Page 31 of Wes
“Love you, Wes.”
We share a smile and a quiet moment before Reece straightens. “Well, enough of this emotional shit. Natalia just pulled in, and if she finds us chatting about our feelings, she’s going to wonder what’s up.”
I chuckle. “Go help her with the groceries.”
Natalia
Something’s up. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something in the air, and my boys are behind it. We moved in together a couple months ago, and things have been a little weird. A little voice warns me maybe we should have waited longer.
My son was on board with the idea. Reece still only spends weekends with us, but since he and Jeremy are best friends, we see more of him. Bridgette is still sucking on a lemon over my presence in Wes’s and Reece’s lives. I’ve learned the tells of an upcoming battle and the tricks of walking away from her. It makes her nuts, but there’s no way I’ll give her the satisfaction.
A knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts. I’m the closest, so I answer it. “Jenna?”
“Hey girl!” she says and hugs me.
“Not that I’m not happy to see you out of the E.D., but what brings you by?” I ask and step back so she can come in.
She looks me up and down. “Do you still have that sundress? The one from the Easter barbecue?”
“Yeah?”
“Why don’t you go put it on?”
“Hey, Jenna!” Wes says from behind me.
Surprised, I spin and lose my balance. Wes’s hands come to my hips and right me before I can fall.
“Baby, I asked Jenna to come by and take pictures of us. Surprise!” He grins, and I see the nervous tic in his left eye.
“Buttheads!” I reply with a smile. Getting a good look at Wes, I see he changed out of the sweatshirt and jeans he’d donned this morning. “I guess it’s my turn to change.”
I kiss his cheek before walking away so he knows I’m not really upset—surprised but not upset. How lucky am I to have a man who would set up family portraits with our boys?
Upstairs, I find the dress Jenna mentioned and pull it on. With short notice, I pull my brush through my hair and dab on a little makeup. Wes isn’t a fan of too much stuff on my face in any case. Good thing too because I’ve never been one to indulge in it.
Twenty minutes later, I find everyone in the backyard. The air is charged, making me realize Jeremy and Reece are probably less than thrilled to take family photos. Wes meets my eyes and cups my face. My stomach flips and flops at the love shining for me.
“You’re not upset, right?” he asks, a boyish grin on his face.
“No. It was a sweet idea, thank you!”
His lips crush mine, and I open to him on a sigh. I hope this never changes between us, easy and open affection. Our sons don’t groan but rather tease us whenever they find us making out like teenagers on the couch. A snicker brings us back to the present.
“I should ask Bethany out just so I can kiss her in front of you.” Reece’s voice is filled with laughter.
“If you’d quit being a wuss, this conversation wouldn’t come up each time I kiss Natalia,” Wes calls back and winks.
“All right, all right. Settle down, everyone,” Jenna says and brings us to a spot she’s set up. “Okay, a few poses and then I want some natural ones of you guys.”
Jeremy stands at my side, and Reece at his father’s. All of them are wearing different shades of blue. Wes moves from my side to my back and cups my hips in another set of shots. I’m deliriously happy with these pictures, and I haven’t even seen how they turned out.
“All right, now you guys can relax!” Jenna’s smile under the camera is bright.
Wes turns us sideways and kisses me. Unlike the one earlier, this one is tame and sweet, a brush of our lips as his hand curls around my neck. I open my eyes and smile at him.
“I love you,” he whispers, and I grin, my heart full of love for him.
His free hand raises, drawing my attention, and my breath hitches. In his palm is a white-gold band with a large diamond framed by smaller diamonds. My gaze darts from the beautiful engagement ring to him a few times.
