Page 31 of With You

“Do you think he loved me?” I blurted, unsure as to where that question suddenly came from.

“What do you mean?”

I pulled out of Shade’s arms and covered Sunny’s bike before turning back around. “I know he told me loved me and I definitely loved him, still do, but I don’t know. I’m being weird.”

“Hey.” Shade cupped my face, forcing me to meet his dark stare. “Sunny didn’t fall in love easily. I remembered when he finally ended things with his ex-wife, he swore he would never fall in love again. And then you happened.”

“I’m a tad pushy and persistent,” I told him.

Shade chuckled. “You are but I love you even more for it. But remember, no matter what happens or how long time has passed, Sunny will always be here as long as Andrew walks this earth.”

Shade grabbed my hands, placing soft pecks on them. “I know Andrew isn’t mine by blood. My DNA isn’t in him. I know that. I’ve known it all along. But have I left? Do I make him call me Shade? Do I refer to him as my stepson? No. I don’t do any of that shit because he ismine.”

“I don’t want you to resent him, and I also don’t want you to love this baby more because this one is definitely yours and I...” I looked up at Shade through unshed tears. “I don’t want Andrew to feel your love any less because of this baby. That’s all.”

Shade pulled me into his arms. “I understand your fears. I get it. I do. But you have nothing to worry about. I love you. I love Andrew. And I love this baby. They are equals in my heart and I won’t love either more or less. They are equal. Do you understand me?”

I nodded quickly. “I’m sorry for worrying.”

“Don’t be sorry, Little Lamb.” He kissed me hard on the mouth. “I get it. I promise I do. And thank you for talking to me about it.”

“I didn’t want to wait another five years before telling you how I felt.”

He chuckled, lifting me into his arms and carrying me out of the garage.

“Where are we going? Don’t we have to leave?”

“Yup.” He kissed the side of my throat. “But I’m going to quickly make love to my wife. She’s a little on edge.”

“I think I need to have a talk with her.” I crushed my mouth to his, letting him take the very control he knew I was willing to give him.

Meadow

I had no idea wherewe were going. I still couldn’t believe that Shade had planned our vow renewal ceremony all on his own. He said he had some help but still, it was his idea. And that fact alone made me fall in love with him even more.

Once we talked some more about my worries and fears, I could feel us reconnecting on a whole other level I hadn’t felt in a long time. If ever at all.

“You good?” he asked, running his thumb along my inner thigh.

“I am.” I leaned my head against the back of the seat and looked at him then. He was beautiful and was aging well. He was over twenty years older than I was, both he and Sunny were, but they never treated me like I was so much younger than them. In fact, it made us stronger as a threesome and now a couple.

“I wish you would tell me where we’re going,” I said finally, looking out the window.

Shade chuckled, inching his hand higher up my thigh. He had pushed the fabric of my white summery dress up my legs, making sure to constantly be in contact with my skin. “I thought making love to you earlier would have calmed you down a bit.”

I snorted. “Does my husband not know me at all?”

“True.” He pinched my thigh, a gasp leaving me at the sudden sharp pain. “Trust me, Little Lamb, the wait will be worth it.

I sighed, really not liking surprises. “You haven’t told me anything except for the fact that we’re apparently renewing our vows and Andrew is staying with my parents again. Shouldn’t we be taking separate cars then? Kind of like an actual wedding?”

“You worry way too much, babe. We’re almost there.” He nodded once.

I followed his line of sight, my eyes widening. “What...Shade...” My chest tightened, a lump forming in my throat.

This whole time I hadn’t even realized where Shade was taking me. There were cars and bikes of all different shapes, sizes and colors, littering the sides of the road. People milled about. Everyone I had grown up with stood around, waiting.

“You did this?” I asked, my eyes welling.

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