Page 98 of Playing With Fire
“Oh honey, you get to be my age and you learn to read the signs. I can tell that not only do you have at least a six-pack, but you got those hip-dip things all the ladies love, and I’d be willing to bet you’re packing at least eight in?—”
“OKAY! Dad, I think it’s time for you to get Mom home. And maybe into a cold shower,” Shannon announces loudly while Monica, Knox, Jake, and Dylan are all busting a gut and Phoenix looks smug as hell.
“That’s right boys, you heard her. Who has the little peepee now, huh? Not me.”
“Phoe, having a big dick and having big dickenergyare two different things,” Knox says. It’s nice to hear him make a joke. With everything going on, I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to him besides that once at the fire station, and I need to make sure I change that.
“Not that you’d know what either one is like,” Phoe throws back along with his shot.
It’s like having Thanksgiving with a bunch of middle schoolers, and honestly, it’s perfect.
About an hour later, everyone says their goodbyes and heads for the door. Monica lingers before going upstairs to bed. When she hugs me, I feel her deep inhale and exhale.
“We still have a long road ahead of us, but at least this is progress,” she says against my chest.
I nod, having hit my limit for emotional responses to the whole situation. When Monica turns to Shannon, she doesn’t even hesitate before wrapping her arms around my girlfriend. “I’m glad you didn’t let fear stop you from loving my brother.”
Monica doesn’t allow herself to be vulnerable in front of many people so this is actually a pretty big moment for her.
Shannon hugs her back tightly.
“I’m just grateful he didn’t let fear stophimfrom lovingme,” Shannon says.
With nothing more needing to be said, we all crack the door to the kids’ room to check on them before Monica heads upstairs and I lead Shannon to our room, hand in hand.
Epilogue
Hudson
“Shan! You about ready?” I call out to my girlfriend who is checking onone last patientbefore closing her laptop for a week and soaking up the sun at the coast.
Knox was kind enough to give us the keys to his cottage again, and I can’t wait to get our little girl in the ocean. Serafina has started taking steps and she finds so much joy in sticking her little toes in the sand. Shannon and I have made it a point to get her to the beach as often as we can, and this time, Monica, Ally, Camden, and Shannon’s parents are coming with us.
Of course, Knox’s house can’t support us all, so Shannon rented the house next door for them so Monica has extra help for the kids. It’s been amazing to watch her parents accept my sister, niece, and nephew into their fold. It’s almost like Monica and Shannon are sisters, and I’m the outsider.
I fucking love it.
“Yeah, Hud! Just wrapping up,” Shannon calls back as she comes down the stairs from the loft—which is now her homeoffice.
We load Serafina and snacks in the car, and then we’re off.
The drive passes quickly and before we know it, we’re pulling up to Knox’s beach house.
“Gosh, I always forget how much I love this place,” Shannon muses, opening her car door.
“Yeah,” I agree. “It’s nice that Knox never wants to come down here. Means we can use it anytime we want.”
“I do wish he’d let us fix it up a little, though. A fresh coat of paint on the walls would really brighten the place up.”
Shannon’s statement forces me to hide a smile. One of my favorite things about being with Shannon are the ample opportunities I have to surprise her and keep her on her toes about what’s coming next.
Sometimes it’s something simple like a picnic in a long-forgotten part of the state park that turns into making love as the sun beats down on our backs. And sometimes it’s something a little bigger, like the opportunity to buy this place from Knox.
I’d approached him about it at the beginning of this summer. He was hesitant because he’s really good at holding on to the past, but I finally got him to agree it was time for him to move on. Shan and I buying it would be win-win because he could still use it if he ever had the desire, and he knows Shannon and I will take excellent care of it.
I can’t wait to tell her. Then, if she wants it, it’s ours for a very reasonable price.
I ended up keeping my job which I’m grateful for. When the news hit that Steve Ellington is pushing for a mistrial andsomeof Gregor’s misdeeds came to light, my boss called me and told me my job was safe if I still wanted it. I also ended up getting a decent bonus last quarter for having the highest numbers for things like total deliveries made, on-time deliveries, and customer satisfaction. I plan to use it as part of the down payment to Knox.
