Page 58 of Finding the Forward: Part One
We swayed in the bathroom, slow-dancing.
“Good. Because I like her so much that I don’t know what to do with myself. I look forward to hearing all about tonight.” Dean kissed me long and deep, then left with a wink.
As I finished getting ready, my phone buzzed. I checked it, expecting it to be Verity.
It wasn’t a message. It was an alert.
More specifically, an alert I’d set up four years ago letting me know when a particular house went up for sale in Boston.
I didn’t even look at the listing; I just called my business manager. She was someone AJ had introduced me to years ago to keep me from doing stupid shit with my money when he wasn’t around.
“It’s Grif McGraff,” I told her as I copied the listing and sent it to her.
“Hi, Grif. What can I help you with? Going to buy Dean another boat? Or are you naming a bathroom after him?” She laughed.
We got a little silly with our holiday gifts. It was AJ we’d named a bathroom after.
“I want to buy him a house. I sent you the listing.Thehouse is for sale. The one we walked past every day as kids. I promised to buy it for him one day when we were pro hockey players.” Giddiness consumed me. It was for sale. After all these years.
Sadness struck me. That meant the friendly couple that lived there had either passed or became too old to live alone.
As kids, we’d made up so many stories about the people who lived in the fairytale house. Talked about the life we’d live in it. How we’d decorate it. We’d eventually gotten to know them.
“I don’t care what condition it’s in.” I looked at the listing as we talked. It was a little run-down. The price seemed a little high for the size and condition, but nothing I couldn’t afford.
“Do you want me to get the price down?” she asked.
“No. I don’t care if we have to go over asking. I want it. It will be the best present ever.” I could see his face now when I gave it to him on Christmas morning.
“I’ll see what I can do and keep in touch. Do you want this to be anonymous?” she asked.
“It depends. The couple that lived there might remember Griffey and Dean. I want the sellers to know we’re going to love that house so much. Thank you.” I ended the call.
Whistling a little tune, I finished dressing. Entering the kitchen, I spied agiantflower arrangement on the counter.
“Dean, I asked you to buy her a bouquet, not the centerpiece for a wedding.” I teased. While it was beautiful, full of roses, eucalyptus, baby’s breath, and lavender, it wasridiculous.
“She’ll love them, promise.” Dean put his arms around my waist, rubbing his scent all over me. This wasn’t territorial. No, he was leaving Verity a message of a different kind.
My horny omega husband came on strong sometimes, but Verity needed some of that. What we had was so easy, and I wanted the same for them.
Just like I wanted AJ to meet her, but he was so busy. Like tonight. He had something with his family. AJ had been a little weird lately. But as soon as we got the pack contract, AJ and I could get serious and that would fix a lot between us.
“Who died?” AJ came in the front door, in one of his fancy suits, eying the flowers. A frown twitched on his lips. Sunglasses sat in his hair like usual.
While he always looked nice in a suit, I preferred him in sweats.
“Grif has adate.” Dean’s voice went sing-song, arms still around me.
AJ scowled. “You’re still seeing her?”
I flinched at his ferocity. “She’s kind and a good person, Pepperjack. Which you’d know if you’d met her.”
It was a little ridiculous that they still hadn't met.
“I understand wanting to find her. You’ve been playing great. But she’s a power-up. Why are you encouraging her? She’s probably using you.” He walked to the fridge and got out a beer.
“No, she’s not. Also, she would never.” I shook my head, unable to fathom that situation.
