26. Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-six
Libby
“Libby!” Devon whines before knocking again loudly. “Seriously? This is like the third time you’ve slept in since Dad’s been gone.” The handle rattles as he tries to turn it. “ And you’ve locked your door? Wake up!”
I can hear his disgruntled groan before he stomps away.
Blue raises his head, blinking, then drops to the pillow. “I’m glad Clay gets out of the hospital soon. I can’t wait to have you back in my room.”
This last week of him sleeping in my tiny twin bed has fundamentally changed something in me.
I no longer think of “me”. It’s now “us”.
There isn’t a single defining moment when it happened, maybe that first night when we fell asleep with him buried inside of me.
The days when he’s gone for work seemed to drag on, and all I could think about was how soon he’d be back so I could see him, hold him…kiss him and make him mine over and ov er.
“Do you think we should tell him about us when we do the proposal?” I know Blue’s been waiting on getting all of his stuff ready.
Today is the day he lays out the deal to my dad.
It makes my stomach churn.
The moment I’ve been dreading. But it also feels like a pinnacle. After this, I’ll be my own boss.
And I’ll owe Mason and Blue a lot of money.
Blue lets out a long sigh. “That’s up to you, baby. I like my balls attached, but they belong to you now.” He chuckles against my shoulder.
“That’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.” Rolling out of bed, I grab a pair of shorts so I can slip into the bathroom.
Blue sits up, digging his jeans off the floor.
When I open the door, Devon is leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, glowering down his nose.
Shit.
“I knew you had a boyfriend, I didn’t expect it to be someone our dad’s age.” His nose wrinkles. “I was starting to wonder since Blue’s truck is always here.”
Blue laughs from behind me, his pants knotted in a ball over his crotch.
“You aren’t gonna tell Dad, are you?” I just need the papers signed, then whatever happens can happen.
Devon snorts. “He wouldn’t believe me if I did. I will say, it’s kind of bullshit that you told me last year that Char is too old for me, but this—” He gestures at us. “—is apparently okay? I might not be good at it, but I can do basic math. ”
“You’re fifteen. She’d have gone to jail.” I flick my fingers at him. “Go on, I’ll be out there in a minute.”
Devon shakes his head, his dark hair falling over his forehead. “I don’t give a shit, just stop fucking sleeping in,” he grumbles before leaving.
I almost admonish him about his language, but bite my tongue instead.
Blue’s warm palms circle my waist. “Well, that went better than expected. Are we supposed to buy him a new Playstation or something now?”
I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart. “No, but I’ll probably have to follow through with the raise I promised him.”
He laughs and peels himself away to fasten his belt.
“Bribery is the answer for every teenager.” His arms raise as he stretches, highlighting the cut of his hips over his jeans and the dark patch of hair that trails from his belly button to disappear under his zipper.
“I guess that makes me your boyfriend officially?”
That charming lopsided smile almost makes me drop my panties. “I suppose it does. And by the end of today, ‘partner’.” As long as Dad signs.
Before I can blink, Blue has my wrists pinned against the wood paneled wall above my head. “You know what’s after that?” His voice is low and husky as his whiskers tickle my jaw.
A surge of heat rushes through me like it does every time he’s close.
“Tell me,” I breathe, letting my ankle rise to wrap around his calf.
“Two more boxes. You’ll find out.” Mischief smirks across his lips, then he nips at the skin of my neck and lets me loose.
“You make it very difficult to concentrate.” I’m a little disappointed he slides on his long sleeved shirt and begins to button it.
Does it ever get boring? When a couple is together for years, do they lose that hitch in their throat, the fire in their gaze?
Because every time I look at Blue, it seems more intense. I can’t imagine it ever changing.
Going through my morning routine, I’m suddenly struck by overwhelming sadness when I see the tinge of pink on the toilet paper after I wipe.
Great. My period.
I guess I’m not pregnant. Weird that I almost wish I was.
No, I have way too much shit going on right now. And the reality is, Blue and I are still new at all of this.
It feels a little different when he takes my hand and walks with me across the parking lot. The only one left who’s in the dark about us is Dad .
“I have an inspection this morning for a sale, then I’ll be back here at noon to pick you up. Ready to take over?” He tosses his overnight bag into the passenger side of his truck, then pulls me close.
“No, but yes. A whole lotta hoops to jump through just to keep doing the same thing.” I pat his butt as he kisses me.
In broad daylight.
It gives me a thrill like we’re doing something risky.
Every time we part, it leaves a pang in my chest. Real pain.
There’s a piece of me that longs to rush through all the steps. After losing Mom, and with Dad being sick, it’s obvious that life can be short.
Maybe that’s the bit that is bugging me. Dad’s surgery went well, he’s healing at the hospital, yet there’s something in me that feels different about him now.
He lived a life that he never wanted, and nearly lost the chance to change that.
I’m risking it all, to get exactly what I want.