Chapter 18
eighteen
. . .
Reese
We’d made it back to town after we’d set some boundaries, and we were acting perfectly normal now, even if my body was still humming from the multiple orgasms I’d received the night before.
Maybe this really could work. We’d hurried home and changed clothes, and the only thing that was different was that Finn insisted on sitting in the bathroom and talking to me while I got dressed.
Apparently, now that he’d seen my boobs, he couldn’t get enough of them.
Go girls.
They’d never been all that noteworthy. They were small and perky, so I didn’t mind them, but they’d never garnered much attention.
Carl was a self-proclaimed boob man. It hadn’t gone unnoticed by me that Christy Rae Lovell had a giant set of porn-worthy knockers.
He’d always teased me that he’d get me a boob job as a wedding gift.
I wasn’t actually sure if he’d meant it as a joke or if he was hoping I’d bite at the offer.
He’d always ended the conversation by saying that I was perfect just the way I was, so I certainly didn’t feel pressure to do it.
But I wasn’t interested in changing them at this point in my life, though I’d never say never.
Maybe someday I’d want some big ladies to show off—today just wasn’t that day.
And my best friend was a super fan, so I’d enjoy this moment while it lasted.
Early November was one of my favorite times of the year. The town would soon be transitioning over to Christmas décor the day after Thanksgiving. But for now, fall was still surrounding us.
Finn and I parked a few blocks away and walked to the Tipsy Tea.
I glanced in the windows of some of my favorite places.
Once Upon a Time was my favorite bookstore, and the window display was always decorated for the season.
There were hay bales with pumpkins and several fall-themed books set up there.
We both chuckled when we passed Cottonwood Café because Mrs. Runither had hired Maggie to paint the front window, which currently read: Fall into Cottonwood Café… We put the spice in pumpkin spice.
“Never a dull moment with that woman,” Finn said with a chuckle.
We walked past Garrity’s, Finn’s family’s bar, and there was a bench out front with two scarecrows sitting on it. Pumpkins and corn stalks were gathered at the entrance. Cup of Cove had kept it simple, with a sign hanging out front that read: Happy Fall, Y’all! All Pumpkins Welcome!
I’d slipped into a floral maxi dress with my cowboy boots, and Finn was wearing jeans and a button-up. The man rarely wore anything other than a hoodie, a tee, or a flannel… but his weak spot had always been little Gracie.
And she’d asked us all to come to this tea party, so we were going to show up looking nice for her.
Finn held the door open for me as I stepped inside The Tipsy Tea. Loud chatter came from the back room, and we made our way back there.
Gracie came running toward us wearing what looked like some sort of wedding flower girl dress with a pair of pink cowboy boots. Gracie Reynolds was my spirit animal. Equal parts bougie princess and small-town cowgirl.
She lunged into her uncle’s arms and kissed his cheek. “I’m happy you came to my tea party, Uncle Finny. Now let me hug Ree Ree.”
He rumpled her curls and laughed before passing her over. She put a hand on each of my cheeks as she settled on my hello. “Thanks for coming. You look real pretty.”
“And you look like a real live princess.”
Her jaw fell open. “That’s what my Bossman and Links said. They thinks I am a real live princess.”
She wiggled out of my arms and clapped her hands together. “Everyone is here, Miss Matilda.”
I made my way around the table, hugging every member of the Reynolds family and their significant others.
Finn motioned for me to take the seat between him and Brinkley.
Gracie sat at the head of the table between her grandma and grandpa, and I glanced around, taking them all in.
The guys all looked way too big for their chairs, but there they were, showing up for this little girl.
Matilda and two teenage girls who worked for her came around to fill our teacups.
Gracie stood up and patted her dress into place.
“Bossman, thank you for giving my family this special party. All of my favorites are here. I thought you’d never come home, Ree Ree.
I waited forever and a few days for you to come back. ”
I held up my teacup and smiled. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Gracie sat down, and everyone started talking all at once.
Maddox, whom Gracie called Bossman, stared at the platters of tiny sandwiches and picked up his teacup. “So, this is the big experience, huh? Little sandwiches and a few drops of liquid in our cups?”
