“She’s got a ring on her finger,” J said, as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His lips brushed my cheek in a kiss.
Serena winked at me before saying to him, “That’s not the ring I’m talking about, J. Engagement rings are pretty and all, but you need to hurry up and get that wedding ring on there.”
He grunted, and said, “I’m not the one holding the fucking process up, sweetheart.” His frustration was clear for the world to see. “You need to talk to your girl here; talk some sense into her.”
“It’s happening. We’re just having some trouble booking the venue that we want. Aren’t we, baby?” I turned and looked at J for him to verify what I’d said.
He shook his head. “No, we’re not. I’d marry you in our backyard. Today.”
I sighed. “I know, and as far as I’m concerned, we’re as good as married. But you know I’ve always wanted my wedding reception to be on the river so we just have to wait for the date they have free.”
“When is that?” Blake chimed in.
“Not until February next year,” J muttered, and turned to head into the kitchen. “That’s enough wedding talk. Who wants coffee?”
Serena arched an eyebrow at me. “All’s not well with you two?” she asked softly.
I linked my arm through hers and smiled. “Actually, all is pretty bloody good with us. He’s just sulking because he can’t get his way on this and you know how bossy he can be. It’ll do him good to compromise for once.”
“Absolutely,” she agreed.
We followed J into the kitchen with Blake close behind. As we were walking I could see her taking in the house; checking everything out. Neither of them had ever visited us here and I knew they were keen to see where I lived now and to make sure I was doing okay living with J.
“Nice place,” Serena finally commented.
“Different to what you thought?” I asked, noting her surprise.
“Very. Have you changed it a lot since you moved in?”
I surveyed the room. When I’d moved in, his house had been just that; a house. He hadn’t decorated it at all. I’d slowly started adding my own touch to it. J hadn’t minded, although he’d drawn the line at adding a cream couch and multi-coloured cushions to the living room. He’d told me that he didn’t want a fucking rainbow in there, so we’d agreed on a black leather sofa that looked great with the white and grey walls. After we’d finished with the living room, J decided that he quite liked the added colour so we’d painted some feature walls throughout. We had a red and black colour scheme in our bedroom, charcoal grey and black in the bathroom and turquoise in the kitchen. He wasn’t so fussed on the turquoise but it was my favourite colour so he’d relented and agreed to whatever I wanted for that space. The running joke in the club revolved around J’s decorating skills; the boys were constantly giving him shit about how stylish our home was.
“Yeah, we’ve painted the whole house and I’ve added rugs and paintings, stuff like that. And I think I’ve finally convinced J to do some work on the yard, maybe add a pool,” I replied.
“Well, I love what you guys have done,” Serena said, “And I’m in love with that huge ass TV you’ve got.”
I rolled my eyes. “Bloody men and their toys! It takes up so much room but J insisted he have it. Oh, and he also had to have an X-box. He and Scott love that fucking thing.”
Serena laughed and Blake muttered from behind us, “Looks like he has some redeeming qualities.” I ignored him and wondered how long it would take for him and J to get over their issues with each other.
We entered the kitchen to find J working the Nespresso machine; another of my home improvements. I took a minute to enjoy the view of my man working in the kitchen wearing only a pair of jeans. It was a view I would never get tired of. J was over six foot of solid muscle; his back, chest and arms inked with numerous tattoos including the club tattoo on his back that was in full view at the moment. Watching his muscles flex while he reached for mugs shot heat through my body and I stood transfixed, admiring him.
Serena slapped me on the arm. “Earth to Maddy. You want me to pick your tongue up off the floor, chica?”
She was grinning at me and I laughed. “Yeah, I might need it for later,” I joked, winking at J as he caught my eye.
He nodded and smirked, “That tongue is multi-fucking-talented. We’ll definitely need it for later on.”
J and his dirty mouth. Serena broke out in laughter. “I’d forgotten that you had a way with words, J,” she said.
“I have a way with other things too, sweetheart. Just ask Madison.”
“Okay, enough, you two,” I said, noting Blake’s reaction to this conversation. He didn’t look like he was enjoying it and the last thing I wanted was for him to be uncomfortable in my home.
I sat next to him at the kitchen table. “I’m so happy to see you,” I said softly to him as Serena and J made coffee together and continued on with their banter.