Page 23 of Wrapped Up in You
“But you’ve always wanted a home built in the turn of the century,” Val states, offering a bit of information I didn’t know about.
“I’m rethinking that after working on LITHE.”
“It’s different when you’re on a piece of land or not in the city limits. That’s when you have more freedom besides the necessities,” I tell her.
“Good, then a skylight won’t have to be approved before going any further even though it can’t be seen from the streets?” There’s the bone of contention I knew she didn’t like dealing with.
“God no. Cities are notorious for their way or the highway rules.” Todd rarely touches buildings like she’s worked on. He prefers working from the ground up with new construction and stays just as booked as I do.
“Hi, Val,” I finally say once the conversation slows down, going to shake her hand, except she leans in for a hug. Todd doesn’t growl like my surly friends do or grunt under their breath like I did last night when every last one of them lingered a smidge too long, on fucking purpose.
“Hello, Crew. How have you been?” We make small talk for a few minutes. She talks about a fundraiser she’s putting together and tells me she’ll be hitting me up for a donation, and if I could pass it along to the others, she’d be forever grateful. Val and her sister, Serena’s mom, host a charity dinner once a year, and this one is for the animal shelter in town.
“How long has this been going on?” Todd’s brashness interrupts our conversation. Serena is sitting next to me, my arm on the back of the couch, and with this being a two-seater-type of sofa, it makes it exceptionally hard not to sit close to one another. Val is in the chair across from us, and Todd is to her right.
“Todd, can I speak to you off to the side?” I go to stand up, but Serena’s hand stays me where I am by touching the top of my thigh.
“No, this can be said out in the open. We’ll get this done and over with and go about our day.” Watching Serena take over this conversation was the last thing I expected.
“I’ll answer, then. Since the beginning. I’d apologize, but it’d be a lie. The best thing that happened to me is Serena, and while I was reluctant to train her, I saw the error of my ways immediately, even while trying to resist. She’s shattered every rule I imposed on myself, broken down every wall I erected, and made me realize there’s more to life than this perfectly curated world I sought out.”
“Wow,” Val breathes with a look of wonder on her face. My gaze swings from Val’s to Todd’s, who looks like he’s about to lose his shit judging by the clenching of his jaw.
“Uncle Todd, I don’t want you to be upset with Crew. I pursued him from the very beginning. Maybe I didn’t mean to slam into him at the elevator banks or again later, and then again.” My lips tilt in a smirk, remembering the last time she had a spill of sorts. Serena on her hands and knees and me following behind her. Fuck me, that was a hot-as-hell day. Shit, every day since meeting her has only gotten better. “It’s like how you and Aunt Val fell for one another, how my parents did the same. Maybe we should have resisted one another until I was on my feet and further established with work. Maybe I should have quit working here and found another company.” I make a noise in the back of my throat, absolutely loathing the thought of Serena working somewhere else entirely. I’m pretty sure I’d pull a Jude, have him put a tracker on her phone, her car, and then start working remotely, in my car in the hopes I can get so much of a glimpse of my woman.
“No, I don’t want that, either. I’m not mad, not upset, and not disappointed.” Todd barely gets the words out after making a grunt of his own.
“You absolutely aren’t allowed to be, either. I’d make you sleep on the couch if you ever uttered those words to our niece. Who, by the way, is of able body and mind to make decisions about her career, her love life, and anything else she wants. Jesus.” Val looks like she’s about ready to pick her purse off the table and give Todd a good whack with it.
“You’re right, but it’s hard to let her go. I assume Crew is the reason you’ve been staying home instead of eating dinner with us?” I lock my fingers with Serena’s that are still on my thigh.
“You mean the dinners where you invited me because you knew money was tight and I had no life outside of Talia and Mackie? Plus, no offense, Aunt Val and Uncle Todd, a casino cruise where I have to spend money, well, it isn’t my cup of tea.” I hold back a laugh. When Serena is on a roll, it seems like she doesn’t know when to stop.
“I don’t even enjoy half the dinners, probably dodged a bullet with the casino cruise. The drinks were watered down, and the food was terrible,” Todd says.
“You can stay home next time,” Val replies without holding back. I can only imagine the spitfire attitude runs in the family with all the women on the Beck side.
“I might take you up on that. Sports, a couch, and a nap sounds like a good idea.” Serena laughs, stands up from her place on the couch, and walks toward her aunt and uncle. She sits on the coffee table, grabs their hands, and I watch the entire interaction.
“I love you both, and I’m grateful for everyone in my life, my parents included. But there’s also a part of my life where I need to explore, to find love, and to do that, it needs to be with Crew. Please don’t be upset with him or me.” I should have known shewould pull out the big guns, make Todd see that this is real and it’s not me taking advantage of his niece.
“We love you, and we’re not upset with either of you.” Val leans in to kiss her cheek. When Todd stays quiet, she looks at him sharply and says, “Are we, Todd?”
“No, we’re not. I suppose this is part of the reason there are new locks and why Crew has been more irritated every time I barge into his office.”
“To be fair dear, that’s a bad habit of yours, and one I’ve yet to break. Crew knocked before entering here earlier, you know.” Val is clearly on our side and in Serena’s corner no matter what.
“Woman, are you suggesting you’ve been training me? Don’t forget who pays the credit card bills monthly.” The atmosphere changes, no longer is it thick with worry from Serena, and Todd doesn’t look like he’s ready to clock my lights out. I wouldn’t let him. We’re not in high school, and although he loves her like his own, there’s no reason to start a fight.
“Okay, well, this was a great talk. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Crew is talking crazy about moving me upstairs.” She looks over her shoulder at me and rolls her eyes. I smirk at her before licking my lips, a written promise in my eyes, knowing we’ll both be winners in the end.
“That’s an excellent idea. It’s not like you won’t one day be running the company alongside Crew when I retire.” Well, I guess Todd is right there with me in dropping little atom bombs. May as well get this over and done with. Serena stands up, and I do the same.
“What, why, how? You know what, I think that’s enough talking for the day.” Serena goes about hugging her aunt and uncle, I say my goodbyes, and just when I think she’s going to head downstairs, she does the exact opposite.
My hand is in hers, and she’s practically double-timing it to my office. It’s a good thing I’ve got some height on her, or she’dbe dragging me along. Mary gives us a bright smile the minute we’re inside, the door closing behind us, and we’re going at each other once again. Maybe moving her in here with me is a bad idea. Getting any amount of work done will be impossible, but ask me if I fucking care.
EPILOGUE
