Page 56 of Feel It All

“Stop it. Why are you looking at me like that?” I give him a puzzled look.

“Nothing, it is just weird seeing you all in love and crap.” Jace goes over to another cabinet and pulls out two mugs.

“I don’t want to hear it. I had to watch you be all in love and crap with Mary since high school. It’s your turn to watch.” I pour the coffee and add the creamer, plus sugar in Win’s because she likes it sweet.

Jace laughs. “Hey, don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you. Just never thought I would see the day that Graham Taylor, Mr. Relationships Are Too Much Work, be crazy about a girl. Don’t fuck it up,” Jace pats me on the back.

“Daddy, that is a bad word,” Sage scolds him. “I’m going to tell mommy.”

“Don’t be a snitch. How about I give you a cookie and we forget this whole thing happened?” Jace bribes her and she agrees.

I grab the coffee mugs by the handle with one hand and the plate of muffins in the other one, carefully not to spill or drop either. Winry is curled up in a blanket, still asleep. I set the stuff down on the nightstand and sit by her on the bed.

“Morning, buttercup.” I gently caress her face, and her eyes flutter open. “Happy birthday, baby.”

“Thank you.” Her lips curve up in a sleepy smile.

“I brought up breakfast, coffee and muffins.” I brush her hair out of her face.

Winry sits up and pulls the covers up to her bare chest. I hand her cup of coffee and she takes a sip. “Mm, you really do love me.”

“Yeah, I do.” I look at her sitting naked sipping coffee, and if I died right now it would be with a smile on my face.

We have our breakfast in bed, then hop in the shower together; some touching does occur, but she started it. It takes us a good hour and a half to get out of our room and go downstairs.

“Well, look who it is.” Mary and Sage are sitting in the living room with some puzzles out in front of them.

“Hey Mare, Sage. What are you two doing?” I take the seat next to Sage and Win sits next to Mary.

“We are playing puzzles. Want to play?” Sage scoots a matching puzzle in front of me.

“Sure thing, Sagie. Thank you.” I glance up to meet Winry looking at me with a wide grin.

“Sage, it’s Miss Winry’s birthday, can you tell her happy birthday?” Mary says sweetly to her daughter.

Sage looks at Winry for a moment and tells her happy birthday but comes out more like happy bird-day.

“Happy birthday, Winry. I am so happy you are here.” Mary pulls her into her millionth hug.

“Thank you, I’m happy to be here too.” Win and I make eye contact and she smirks at me.

“What do y’all have planned today?” Mary asks.

“Well, we are about to head out to the festival, then some friends from Aster Creek are meeting us at the carnival later.” I place a piece of the puzzle Sage gave me in its place.

“Why don’t you guys joins us?” Winry turns, asking Mary.

“Thank you, Winry. We would love to; we were planning on taking Sage later anyway. I am sure we will have to do some kiddy stuff first though, but we will catch up with you when we can.” Mary’s smile is a mile wide. “Now, you two go and enjoy your day. Unless you want to be stuck playing kid games for the next few hours.”

“Okay, see you later Mare. Come on, buttercup.” I pull her up off the couch.

Winry waves bye to Mary and Sage, and we head into town. It’s a little hot but the perfect day for the festival otherwise. It is unusual to have such a sunny day during the festival weekend. I remember years of rainy parades and closed carnival rides growing up. I glance over at Winry; she has her hand out the window and her hair is flying like crazy from the wind, but she just seems to be taking in the breeze.

I grab her hand and bring it up to place a kiss on the back of her hand. She smiles and pulls my hand over to her and kisses the back of my hand. This woman, I swear I am obsessed with her. I’d do anything for her and follow her blindly anywhere.

My mind wanders back to the hard conversation we had earlier this week. My chest aches at the thought that she could not be here today. I promise myself here and now that I will love her wholly—with every fiber of my being I will. On her dark days, I will be there to wipe her tears and hold her tight. On days when she doesn’t feel beautiful, I will remind her. When she doesn’t feel enough, I will lift her up. I’ll kiss her every fucking day and tell her I love her while I smack her ass.

We ride in comfortable silence, just listening to music. I pull into the first parking spot I see because it is always so congested in town that parking is a nightmare.

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