She snuggles into me, her head on my shoulder. “You know, I’m not sure we ever really fell in love. I think we built it from the ground up. We made each other a priority, made our friendship a safe place to be together and learn together. We wanted honesty and trust, and we worked every day to get it. We planted the seeds, and when I bloomed, it was because you took my hand and made sure all of me got space to shine, even the parts I was content to leave inside the shadows.”
Sometimes I can’t believe she’s a real, like she’s a figment of my imagination, something my brain dreamed up and said, Here’s everything you could ever want, all rolled into one single person. I don’t know how I convinced her to be mine, but I do know I’m never going to let her go.
“I want to keep you forever. Please don’t leave.”
We spend the next hour wrapped up in each other, my fingers trailing up and down her spine as she tells me about the twat-waffle in Toronto who wouldn’t let her order steak. She’s still traumatized about her salad dinner, so I’m taking her on our second date, and we’re getting steak.
“Let me finish putting my things away, then I’ll get dressed,” Jennie says.
I follow her into the bathroom, helping pick up her collection of toys, and I’m reminded that Jennie was masturbating when I walked in here.
“What were you doing with these all?”
“I was giving them a thorough cleaning and I got a little horny while I was waiting for you to get home.” She taps Indiana Bones against my shoulder. “Sue a girl for touching herself while she thinks about her boyfriend.”
“Hit me with that one more time and I get to use this on you tonight,” I roll the pink glass plug between my fingers, “while you’re tied up with this,” I skim the edge of my tie, “while I make you fuck this.” I flick the head of Indiana Bones and lean forward, kissing my way to Jennie’s ear. “And you’ll be on your knees, with my cock down your throat.”
Heat floods her face, her bottom lip sliding between her teeth. The little devil reaches forward with her toy and smacks me once more.
With a growl, I clap a hand to her ass. “Get moving, or else we’re staying here and you’re not getting steak tonight.”
She snickers and salutes me, then produces the labeled box those wonderful toys came from all those months ago, the day Indiana Bones and I met. “Thought these could find a new home at your place.”
“My place? You movin’ in?”
“No.” She laughs. “That would be crazy. Right?”
“So crazy,” I agree.
“We’ve only been officially dating for, like, four weeks.”
“I’ve loved you a lot longer than four weeks, though, sunshine.”
Her beam is bright and warm, just like her nickname. “You have? Me too.”
Linking my fingers through hers, I tug her into me, and we start swaying to the music still drifting quietly through the speaker. My lips touch her shoulder, trailing the slope of her neck. She trembles when I pause at her ear.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“I like crazy.”
CHAPTER 44
THROW DICKS AROUND LIKE CONFETTI
JENNIE
“Do you think you’ll get married? What about babies? Are you gonna have ’em? That would make us aunties, right? Oh, and can we be bridesmaids at the wedding? I wanna wear a—”
Alexa twists in her seat, trying to slap at Gabby in the back. “Gabby! Shut. Up. Jennie doesn’t want you as a bridesmaid.” She turns back around. “Sorry about her. Cool isn’t in her dictionary.”
A bloodcurdling shriek roars through the car as Gabby pinches Alexa, and I shove my arm between them, pushing them apart.
“All right, enough! Holy crap, I thought Carter and I were bad.” I exhale loudly and meet Stephie’s gaze in the rearview mirror. She shrugs. “You’re lucky the car was already in park. I have a terrible track record with stop signs.”
“But how?” Alexa asks. “Stop signs don’t move.”
“Yes, Alexa. I’m aware. Your brother likes to remind me at least weekly.” Climbing out of the car, I glance back at Garrett’s sisters. “Okay, ladies. Let’s go.”
Gabby’s the fastest to escape, quickly linking her arm through mine, Stephie next. Alexa ambles beside us, watching our joined arms like she’s feeling a little left out, even if she won’t say it. She’s in that grumpy preteen phase where cool and detached is the the only way to act. Mostly, she doesn’t want to have to ask for the attention she’s longing for. She pretends to be annoyed every time Garrett yanks her down beside him on the couch for movie night, but she’s as much of a snuggle bear as he is. That’s why she stays tucked into his side until the end credits roll.
“Hey, Lex,” I call. “Will you sit next to me at lunch later?”
“Really?” Her hazel eyes glow before she schools her expression, lifts a shoulder. “If you want.”
I give her a wink, making her flush. She’s so much like her brother.
I don’t think I truly realized the weight and depth of my love for Garrett until I saw him with his sisters. Watching him sway back and forth with Ireland in his arms while he babbles away to her really does it for me too.
Garrett and I aren’t technically living together, but his family moved out here at the beginning of April. Garrett’s dad doesn’t start his job until the end of the month, and we’re only halfway through it now, but it’s given everyone a chance to get settled into their new city. They’ve been staying in my condo, and I’ve been staying with Garrett.
Today, his parents are signing the papers for their new home, the one they take possession of in four weeks. I don’t know how to tell Garrett that I really just…don’t want to leave.
Falling asleep wrapped in the heat of his body, waking with his lips on my skin, his murmured words in my ear…it’s my favorite thing in the world. Even when he’s on the road, there’s something comforting about being in his space, something that feels like home.
“Wow,” Stephie murmurs, coaxing me from my thoughts as we step through the front doors of SFU. Her eyes are wide with wonder as she looks around the expansive foyer. “It’s so different in the daytime without all the people here.”
“Recital nights are packed,” I agree. We sold out two weekends in a row, and I’m proud to say an entire row was filled with my friends and family. I felt like I was dancing just for them. “But the semester is over now. Everyone’s finishing up exams, so the school is quiet.”
I sweep the girls into the dance studio. They ooh and ahh as they spin around the space, then follow me to the back where my cubby is.
As luck would have it, Simon has also chosen today to empty his cubby.
“Jennie.” He drops a textbook to his feet. “I didn’t know you were coming in today.” He looks to the girls. “Who are they?”
“Garrett’s sisters,” I reply with disinterest, packing my things into my bag.
“Right. So you two are…?”
“Dating.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, that’s right,” Gabby’s voice snaps from behind me. I glance over my shoulder to find her scowling at Simon, arms pinned, hip popped. “My big brother’s her boyfriend. And who are you, you frickin’ turkey?”
Simon fumbles for a response before giving up and hovering at my shoulder. “Uh, hey, Jennie.” He clears his throat into his fist. “Could we maybe…talk?”
“I don’t see what the point would be.” I yank the zipper, closing my bag. “You don’t really know how to listen, do you, Simon?”
“Yeah, Simon.” Gabby snaps her fingers through the air in the shape of a Z. “So back the heck up, buddy.”
There’s a tiny angel on my shoulder telling me I should reel her in, but the devil on my shoulder urges me to set her loose.
The angel wins. Damnit.
“All right, tiger. Rein it in.” I turn away from Simon, gesturing for the girls to go ahead of me.
“You’re really just gonna walk away?” Simon hollers. “After five years of friendship? Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic? How many times do I have to tell you I’m sorry?”