. “I just wanted cuddles.”
I laugh and snake my arm tighter around his waist. He settles against me, one arm resting on my stomach and chest, head near my shoulder. “I will always be down for cuddles.”
We stay like that, hands never wandering far. Just enjoying the comfort and warmth of having another person so close. As the credits start to roll, Steve stifles a huge yawn, which causes me to do the same.
“Damn, it’s getting late,” he notes, glancing at the time on his phone. “I would offer to have you stay, but I know tomorrow is your early day.”
“That’s okay, beautiful. We’ll find another time.” I press a kiss into his curls before standing up and stretching, another yawn taking over. “Dog park meetup and some sort of date this week?”
“Sounds perfect.”
We walk slowly toward his front door when a thought occurs to me.
“Hey, I forgot to tell you. I play guitar, and I’ve got a gig this Saturday.” I pause to slide on my boots. Steve cocks his head questioningly at me, so I explain some more. “Although it’s not nearly as cool as doing drag. I just sing cover songs at a local bar.”
“Umm, that’s still really cool,” Steve says, an excited gleam in his eyes. “And at least you’re actually singing. Eve just lip-syncs.”
“Eve?” It’s my turn to wait for an explanation, trying to get my brain to wake up a bit more so I can follow his train of thought as I continue getting bundled up. It may be getting a little warmer out during the days, but it’s still plenty cold once the sun goes down.
“My stage name. Her full name is Eve R. Lasting.”
“Like a gobstopper?” I ask with a grin, pulling Steve into my arms. He comes willingly and grins back at me, relaxing into my body now that he’s told me about his alter ego. I’m happy to see that none of his tenseness from earlier has returned.
“Yep,” he replies cheekily, one eyebrow raising as he licks his lips. “Because you can suck me and suck me and suck me…”
I laugh, leaning in to whisper in his ear. “Is that a promise, Princess?”
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
We’re both grinning as we share a good night kiss. Even after I leave for my apartment, I can taste the happiness on Steve’s lips. I’m hooked on that taste, and I can’t wait until I can see him and experience it again.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Steve
“ALRIGHT, MAKE SUREyou get a really deep arch in your back.”
