“Good, like, you talked and made nice, or good, like, you get to be horizontal with him?”
I laughed, feeling the pinch of the drying masque on my face. “Oh, we’ve been horizontal. Every chance we get,” I said, trying to waggle my eyebrows but getting nowhere. I heard clapping and whooping, and then I heard Ella’s mom voice and I knew she was talking to Mattie when she said, “That’s right, Auntie Kalli is gonna give you an Uncle Riot, and then Mommy and Aunt Megan get to look at him forever.”
Distantly I heard a distinct and strikingly male voice call out, “I heard that.”
“You better watch yourself,” I warned through laughter.
“Pshh. Porter’s an alpha. I’ll pay for that later, but I’ll enjoy it.” Then after a few seconds she said, more seriously, “Is it good, Kal? I mean, I know it’s good, but I mean, are the two of you good?”
“It’s wonderful,” I said, sounding just as sappy as I felt. “He was really great in the beginning, took it really slow, let me make all the decisions, and then we just kind of stopped being apart.”
“That’s the best,” she said, her voice knowing. “So, will he be coming with you for Thanksgiving?”
Oh crap. Thanksgiving. In two weeks.
“We haven’t talked about Thanksgiving. His parents live in San Francisco. I don’t know if he was planning to go up there or not. I’ll have to talk to him.”
“Okay, well, you’ve got a room here at the beach if you want it. We’d really like to see you. And Riot is more than welcome to come along. But I totally understand if you go to San Francisco with him.” She paused, then added, “But I have to say, Mattie told me yesterday that she’s starting to forget what you look like.”
Ah, the baby guilt trip. I didn’t really need one; hearing Mattie’s gurgles and baby talk through the phone was enough to make my heart hurt.
“That was low, Ella,” I laughed. “How are you doing?” I asked after a moment.
“Good. Great, actually. I mean, besides not having slept more than four hours in a row in six months, everything’s great. Porter’s work is slowing down a little now that winter’s just around the corner, but both the shops are picking up so it’s kind of perfect.”
“And how’s Megan?” Even as I asked the question I knew I should call her soon.
“She’s good too. Still in the honeymoon phase. Patrick just got a promotion. They’re thinking of selling their condo and buying a house. Just, ya know, life.”
“Yeah, life.” I sighed as I said the words, thrilled on the inside that for the first time in months, life was just life, and it was good.
“How’s your fancy job?”
“It’s not as fancy as you’d imagine, but it’s good. Riot is on the soundstage right next to mine and we’ve been able to spend lunches together, so that’s been nice.”
There was a moment of quiet between us, then she said, “I know you’re a strong woman, Kal. And I know you could have gone to LA and done just fine on your own. But I’m really glad you and Riot worked it out. You deserve to be happy.”
“Thanks,” I said, my face seriously cracking from my smile.
“Okay, well, I’m gonna go put this little one to bed, then take my punishment from Porter.”
“Sounds terrible,” I said sarcastically.
“Being with him is such a hardship.” We both laughed at that. “Let me know about Thanksgiving, okay?”
“Will do, and thanks for calling.”
“Anytime.”
I heard her end of the call disconnect and let out a sigh. I knew I was lucky to have met Ella and Megan, knew all along we were all brought into each other’s lives for a reason. And in that moment, I was so happy knowing I’d always have their friendship.
After my bath and nightly face ritual, I’d gone to bed a little earlier than normal, realizing I was bored without Riot there. One week of his presence and I was already at a loss without him. So I’d curled up in bed with a book I’d been trying to read for months, but fallen asleep after only a few pages.
When I woke, it was because Riot’s strong arm, which was draped around me at the waist, was pulling me closer to him and his nose was nuzzling the back of my neck. I smiled, then rolled toward him, pressing my front as close to his as I could get, letting my face find that perfect spot between his jaw and his shoulder that seemed to have been made exactly for me to lay my head to rest in.
“I missed you,” I whispered sleepily against his skin, and felt his arms wrap tighter around me.
“Sleep, baby,” he whispered back, kissing my hair.
“Mmmkay.”