Page 85 of The Fun Part
My eyes sting. “You’re already there.”
She kisses me, and I return it, losing myself in sensation. Nothing has ever felt so right. She lifts her head. “I’m ready for makeup sex. Take me to the bedroom.”
I stand, cradling her in my arms. I can’t say no to this woman. Never could right from the start. And I’m better off for it. “So bossy.”
She kisses my jaw. “So are you in exactly the way I like—in the bedroom.”
“I love you.” The words come a little easier now.
“I love you too.”
My throat tightens. This love stuff takes a lot out of you.
I set her gently on the bed and lower myself over her, gazing into her shining eyes.
And love gives back everything.
Epilogue
Six months later…
Mackenzie
It’s our housewarming party! Except I already live here. Cal moved into my house and paid Harper her share of the equity in it. My man is a big-time saver. The accountant in me finds that so sexy. Ha.
My parents are here, along with my brothers, Cooper and Finn; Cooper’s wife, Rowan; and Harper, of course. My cousin Owen’s off with Shayla on location in LA for a month, working on finding more clients while she does some postproduction scenes for a movie. Nathan’s here, Sutton, and the newlywed Mason and May with their daughter, Sophie. More people are on their way.
I put on my house-party playlist, starting with Flo Rida’s “My House.” Harper catches my eye, and we immediately shift in unison to raise the roof, palms up. We’ll move on to a few jumping moves and then spin on a certain beat. Yes, we have a kitchen dance routine, only now we’re in the living room.
Felix, my antisocial cat, wraps himself around Sutton’s leg. He used to only be attached to me, then Rowan, and now Sutton. I think he senses when someone needs him, though Sutton seems to be doing much better now after her terrible breakup six months ago. She’s even going to do a sologamy ceremony with me, Harper, Rowan, and Shayla. We’re waiting for Shayla to wrap things up in LA.
Cal joins me and Harper in raising the roof. He looks ridiculous, which tells me I probably do too. I pull his hands down and start dancing with him. Harper continues the routine on her own.
“Good turnout for a housewarming party,” he says loudly over the music.
“I know, right?”
“Especially considering you already live here.”
I grin. “My family uses any excuse to get together and celebrate.”
“Too bad I couldn’t get Dad out here.”
“Maybe he can drive over with Henry for the holidays.” His dad recently adopted a standard poodle, all black, named Henry. The dog has been such a blessing for him, the perfect emotional support animal. Bill’s started to meet more people, taking Henry on walks and to the dog park. He won’t leave the dog for more than a day, although now that Cal and Sutton both live in Clover Park, he’s been talking about relocating.
Sutton joins us, holding Felix in her arms. He tucks his head into her neck, closing his eyes. “Happy housewarming!”
“Thanks. You seem as happy as we are,” I say.
“She’s happy to finally have my apartment to herself,” Cal says. He moved in with me last month. It was important to him to spend some time in grief counseling before taking the next step with me. I supported him in that one hundred percent. Sutton even joined him for a few sessions. He seems lighter now,not so serious. Like the weight he’d been carrying for more than a decade finally lifted.
Sutton inclines her head. “He’s a slob. You’ll see.”
“I am not,” Cal says.
“Have you seen the way he leaves the potholders on the counter? And he never hangs up the dishtowel.” She shakes her head. “They have a place, Cal.”
Sutton, it turns out, is a neat freak. I’ve actually found Cal to be fairly organized. His clothes make it into the hamper, he cleans the sink after he trims his beard, and, most importantly, the toilet seat is always down.
