Page 24 of Yours To Keep
“Ok, fine. Tell me then,” I ask.
“Will you come to dinner with me tonight?” He says, surprising me. A real date with Dalton? I can’t think of anything I’d want more at this moment.
“Of course! Can we run by my apartment? I need clothes,” I ask, feeling him tense beneath me. I know he’s worried about what my mother and Aaron are capable of, but I won’t go out anywhere smelling like sex and sweat. He nods silently, standing and picking up his phone without another word. Stoic Iris isn’t my favorite person, but I understand his concern. He holds the phone to his ear, keeping an eye on me as I search the room for my clothes.
“Ev, hey. Are you at Magnolia’s now?” He asks, and I’m frozen. Shocked. Why would Everett be at my apartment? “Ok, thanks. We’re gonna head over there now so she can grab a few things. Who’s next on the rotation?”
Rotation? What the hell are they talking about? Everett has better things to do than sit at my house. He has a new baby!
“Ok. Talk soon.” He ends the call, looking at me like he doesn’t understand why I’m confused. “What’s wrong?”
“Why is Everett at my house?” I ask.
“Break and I agreed that someone needed to keep an eye out there, just in case Aaron showed up. But he and I can’t do it alone, so Eli and Ev volunteered to help.” My jaw hangs open, utterly confused about why they would do that. Sure, I’m friends with their wives, but that shouldn’t be a reason to compromise their safety. Not for me.
“I don’t…I mean, they shouldn’t…” I stutter, not really knowing what to say.
“Magnolia, this is a family. You may not understand how that works. Because no offense, but your family sucks. But there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for each other, and that includes you,” he says, so simple, yet the words still bring tears to my eyes.
“B-Because I’m with you?” I say, not wanting to imply something we haven’t really had time to discuss. He hooks a finger under my chin, forcing my eyes to his.
“As far as anyone else knows, you needed help, and we can offer it. They don’t know anything about you and I, Mags. Well, except Breaker. But I haven’t really had time to talk to anyone else. I know this was supposed to be just one friend helping another. But now that I know how you taste, now that I’ve seen your beautiful face behind the mask you try so hard to keep in place, I don’t want to let you go. They want to help you because they care about you, Magnolia.Wecare about you.” Tears slip down my cheeks as his words soak into my soul. They care about me. This strong, sexy, sensitive man cares aboutme.
“Okay,” is all I can manage before he kisses me. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the feeling of his kiss, not always passionate or rough or sweet, but somehow always the way I need to be kissed at that moment.
“And just so we’re clear, angel. You are fuckingmine,” he says, bending at the waist and throwing me over his shoulder. I squeal, not bothering to object for even a moment. Instead, I let him carry me to the shower and wherever else on the face of this Earth he decides to go.
ten
I spentmost of the two-hour drive to my parent’s house in Myrtle Beach just keeping Magnolia from picking at her nails until they bled. Eventually, she and I are going to have to talk about her methods of self harm, and some different ways she can channel her anxiety, but I know she’s not ready for that right now.
Looking up at my parents’s house, I take a minute to put myself in her shoes. Their house is a light blue waterfront cottage with a wide wrap-around porch and white shutters. It looks like it’s straight out of a Nicholas Sparks novel, surrounded by immense oak trees dripping in Spanish moss and only a few hundred feet from the water. But it’s a far cry from Magnolia’s parent’s estate. When they moved down south, this place needed a lot of work, but my brother-in-law and I did our best to restore and repair everything we could.
“This place is beautiful!” Magnolia exclaims, looking up through the front windshield. She’s traded in her usual vintage housewife dress for a solid black skater style, green platform converse, and a jean jacket. Her beautiful auburn curls arewrapped in a messy bun on top of her head. I’ve never seen her look more comfortable, more herself, than she does right now. Threading my fingers through hers, I kiss the back of her hand and she gives me a devastating smile. Magnolia’s genuine smile, the one that flashes each one of her perfectly straight teeth between her full lips, is one of the seven wonders of the world.
“Thanks. I’ll take credit for a lot of that,” I laugh, shutting off her car and coming around to help her out. “When my parents moved down, they got this place for a steal. My brother-in-law, Nate, and I gave it a nice facelift.”
Her eyes snap to mine, momentary panic setting in. I never told her where we were going for dinner. Somehow, I just knew she would find a way to back out if I did. As much as I hate walking her in to an ambush from my family, I know she can handle it.
“Don’t panic. I promise they’re gonna like you, angel. I know you have this idea of what family is like, but let me show you a different way.” Holding out my hand, I help her out of the car. Instinctively, my hands slide up the column of her neck, tilting her head back and kissing her. Backing her into the side of the car, I kiss her like my life depends on it, like this will be the last kiss I ever have in my lifetime. Every kiss with Magnolia feels like the first and the last, like I’m desperate to keep kissing her until we both run out of air, until the world falls around us. Either way, I’d die in peace. When we finally break apart, a small sigh escapes her lips, and I wish I could capture that sound, keeping it safe and mine forever.
“I’m nervous,” she says, her eyes still closed. “What if they don’t like me?”
“I promise you, they’re gonna love you. I know my family, angel. They’re loud and crazy, but they’re happy if I’m happy,” I tell her.
“Are you happy? With this? With me?” She asks, peering up at me through thick lashes. Her green eyes are a forest I could walk through forever.
“You tell me, Magnolia. Whatisthis?” I ask her, leaving the ball in her court. I know what I want, but I won’t be the only one.
“I don’t-” she says, but she’s cut off by a familiar voice.
“Conas atá an craic, deartháir,”What’s up, brother, Saoirse says, leaning against the porch railing. The setting sun highlights the flecks of red in her dark brown hair, reminding me of the beauty by my side.
“Who is that?” Magnolia whispers, picking at her nails nervously.
“My sister, angel. Just relax.” I tell her, threading my fingers through hers and pulling her towards the house.
“Saoirse, cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?”How are you?I ask, knowing it’s been some weeks since I’ve seen my sister.
