Page 96 of Chosen Road

“You’ve got a lot of ink,” Vander commented on the way to the showers. “I never took you for a tattoo guy.”

“One for every month we’ve been apart.”

He was quiet for a moment before offering a fist bump. “Here’s to not getting any more.”

We showered and went our separate ways with plans to meet later to go rock-climbing with the boys.

If I could move my arms again by then.

Amber

I spun in front of the mirror. I still wasn’t back to my regular weight, but I didn’t look too bad in my jeans. They bagged a bit on my ass, not that I ever had much of an ass to begin with, but it would have to do. I chose a soft blouse with a tie front to wear underneath my slouchy cream cardigan and turned to the bathroom mirror to examine my face.

Makeup never thrilled me, but I’d never looked so tired either. I pulled out my limited supplies and dusted a thin coating of powder over my face. I already looked better. The addition of mascara and gloss practically turned me into a supermodel.

Seeing the improvement, I took it a step further and swept my hair up and off my face, leaving it long and loose down my back the way Gus liked it. I considered putting it into a ponytail but figured that might be taking it too far for tonight. I didn’t want to offer something if I might not be able to follow through.

I wanted to, though.

I wanted my husband, and my family, back.

Rooting around in my massive jewelry stash, I chose dangly earrings and a long, beaded necklace, then stepped back to check out the overall affect.

Bare feet. I needed to put on socks. It was well past time to put the flip-flops away.

That finished, I grabbed my purse and went out to the living room of the condo to wait for Gus.

I barely made it into the room before the doorbell rang.

And the nerves hit.

Where were they an hour ago when I had time to deal with them? I walked back into my bedroom and stood again in front of the mirror. I didn’t even know where we were going. Was I dressed appropriately?

The doorbell rang again, and I slowly made my way to the door and swung it open.

“Hi,” I squeaked.

A quick scan revealed jeans and a sweater. I was good.

He set a large shopping bag just inside the door and looked me over. He cocked his head to the side and grinned. “Are you nervous?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “Why?”

He smiled in response. “Me too. Can I come in?”

I stepped back from the door to allow him in.

He dipped down towards me as he passed and brushed a kiss across my cheek. Fuck, he smelled good. I noticed he didn’t have any issues filling out the ass of his jeans.

“At least buy me dinner before you start ogling me,” he teased.

My eyes shot up to his face and I laughed. “What’s in the bag?”

“It’s for you. I hope you like them, but if you don’t, we can return them.”

“Can I open it now?” I asked.

He passed me the bag and I carried it over to the couch and sat down, patting the seat beside me. “Come sit down for a minute.”

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