Page 85 of An Unfinished Memory

By the time the movie finished, the kids were asleep in their respective nests of blankets and pillows.

“Looks like you’re stuck on the floor with me,” I told Sutton.

“Oh, darn.” She grinned and spread a blanket out over the both of us.

Sutton arranged the pillows. I shut the TV off, and we were bathed in darkness. The only light was from the yard lamp filtering through the lower-level windows. We’d be sleeping side by side, fully dressed, the next best thing to having her alone and naked.

I cuddled her into me, and she came willingly.

“This has been a good weekend,” I said against her hair.

“Yeah. Real nice.” She buried her face in my chest,then pushed up to her elbows. “When should we tell the rest of your family?”

My chest puffed out just a little. She wanted to tell my siblings. Seemed a step in the right direction. I wasn’t a dirty secret, and this long-distance business could really work. “Soon. Let Cody and Tova get settled with their baby. Aggie shared her good news a couple of weeks ago.”

“You’re right. I can tell Aggie and Tova at darts.”

“Then Eliot can quit giving me hell.”

“He’ll find something else.”

“I’m sure he’ll be relentless when I become sheriff too.” He was barely tolerable about my job as it was. Saying things like “Going a little fast on that dirt road, weren’t you, Deputy?”Or “I can’t let you into the house without a warrant.”And one of his favorites—“I know you don’t frisk me because you’re intimidated to find out how much bigger I am than you.”

Sutton didn’t respond. I thought she’d make some comment about how Eliot behaved, but it was like the word sheriff sucked the fun out of the night. I’d take it back if I could. I’d take a lot back.

I drifted off to sleep wondering if she’d always gotten quiet when I talked about my future aspirations and if I’d been too self-absorbed to notice.

Eighteen

Sutton

I finished loading the dishes. Wilder was vacuuming up the evidence of popcorn and movie night downstairs. The kids were outside. They’d come up with some game that involved both dance moves and playing catch with the football. Their dog was thrilled to be involved.

We’d just eaten breakfast, which was actually lunch because it was after noon.

I rested my elbows on the counter and watched them play. I could go outside, but I needed a moment to soak it all in. When would there be another time that Wilder and I could tag-team niece and nephew duties?

Would there be a time when Wilder and I could be open together at family functions? Vienne knew. Eliot knew, and he hadn’t treated us differently. Other than an initial cursory glance, he’d been the same old Eliot.

I dug out my phone and tapped out a message to Aggie.I need to talk to you.

Her reply was almost immediate.Sure. All okay? Was it the night with Wilder?

Sutton: The night was fine,but I have to discuss something with you.

Aggie: Come over when Tova and Cody get back.

Once we told everyone about us being sort of back together, then we could plan sleepovers at my place. My excitement rose, then it dipped.

What if he canceled? What if his work or the weather had different ideas? Would we slip and slide down the same path and come to the same conclusion?

The wall of heat enveloped me before strong hands slid around my hips from behind. I rose and turned my face to him. He nuzzled his nose along the nape of my neck. “Mmm, you smell like Ivory dish soap and coconut pineapple.”

“It’s a special pheromone combination.”

He wrapped his arms all the way around me. I was hugged tight against his body. I soaked it all in, unsure when we’d connect next.

I kept an eye out the window, content to be snug against Wilder’s front, but also making sure the kids didn’t see us attached to each other. By the time we’d all woken up, each of us was pointing in a different direction of the family room. The kids didn’t know Iwent to sleep secure in Wilder’s embrace. Their parents should know first, and Cody and Tova had a lot going on right now.

---