“Yep. Every little girl in Cottonwood Cove wants to have a tea party here,” Georgia said, leaning against him. “You killed it, Bossman.”
“Didn’t Brinks sneak a frog into her tea party, and a few dishes got broken when he escaped, and all her friends freaked out?” Cage asked, raising a brow, while Gracie was talking a mile a minute to her grandparents.
“I wasn’t really the tea party type. Mom insisted on me throwing my seventh birthday party here. I wanted to have a pirate party.” She shrugged.
“Of course you did. That’s why you’re marrying Captain Jack Sparrow.” Lincoln barked out a laugh.
Everyone chuckled, and Finn leaned over to fill me in that Captain Jack Sparrow was Lincoln’s pseudonym when he travels and doesn’t want to be recognized.
“So, I think you guys have a real shot at the Super Bowl this year.” Maddox studied the tiny triangular sandwich, and his gaze narrowed like he’d never seen such an odd piece of food.
“Baby, it’s cucumbers and cream cheese,” Georgia whispered.
“Hmmm… do five-year-olds eat that?” He raised a brow.
“It’s the experience,” Hugh said, reaching for a triangle of his own and popping the whole thing into his mouth, and Lila laughed.
“It is all about the experience,” she said.
“So, what’s going on with the lovebirds?” Cage looked between me and Finn, and my cheeks burned.
“All is going well.”
“Yeah? I heard Jessica made quite a scene last night,” Brinkley said. “I’d like two minutes alone in a back alley with that girl.”
My head fell back in laughter because she wasn’t joking, which made it funnier.
“Miney handled her just fine. She didn’t back down at all, which probably bugged Jessica more than we can even imagine.” Finn piled several sandwiches onto his plate.
His hand came around my shoulder, and he grazed his thumb along my collarbone. I didn’t miss the way Cage watched the movement and then smirked when his gaze locked with mine.
He freaking knew something was up because the Reynolds brothers always knew what was going on with one another.
I looked up to see Alana smiling at Gracie, and I was grateful that at least she didn’t know what was going on.
Siblings were one thing. Parents would be another. They would never understand what we were doing. Hell, I didn’t understand it.
But I knew one thing—I couldn’t wait to do it again.
“I’m not sure if Georgia let you all know, but she’d like to host Thanksgiving this year at their home,” Alana said.
“Oh, man. She doesn’t cook as good as you do,” Cage groaned, shaking his head.
“Hey. I’m a great cook.”
“Your specialty is gummy bears,” Finn said over his laughter.
“I love Aunt Georgie’s gummy bears. She gots all the colors at her house.”
“Yeah, my dentist just said I have my first cavity, and I’m fairly certain it’s from all the jars of candy you keep at the house,” Hugh said.
“You do know that you don’t have to eat handfuls every time you come over, right?” Maddox smirked.
“Mom is coming over to do most of the cooking. I just thought it would be fun to have a pickleball tournament.”
“It’s freaking Thanksgiving. Can we not turn it into a competition? I just want to eat good food and watch the game.” This came from Cage again, and Brinkley balled up her napkin and tossed it at him.
“First Thanksgiving as a couple,” Finn said, grazing his lips against my ear, and I sucked in a breath. “I know what you’re going to be thankful for after tonight.”
“Finn,” I hissed over my laughter, looking up to meet his gaze. “You talk a big game.”
“How about we get out of here soon?” He waggled his brows.
I nodded slowly before feeling eyes on me. I turned to see Hugh and Cage watching us with big, goofy grins on their faces as everyone else was involved in their own side conversations.
I raised a brow and looked between them. “You two are up to no good.”
“I was going to say the same to you,” Cage said.
“You do seem like you’re in a hurry to get out of here.” Hugh barked out a laugh.
“We’re anxious to get home and take the horses for a ride,” I said, reaching for my teacup and taking a sip.
“That’s not the only thing you’re going to ride,” Finn said against my ear, and I spewed tea all over the table.
I coughed hard, and Finn rubbed my back as I reached for my napkin.
“Ree Ree, are you okay?”
“Yep. It just went down the wrong tube.”
