Page 63 of More Than Words
I didn’t say anything for a minute, because admitting it out loud felt almost like tempting fate.Like if I admitted how good it felt to be with Delaney, how natural and easy it was, it would all go away, or I’d find a way to mess it up.
Eventually, I simply said, “I am.”
Brody nodded, the teasing fading a little.“Good.You deserve it, Ethan.”
“Thanks.That means a lot.”I lifted my glass in his direction before taking a deep drink.
Delaney
“What can I say?It’s been nice.”
“Nice?”
I nodded.“I know it’s not super exciting and dramatic.But does it have to be?”
“You tell us,” Avery said.“You’re the expert on happily ever afters.”She winked, and I laughed.
“Just because I like to read them doesn’t mean I’m an expert on anything,” I assured her.“In fact, quite the opposite.But…” I let my thoughts drift away.“This thing with Ethan is different, and I think that’s in part because it’s not full of drama.It’s just easy.Being with him feels really natural.”
“I love that.”Lauren gave me a warm smile.“That’s how it should be.”
“Oh?”Kat raised her eyebrow.“Is that how it is with you and Brody?”
My mouth dropped open at Kat’s boldness.Not that I should be surprised.Kat was never afraid to ask the questions we were all thinking.Still, I wanted to hear the answer just as much as anyone.
“We’re not talking about me and Brody,” Lauren answered smoothly.
“But there is something to talk about?”
Lauren gave Kat a look before turning her back on her and getting back to the topic at hand.“I’m glad it’s going so well with Ethan,” she said.“What about Quinn?How’s she with it all?”
I smiled.“She’s great and way too smart.”
“She figured it out first, didn’t she?”Avery grinned when I nodded.
“She did.”
“She might have mentioned something the night of the snowstorm about how the two of you were getting closer,” Avery said.
That didn’t surprise me at all.
“So she’s okay with everything?”Lauren plucked a block of cheese from the tray.“That’s good.”
“It is.”I nodded.“She’s fine as long as we keep thingsG-rated.” I used air quotes.“She doesn’t want to see anygrossstuff.”
“But the gross stuff is the best part.”Kat laughed.
I couldn’t deny that.I’d definitely been enjoying the very not G-rated things Ethan and I had been doing whenever we had a little bit of alone time.Which wasn’t nearly as often as I would have liked, but was completely understandable.
“And how do you feel about the wholebonus momthing, Delaney?”
Avery’s question caught me off guard.“Bonus mom?”
“You know,” she explained.“You’re not her mom, because she has one of those.”The statement hung in the air because we both knew how absent Quinn’s actual mother was.“But you’re like abonus.”
“Huh.”I sat with that for a moment.
“It’s not a small thing,” Lauren said.“A while ago, I dated a man with kids.It brings a whole other element to the relationship.Like, it’s not just the two of you to consider.”
