Page 124 of The One I Love
“I know,” he says. “And it is technically a party for us.”
“True,” I say, raising onto my tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. “Plus, if we’re gone for too long, our mothers are going to come looking for us. And I might be in my thirties, but I do not need my mother—or yours—catching us in the act.”
“Fine,” he groans. “But only another hour. Max. Then I’m taking you home.”
“Sounds perfect.”
We safely make our way back outside, and seemingly no one reacts to us returning. Moms are still chatting. Kids are still occupying themselves, and our group is still around the fire.
Look at us, having sneaky stealth sex.
“And where did you two head off to?” Wes asks.
“Just went inside for a bit,” I say as I take a seat.
He looks over to Shane. “What room do I need to disinfect?”
I feel the blush coming over my cheeks. I look over toShane, who suddenly looks very proud of himself. Considering the orgasm I just had, I’ll give him that.
“Laundry room.”
“Good choice,” Betsy says. “That’s one of our favorites, too.”
We all start laughing as Wes passes Shane a beer, which they promptly toast each other with. The night continues with talk and laughter. Stories and questions. Soon everyone gathers around the pit.
It’s the perfect night.
I take a second to look around, and it takes all I have in me not to get emotional over how many blessings I have in my life.
A meddling mother who I often want to strangle, but loves the best way she knows how.
Two children who, even when so many times I figured I was screwing up, are growing into being the best kind of people.
Friends who have been with me since the beginning. New friends I couldn’t imagine my life without. The family that isn’t blood related, but I’d die for.
And Shane. The man who saved me in more ways than one. The boy who used to be my best friend. The man I now can’t imagine my life without.
The road here was winding. There were bumps. There were times when I for sure thought I was at a dead end. But I’m here now. I’ve reached the destination.
And that’s all that matters. Because I’m with the one I love, surrounded by those who love us.
Epilogue
Simon
~ Jake & Whitley’s wedding, four months ago ~
“Speaking of regrets…”My words trail off as someone walking past me catches my eye. She doesn’t just catch my eye. I do a full double take. It’s the caterer. Her face goes out of my sight line and I shake my head. Because no way could that be who I thought it was. “I don’t have many. But I do have one, and it’s not telling you what a money-hungry bitch Cara was. We all agreed to keep our mouths shut because you seemed happy. Well, guess what? I’m going to speak now. Only this timeyou’rebeing the little bitch.”
“What are you saying?” Wes asks.
“I’m saying we didn’t do anything to save you from your first wife. But I am going to try and save you from being miserable for the rest of your life. Betsy is it. You’re not going to do better than her. If you fuck this up, her future will be fine. It’s your future that’s going to be alone and miserable.”
There. I said what I needed to say to Wes. Now I can getback to staring at the woman who has a striking resemblance to the girl I knew as Bug.
When she walked past, I could have sworn it was Charlie. I mean, in theory, it could be. Then again, I haven’t seen her in fifteen years so what the hell do I know?
I haven’t thought about Charlie in ages. But that was by design. She occupied so many of my thoughts when she left out of nowhere that I had to force myself to erase her from my memory. It was the only way I could move on after she just left without a word. Who does that? And who doesn’t tell their friends they are leaving?