“Don’t talk about boobs at the table. It turns me on,” Finn whispered in my ear again, not a care in the world that I’d just embarrassed myself after the last thing he’d said.
“I said tube.” I turned to face him and shook my head.
“Well, I guess you can’t say words that rhyme with boob either.”
“You’re ridiculous. No more crazy talk until we leave here.” I cleared my throat just as a loud ruckus had us all turning to see Mr. Larson walking into the back room, carrying what looked like a small version of a wedding cake.
It was three tiers with white icing and pink flowers running around each layer of cake. There was a figurine on the top with brown curls, wearing a princess gown.
“Hey there, y’all. Miss Gracie, your uncle Finny sent over a special cake in honor of your tea party.”
“You dicknut,” Cage hissed under his breath. “You got a five-year-old a wedding cake. You know I don’t like her to eat too much sugar because it always makes her cry after.”
“She pointed it out to me a few weeks ago in the window at Larson’s bakery.”
“So, you just bought it for her?”
“Yes. Exactly. And so what if she cries a little after? You can get in touch with your feminine side, brother. Plus, everyone loves cake. So, let’s cut the cake and get a move on.
” Finn stood and moved around the table to hug Gracie while everyone gaped at the sweet monstrosity.
My chest squeezed as I watched him. He’d always been that guy.
If we were with a group of friends in high school and someone said they were hungry, Finn would appear out of nowhere with a sandwich for them.
He genuinely loved to do things for others, and it was one of my favorite traits about him.
But seeing him dote on little Gracie—well, that was hitting me with all the feels. Hell, my ovaries were getting in on the celebration. Finn would make a great dad if he had any desire to actually be in a real relationship. But he’d always said he was content being an uncle.
I couldn’t imagine not being a mama, and I knew my biological clock was ticking.
The fear in the back of my mind that the chemo may have hurt my chances and that I wouldn’t ever get pregnant was there, but I always tried to push it away.
My doctor said there was a very good chance I’d be fine.
I was open to adopting, as well, if it wasn’t in the cards for me.
It’s funny, my being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma left me feeling an urgency about motherhood.
But that was around the time that Finn started saying he’d never get married or have kids.
Trauma does different things to different people, I guess.
Carl had always said he wanted us to start a family as soon as we were married. We’d always been on the same page.
I shook myself from my thoughts when Finn handed me a piece of cake.
“Let’s take some home so I can cover your tits with icing and take my time cleaning you up,” he whispered close to my ear again.
Damn it. I was getting all sweaty and flustered.
He devoured his cake quickly and then stared at me as I scooped the icing onto my fork and popped it into my mouth.
“The sun is going to set soon. If you want to ride, we need to get going.” He raised a brow.
Cage laughed so loudly that it startled everyone. “It’s two o’clock in the afternoon. The sun’s got a while, brother. But you two better run along before you lose daylight.”
He oozed sarcasm, and everyone laughed, though they looked completely confused by the conversation.
I was scooping some more icing onto my fork when Finn jumped to his feet. “Love you all. We’re out of here.”
Finn rolled his eyes when I made my way around the table to hug everyone goodbye.
When did he get so impatient?
And why was I suddenly nervous?
We stepped out of The Tipsy Tea and headed to his truck. Once he got into the driver’s seat and we were pulling away from the curb, I turned to face him.
“What was that about? Where’s the fire?” I said over my laughter.
“The fire? It’s in my fucking pants, Miney. I need to be inside you right now. I can’t wait one more minute. And if you keep looking over at me with those gorgeous green eyes, I’ll pull this truck over and fuck you right here in the cab. Give the whole town something to talk about.”
My jaw dropped, my mouth hanging open as my heart raced so fast that I was certain he could hear it.
This was really happening.
I’d never had anyone want me the way Finn wanted me.
And I liked it.
A lot.
“Well, I suggest you get us home quickly, then. Show me what I’ve been missing.”
“That’s exactly what I plan to do.”
He hit the gas, and I jolted forward a bit. “Buckle up, Miney. You’re in for a good time.”
My head fell back in laughter because I was already having a good time.
These last few weeks had been the best I’d had in a long time.
And I couldn’t wait to see what would happen once we got home.