40. Booth
CHAPTER FORTY
booth
I’ve been floating on cloud nine for the last three weeks.
Not a lot has changed about my routine; I work, see my family, relax at home.
If anything, I’ve upgraded.
Silver eyes scowl at me over the pass.
A warm hand rests on my thigh at the dinner table.
While I build LEGO , she paints beside me.
My mundane life is now splashed with colors.
The main color: Aly .
She’s fiery red. Frosty blue.
Raven black. Candescent silver.
She drifted effortlessly into my day-to-day, as if we’ve been doing this dance for years.
The restaurant keeps us busy during the day, but in the evenings, she’s all mine.
We never sleep alone.
We’ve gone to dinner in Jacob’s Bluff .
I’ve driven her out to see Puffin Point Lighthouse , and we’ve even visited Petey as he returns from a haul.
She’s no longer the notorious owner.
She’s just Aly .
My silver goddess.
Not only does she fit in with my family and friends with ease, but her relationship with Martin has taken a surprising turn.
In the past three weeks, they’ve met up for coffee five times.
Nervous at first, there was no denying the lightness to her after their first meeting.
Last week, she came to my house, with a guarded smile and a handful of old pictures of Harvey .
I gave her the space to process as she laid them out on the coffee table and we looked over them together.
The resemblance between Aly and her birth father is uncanny.
Raven curls, silver eyes, fair skin, sharp features.
She was silent as her fingers traced the outline of a thirteen-year-old Harvey .
I waited for her shutters to come down or a dismissive comment.
It never came.
The only downside?
There’s still been no word from Harvey , who refuses to take Martin’s calls and hasn’t responded to his letters.
We take each day, enjoy the other’s company, and ensure the next day is better than the last.
“Evenin’, gentlemen.” I swivel on my stool toward the gruff voice.
Dex towers above Graham and me as we sit at the bar in Shirley’s .
My brother looks around Dex’s wide shoulders.
“ Is he with you?”
“Nah. He’ll be here soon,” Dex replies and glances at our empty glasses.
“ I’ll get another round.”
“Would it kill him to be on time?” Graham whines as Dex walks to the other side of the bar to greet Lenny .
Patrick sent us all a very ominous text this afternoon, asking to meet at Shirley’s for a drink.
He and Johanna spent the weekend at one of Dex’s other cabins.
Considering the debauchery Aly and I got up to in The Nook , they should be grateful it wasn’t available.
Chuckling, I butt shoulders with him.
“ We’re early , you martian. Can’t you be away from Quinn for a few hours?”
His lips twitch.
That’s a no then .
Suddenly looking very smug, he swipes his glasses off his face and cleans them on his sweater.
“ Hello , pot. Meet kettle.”
I gawk and jab at my chest. “ Me ?”
“Yes, you. You’re attached to Alessandra like a bad rash. Poor girl is going to need treatment for life.”
From across the bar, Dex watches us, reading our lips and chuckling to himself before returning.
“ Oh good. We’re already discussing Booth and Aly’s excessive PDA ?”
“The fuck?” My gaze dances between the two of them.
“ We do not partake in PDA , thank you very much.”
Considering our labelless relationship, we keep our physical interactions to a minimum.
Behind closed doors, however, my hands are glued to her.
Or my lips. Or tongue.
Or co?—
“You’re doing it right now!” Graham protests with a look of disgust.
I throw my hands up in question.
“ Doing what?”
“Making the same face you use when you’re looking at Aly .”
Dex slaps me on the shoulder with his beefy hand, probably bruising me.
“ What Graham’s trying to say is that you eye fuck each other. All . The . Time .” He settles on the stool to my left.
“ Face it. You’re whipped.”
I turn my snarl to Graham when he mimics the crack of a whip.
“Oh, you think you’re funny?”
He takes a slow sip of his club soda, smirking at me over the rim.
“ Hilarious , actually.”
My head swings left to right.
“ We do not eye fuck. I’m not whipped. We’re just…we’re just…”
Ah, fuck.
I’m stumped.
“You, my friend, are well and truly fucked.” Dex’s smile widens at something over my shoulder.
“ Looks like all the Sadler brothers are. Here comes lovesick fool number one.”
We follow his line of sight to find Patrick bouncing in, with the same size grin he wore the day Lottie was born.
I straighten, heart pounding in excitement.
“ He did it?” I whisper to Graham , who shrugs.
“That, or Lottie is going to be a big sister.” Even his stoic ass is incapable of hiding his joy as Patrick joins us.
“Hey, sorry I’m late.” My big brother only smiles wider before letting out a breath.
“Something you want to share, Pat ?” Dex teases.
