Chapter 39
CHAPTER 39
Devyn
Moving day is finally here. We’ve enlisted everyone’s help, so the process is much smoother than I would’ve expected. Nathan keeps running between all three bedrooms while Riley is putting his bed together.
I narrowly miss crashing into my exuberant little boy and lean against the doorframe. “Do you need any help?”
Riley finishes screwing Nate’s headboard to the frame and looks up. “No, I’m almost done. I’d love a bottle of water, though.”
“One water coming right up,” I say.
I make my way downstairs and head over to the kitchen. A noise causes me to stop dead in my tracks right before I cross into the room. I listen for a moment and hear muted whispers and a strange smacking sound. I tiptoe around the corner and freeze at the sight before me. Brody has Lorraine pinned against the fridge, and she’s not protesting in the least. In fact, she happens to be running her fingers over the crotch of his jeans.
Brody groans as he presses into her. “Fuck, Rainey. You’re killing me.”
Lorraine leans into him and kisses him briefly before pulling back. “You know you love it.”
He grabs her hips with both hands. “Honey, you know I do. You can touch my dick any time you’d like.”
She takes one of his hands and guides it to her breast. “Mmm. I like that idea.”
What the heck is happening right now? Oh my god, I can’t take this anymore!
I clear my throat. “Hi, guys.”
They break apart so fast, it’d be comical if I wasn’t so freaked out right now.
“Devyn!” Lorraine shouts nervously. “What are you doing here?”
I lean against the island and give them a knowing look. “It’s my kitchen. What are you doing in here?”
“Uh…” she stammers.
Brody rips open the refrigerator door so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t fall off the hinges. “Uh…beer. We came to get beer. Right, Rainey?”
I smirk. “It takes two of you, huh?”
Brody looks between the two of us and apparently decides flight is the best course of action. “Uh…I gotta go…somewhere other than here.”
He quickly shoulders past me and steps out the back door. Lorraine tries to follow, but I block her.
“Lorraine, what did I just walk in on? ”
She blushes. Lorraine never blushes. “Depends. How long have you been standing there?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Long enough.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s nothing. We’re just having a good time.”
“You and Brody ? How long has this been going on?”
She looks over my shoulder. “I don’t know…not long. Please don’t say anything, Dev. We don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing. We’re just scratching an itch. That’s all.”
I look at her skeptically. “Rainey, that doesn’t sound like?—”
“Hey, sis, can I fire up the grill now?” Drew asks. “I’m fucking starving.”
Rainey takes the interruption as her ticket to end our conversation. She pats him on the back. “Great idea, Drew! I’ll help!”
“Sweet!” he says. “You get started on the corn and I’ll take care of the ribs.”
She busies herself digging through the fridge. “I’m on it.”
“Rainey—”
She holds a hand up. “Not now, Dev. Drew and I have to feed the locals before they get hangry. We’ll talk later.”
“This conversation isn’t over,” I warn.
She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Trust me, I know I’m not that lucky.”
Lorraine and Drew cook while Brody finishes assembling the patio furniture. I smile when I see Riley and Nathan coming out to join us on the deck.
Nathan holds up a miniature model of a jet. “Mom, look what Daddy gave me! He said I can make planes just like he does when I grow up!”
“He doesn’t make them,” Drew grumbles. “He draws pictures of them.”
Riley laughs. “Aircraft design is a little more involved than that, dude.”
Drew rolls his eyes. “Whatever.” He crouches down to Nate’s level. “I thought you said you wanted to be a big, strong fireman like your Uncle Drew when you grow up?” He flexes his ridiculously large biceps for emphasis.
Nathan mirrors the move. “I can be a big, strong fireman and make planes!”
Riley laughs and ruffles his hair. “You sure can, bud.”
Nathan beams. “See, Unca’ Drew? Daddy says I can!”
Drew stands up and resumes his position at the grill. “Well, if Daddy says it, then it must be true,” he says dryly.
I smack Drew’s chest. “Behave.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Drew mutters.
The six of us spend the rest of the evening eating, drinking, and sharing plenty of laughter. I smile to myself as I look around. I’m so lucky to have these people in my life. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I keep a close eye on Lorraine and Brody, but they’re careful not to slip up again. I find myself wondering once again what is going on between those two. Lorraine is certainly open to exploring her sexuality, but she doesn’t take sex lightly. She says they’re just scratching an itch, but it’s so out of character for her, I have trouble believing that. Why Brody? Why now, after all these years?
I catch Riley’s eye and bite my lip. You know that saying that the right person can make anyone change their ways? It took us far too long to figure it out, but I’ve learned it’s certainly true. At least for me and Riley. I don’t know what’s going on with Rainey and Brody—I just hope neither one of them get hurt.
Drew sits at the end of my lounger and nods to Riley. “Are you sure about moving in with this schmuck?”
I nod with a laugh. “I’m positive, Drew.”
He pouts. “I’m going to miss you guys.”
I slide down the chair and pull him into a side hug. “We’re going to miss you too. You’re always welcome here, you know.”
He hugs me tighter. “I’m holding you to that.”
Riley
Nathan is asleep, and everyone but Rainey has gone home. I keep fingering the box that’s been burning a hole in my pocket, thinking about what I want to say to her. I need to make this perfect.
Devyn walks Rainey to the door. “I mean it, Lorraine. We’re having a long talk tomorrow.”
“Yes, Mother,” Rainey replies. “Good night.”
“Night.” After locking up, Devyn turns around and surveys the room. “Man, we’ll be unpacking these boxes for a while.”
I clear my throat nervously. “Uh…yeah. Lots of boxes.”
She gives me a strange look. “Are you okay?”
“Come here.” I crook my finger.
She comes closer and smiles sweetly at me. “What’s going on, Rye?”
“I know it might seem fast,” I stammer. “But when you think about it, we’ve known each other for almost ten years. Yeah, we hit some pretty big speed bumps along the way, but we made it through. And now…everything’s perfect. I have you, and Nathan…this house. We can be a family. There’s only one thing missing.”
She grabs my hand. “Everything is perfect. I couldn’t possibly ask for anything else.”
I shake my head. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. I can think of one really important thing to ask for.”
She crinkles her brows. “What’s that?”
I drop to my knee and pull the ring out of my pocket, opening the box.
Devyn gasps. “Oh.”
I take her hand. “Devyn, I meant it when I said that you’re it for me . I’ve loved you for almost ten years, even though I was too stupid to admit it until recently. But I know, without a doubt, we were meant to be together. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to teach Nathan how to play football and drive a car. I want to make more babies with you and watch our children growing inside of you. I want to run out at two in the morning to get you pickles and ice cream, or whatever other nasty shit pregnant ladies crave. I want to bounce our grandchildren on my knee and look over at you when you’re old, wrinkly, and gray, and still think you’re the sexiest woman alive. I want to be there through it all with you. I want to do it all for you. For us. There’s only one thing I need from you in return.”
She wipes a tear away. “What’s that?”
I smile. “I need you to say yes. Devyn Summers, will you make me the happiest sonofabitch alive and be my wife?”
She nods. “Yes.”
I slide the two-carat solitaire onto her finger and stand up. “Yes? Really?”
The tears are flowing freely now. “Really, Rye. Now take me to bed so we can practice making those babies.”
I grin. “Deal.”