Page 19 of In Love With My Best Friend

Jake already has Eli changed and he’s occupying him until I’m ready. I pile the pillows high and lay back as he places him in my arms. When I look down, I see there’s something on Elijah’s finger. It’s shiny and my eyes are already misting.

“Want you to be my wife. No, I need you to be my wife. I want you tied to me, for now and always,” Jake tells me.

“I want that too, so much, Jake. So damn much,” I blubber out.

“Thank fucking God,” Jake blurts out and we both look down at Elijah. He’s in his own cocoon. Latched on and his eyes are drowsy.

“I want three more children, Jake,” I whisper out. His eyes never leave Eli’s.

“I guess we better start practicing then,” he says with a smirk.

Jake

It’s been two weeks since I put a diamond on Larissa’s finger, and it’s been balls to the walls crazy. Between packing, moving, buying new furniture, and handling the day to day office work, I’m exhausted. Mom and Mack stepped in and helped with Eli when Rissa got the painters started on the new house and even oversaw the outside landscaping and exterior painting projects I wanted done.

She has a keen eye on how to make a home feel warm and welcoming. I figure within the next year or so, we’ll start working on the backyard. Rome wasn’t built in a day and I want to be more hands-on when it comes to that area.

Our next step though, one that I’ve been planning secretly with mom, I think is going to knock it out of the park. My last thing on the to do list is call Declan and let him know when and where to be with Kendall.

Larissa was apprehensive at first to meet them, with her running off and so forth, but once she saw them and how it wasn’t even a blip on their radar, she and Kendall became fast friends and now they both go out once a week to either shop or get coffee together.

“Declan speaking,” he answers.

“Like you don’t know who’s calling you. It’s modern technology with caller ID. You’re showing your age,” I tell him trying to contain my chuckle.

“What the fuck ever. What’s up?” he questions. I go to respond when I hear Kendall yell out, “Declan, watch your mouth!”

“Yeah, Declan watch your mouth,” I mimic.

I go back to my computer when he starts murmuring to Kendall and block out anything I may not want to hear.

“I’m back. Jesus, that woman is going to give me a run for my money,” his voice has exasperation in it.

“Can’t keep up with her anymore?”

“Just you wait. Larissa will get you there if she hasn’t already,” he grunts.

“Speaking of, do you two have plans this weekend? I have something up my sleeve, but the way our two women talk, you’ll have to keep your trap shut too,” I tell him.

“You’re the one always blabbing, Jake. It’s not me. Look what happened when we got caught red handed by our parents for sneaking their booze one Friday night in high school. It wasn’t me blabbing as soon as they came in,” he laughs.

“What were we going to do? Say hey mom, hey dad. I don’t know who drank all of your scotch, as we’re turning green to the gills,” I respond.

“Yeah, yeah. What trick do you have up your sleeve?” he questions.

“Going to take Larissa up to the lake house and marry her. The only thing is she doesn’t know it’s all planned yet. Down to the very last detail. Mom has been working as hard as she can, asking questions to Larissa without giving it all away,” I’m thinking back to the way mom’s eyes lit up when I told her my plan. At first, she wanted to know why Larissa and I aren’t planning our wedding on our own. That’s when I told her Larissa was content with getting married in a courthouse, but I didn’t want that for her. I wanted her to have something to look back on and have amazing memories of.

Mom wept and then got into wedding planning mode, “My sweet boy. You’d do anything for her. I’m so proud of you,” were her words.

“She has no idea. That’s pretty slick. I should have done something like that instead of dealing with momzilla,” I can hear the laughter in his tone.

“Well, Larissa wasn’t interested in planning it and I want her tied to me, so this was the fastest way possible to get it done,” I comment.

“Email me the time and date, we’ll be there. I won’t tell Kendall. I’ll just let her know we’re going out. I know the two of them cackle like hens.” He’s not wrong. I’ve been around when they’re on the phone, calls that can last hours, hell they even watch The Bachelor on the phone if we don’t have them over or vice versa when it airs.

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