Page 22 of Scream For Me

I’m not sure who’s more excited about me moving in. Him or me?

And I’m very excited.

And that’s just another reason you know when you’ve found your true love.

He loves doing things for me that show just how much he loves me and cares for me.

And that’s why what we have will last forever, even if our relationship isn’t traditional or “age-appropriate” in some people’s eyes.

Life is too short to care what other people think. I’d rather be happy myself and focus on laughter and love.

And I’ve found both, and a whole lot more, now that we’ve found each other…forever.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Penelope

“Cheers,” we both say together as I take a sip of my Shirley Temple and he takes a sip of his bourbon on Bourbon Street.

“You know I almost didn’t answer the door the night you came by with that little girl,” Bishop says.

“Really?”

“Yeah, my first thought was to pour myself another glass of bourbon and just ignore whoever it was. Then I thought to myself it might be some college boys and if I don’t go see them off they might cause trouble.”

“I caused trouble alright,” I say.

“A lot of trouble. You sure did,” he jokes.

I stare into his eyes as the sweet sounds of Louis Armstrong blend into Harry Connick Junior which then segues right into Sweet Emma Barrett on her piano.

I swear I could do this the rest of my life. Just relax at the end of an incredible day listening to New Orleans born and bred jazz legends do their thing…while sitting in the French Quarter of New Orleans no less.

And before we popped in for a drink we took the Steamboat Natchez Jazz Dinner Cruise. Bishop even struck up a conversation with one of their Dukes of Dixieland band members and he took us down into the engine room in-between sets.

Apparently the engine down there that powers the steamboat is the original one from 1929.

“They don’t make ‘em like they used to,” the man said.

“No they don’t,” I replied as I looked up at my real man.

Bishop made a remark about how our love would outlast the engine to which the band dedicated their rendition of Fats Domino’s “It’s You I Love” to us.

I’m not sure if by that short conversation we all had the band member got enough insight into our relationship to read into it, but I found the first line to really hit home.

No matter what the people say, we'll do things our way.

And the song moved at a fast clip so we both looked at each and jumped up and had our first dance, much to the delight of the band and the other diners.

And as that song ended the band moved right into Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald’s “Our Love Is Here to Stay.”

And then we responded with our first slow dance.

For a big man who claims he has no dancing experience he sure is light on his feet and the perfect dance partner.

And already the perfect life partner.

“So, you’ve planned out this day perfectly,” I say. “I was just wondering what else you have planned?”

I place my hand over his and intertwine my fingers as best I can in his. It still blows my mind how much thicker his digits are and how much space they create in-between my fingers.

“Well, as I remember we had a bet.”

“A bet?” I ask.

“From the pumpkin patch, Pumpkin.”

“That’s right!” I say. “I totally forgot.”

“Believe me, I didn’t. And I’m ready for some pumpkin pie.”

“I think I can whip one up before bed,” I say.

“Good, because nothing goes with pumpkin pie like whipped cream.”

“Check please,” I say and we both laugh.

Bishop throws down onto the table more than enough to cover both our drinks and provide what would be considered a generous tip and we hastily make our way to the exit.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Bishop

I grab one of my simple dining room chairs and flip it around, placing my forearms across the top of the chair as I sit in it in reverse fashion.

I steeple my fingers and place the tips of my index fingers just under my lower lip and wait.

Out of the pantry she comes.

“World’s sexiest chef is right,” I say in reference to her apron which thankfully is about two sizes too small.

I think it might be almost as tight as that Elastigirl Halloween costume.

But there’s a big difference. The sides of her breasts are clearly visible from the front and when she turns sideways to reach for something high up in the cupboard I get a clear shot of a whole lotta side boob.

“I thought this was going to be fun, but this is gonna be torture,” I say.

“Well if you don’t want to wait on Pumpkin’s pumpkin pie you can always have cherry pie…right away.”

“It’s ready to eat isn’t it?”

“Always,” she says in a sultry voice as she turns back to her mixing bowl before looking back over her shoulder and giving me a wink.

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