“Shit, is it that obvious?” Patrick chuckles and sits on Graham’s right.
The four of us line the bar like a misfit boy band.
“She said yes?” I bring my fist to my mouth.
It does nothing to hide the almighty hoot I let out when he nods vigorously, eyes shining.
“ She said yes .”
Graham hooks an arm around Patrick’s neck, tugging him in for a hug while Dex slaps his palm on the bar top and shouts, “ Fucking finally!”
Balancing on the footrail, I stand tall and wave at our grouchy barman.
“ Lenny ! Ring the bell! Jo and Pat are getting married!”
After Johanna and Patrick’s engagement announcement, my mom called for a celebratory family dinner.
We all found cover at the restaurant for the evening so we could celebrate the happy couple.
Everyone saw it coming— Pat bought the ring months ago and was just waiting for the perfect timing.
With Valentine’s Day two days away, love is well and truly in the air.
“Stick a fork in me. That was delicious.” I lean back in my chair, rubbing my belly .
“Uncle Boo .” Lottie giggles next to me.
“ You made the food. Of course it’s delicious.”
“Ah, you’re good for my ego. Never change, you little toad.”
Aly rolls her eyes and chuckles.
“ It was okay. Did anyone think it needed more salt?” She glances around the table and is met with a chorus of yeses.
“You’re all a bunch of traitors! Even my own mother,” I call.
“ Lottie , let’s go.”
My niece giggles as I chuck her over my shoulder and make a break toward the door.
Her infectious laughter triggers everyone else as she bangs her little fists against my back .
“I’m gonna barf!” she squeals.
“Lottie,” Patrick cautions, though there’s no hiding his amusement.
“Sorry, Daddy ,” Lottie chirps over my shoulder.
“ I’m gonna toss my cookies.”
Everyone erupts into more laughter.
At that, I deposit her on the ground the right way up and shove a finger in Aly’s direction.
“ You’re a bad influence.”
She shrugs.
“ You should learn how to accept constructive criticism.”
Graham snorts next to her.
“ Aly , where’ve you been hiding? We’ve waited almost thirty years for someone to put him in his place.”
“Cheers to that,” Patrick adds before raising his glass from the opposite end of the table.
I sidle up next to my mom, pouting.
She snickers but strokes my hair like she did when I was younger.
“ My poor boy.”
She had her cast removed a couple of weeks ago and has been taking advantage of the freedom.
“ Coffee , anyone? Cake ? Quinn made some lovely cupcakes for the occasion.”
Quinn stands and begins collecting the empty dishes.
“ Let me help, Claire . ”
“Pssht.” My mom flaps her hands in Quinn’s direction.
“ Nonsense . You kids go and enjoy yourselves in the den. George and I will tidy up.”
George, who has no choice in the matter, kisses Johanna on the head and follows my mom into the kitchen.
We all move to the den and demolish the sweet treats Quinn brought.
It’s like middle school prom with the way we’re all seated.
The girls sit on one side and the guys on the other.
Dex chats everyone’s head off about something wood related, but I’m too busy eavesdropping on the girls.
“So you’ll come?” Florence squeals, clapping her hands.
Laughing lightly, a small smile appears on Aly’s face.
“ If that’s still okay? I can bring wine and cheese. I’m not sure what the norm is for Galentine’s Day .”
A ringing sound fills the room as Jo clinks her glass with Aly’s .
“ You had me at cheese. Wear something comfy and if you want, you can stay the night.”
Quinn’s eyes bulge.
“ I’ve never had a sleepover, but something tells me it’s not going to be like it is in the movies.”
Florence shrugs.
“ I dunno. I still plan on getting drunk and talking about penises. Sounds a lot like the sleepovers I went to as a teen.”
Delete.
Delete . Delete .
“You realize I’m marrying your brother?” Jo grimaces.
“Rule number one of Adult Sleepover Club ,” my sister whispers—poorly.
“ Never name the penis.”
It’s hard to fully regret eavesdropping when I take in Aly’s serene expression.
I like seeing her with my people, laughing and enjoying herself.
She fits in perfectly, but also doesn’t.
It’s like jamming the incorrect piece into the puzzle.
You can make it fit, but it’ll never look right.
She shines doing what she loves, as she jets around the world making grown men cry while negotiating deals .
I’m saved from my brooding when my phone rings.
When the area code reads New York , my curiosity piques.
Aly’s parents?
I excuse myself from the room before answering.
“ This is Booth .”
“Just the man,” an animated voice greets.
“ This is Pedro from the Silver Goddess in New York . Daniel passed me your number. Are you free to talk?”