Page 10 of A New Era

He sighs but he’s not angry. “I’m not my dad and the choices I make will always keep you and Ray safe. All you need to worry about is walking down the aisle to me.”

My fears are somewhat eased. I promise, “I can do that.”

He relaxes and pulls me against him, my back to his chest, and I remember the conversation I had with his mom today.

“Your mom thinks I should host some sort of ladies' night for the old ladies here at the house.”

“Is that something you wanna do?”

“Your mom thinks…”

“I’m fully aware of what my mom thinks. But what do you want?”

“I guess I want to, as your wife-to-be, I should. But it’s weird.”

Drawing invisible circles on my upper arm, he asks, “How so?”

“I’ve gone from invisible to everyone talking to me.”

“You were never invisible.”

It sure felt like it, but I don’t fight him on it. It’ll be a fight I’ll never win in his eyes.

“Look, my mom is trying to help you settle in as the president’s old lady. Use it till you find your way.”

I never gave much thought past wanting to be with him, all the politics so to speak that comes with him never even entered my mind.

“She knows better than anyone what’s it like, what to expect, and all that, I wouldn’t advise you to listen to her if I didn’t think she’d steer you in the right direction.”

“And you don’t mind having a house full of women?”

He laughs. “No, babe. You do what you want. I’ll make sure I’m busy that night. The combination of old ladies and a fuck lot of wine is a minefield I don’t wanna tread.”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Badass Leo Jackson is afraid of the old ladies?”

His snort reverberates down to his chest and onto my back.

“I grew up with them all, I know how their nights go when they’re all together.”

“I’ll be sure to put away the valuables.”

“You do that.”

* * *

Warm hands slide around my waist as I dish breakfast and even warmer lips press against my neck. There was a time when I despised the morning. Waking up to yet another day that I was alive and burdened with the scars. But not anymore.

Smiling, I say, “Good morning.”

Turning in his arms, I press my lips to his and savour his touch. I waited so long for him, I’ll never take his kisses for granted. Not a single one.

“Morning to you, too.” He smirks, stepping back, and snags a piece of toast.

“Hey, you could at least wait till it’s ready.”

Throwing me a wink, he joins Rayna at the table while I finish up breakfast.

While they’re distracted with their food and Rayna with her cartoons on her iPad, I head over to Alannah’s. Though I was excited to move into a new home that was just ours, I was cautious about moving across from Leo’s parents, but I’ve come to be glad of it. Alannah is a great help with Rayna, and she loves being able to go to and fro when she likes to spend time with her grandparents without the half-hour drive getting there.

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