Page 303 of Falling Backwards
I love my life.
The acknowledgment is a happy echo through my entire being.Just like it has been for the last year.
A pleasant breeze drifts through the patio area and nudges my hair around; it tickles my bare arms and my face.I brush it away, then smooth my hands down the waist and skirt of my fluttery sundress, feeling the curvy softness of the body underneath—and, quite vividly, recalling Luke relishing it earlier on our couch before I put the dress on.
‘Fuck, you’re exquisite, Maggie,’murmurs his husky memory-voice through my mind.I feel all over again how his strong hands guided me down on him with steady ease, how he looked at me, how his shoulders flexed beneath my hands, how delectably he moaned and kissed the scar on my neck when I took over the rhythm of our lovemaking, how incredible it was to once again claim sharp satisfaction together in such an intimate way.
I told him how exquisiteheis.
He clamped us into a hug while we kissed each other’s warmed skin.
And I was freshly reminded, for the thousandth time in the last year, that my body really is good enough just the way it is.Although it’s always nice to think of the exercise we’ve managed to keep up, I pretty much look the same as I did when we started fake-dating, and I don’t feel anything but good about it.Even earlier on the couch, being naked and a little sweaty as I straddled Luke without shadows or a blanket, I feltgoodand powerful and calm and lovely.Wished that self-conscious Maggie had been nicer to herself sooner.
Better late than never, though.
I look to the glass doors nearby just as Luke reaches to open one of them from the other side.He’s back from his turn at hand-washing.The sight of him warms my heart, and we smile at each other, and he comes to sit across from me again.
“Ahhhh,” he says.“What a lovely late November day.”
At his breezy sarcasm, I snort into laughter, and so does he.
Then I groan, “Why is it seventy-five degrees at this time of year?”
“Because we don’t live somewhere that has four proper seasons.”
I nod my irked agreement, which isn’t allthatirked, really.How could it be?How could any part of me be anything less than joyous today?
Like he can read my mind, Luke regards me with the same easy glow that isn’t unique to this day despite how special this day is.
“Happy anniversary,” he says, not for the first time since we awoke this morning.
I’m not tired of hearing it.
I know that my own glow is emanating from me as I tell him again, too, “Happy anniversary.”After a second, I add, “Are you sure you don’t wanna go somewhere else for lunch?I know it can feel weird to dine where you work.We’ve only ordered drinks, so it’s not too late to—”
“No, I don’t wanna go somewhere else,” he chuckles.“I wanna sit out here on the patio my girl has always loved so I can admire her in this weirdly springlike weather while we eat a fancy lunch we know will be delicious.”
My smile grows and his does, too, with his good mood plus something knowing.He has never forgotten that Lucent’s patio is special to me because of how special it is to my parents.
The breeze ruffles his mess of raven hair as he leans towards me on the table.
“Besides,” he goes on, “I know you miss being able to even just look at this patio.There’sextrano way I wanna rob you of getting to spend real time on it.”
I sigh.
Sometimes I don’t know how I manage to stay upright beneath the weight of how much I love him.
“Thank you,” I murmur.“I do miss getting to see it anytime I want.”Then I give him a sly look.“I also miss getting to see you around during my shifts.Doing accounting for a nonprofit is rewarding work, but damn it, the lack of Luke Bramhill in that building is adownside.”
He winks at me.“Yeah, I’ll bet youdomiss finding things to nitpick at me for.”
I giggle, then lean towards him, too, my elbows resting on the edge of the table.“No.You’re such an awesome assistant manager that even I started having a hard time being nitpicky before I left.”
Luke’s grin is as bright as it was way back when he first told me he got the job.I adore it.I adore that he has turned out to both be really good at that workandlike it, though he’s also always happy to cover a bartending shift if he needs to.
Then again, we knew he could do it.We knew he’d be better than Ronald ever was.We knew he’d bring something refreshing to the table while taking care of business the way business deserves to be taken care of.
He says, “I miss getting to see you during my shifts too.”
