Chapter 32
32
Cate
“Unfortunately, I’m too sore to make paddleboard yoga this morning,” I tease, gently breaking the news to him. “The class will have to go on without me.”
With his head stuck in the fridge, Shane starts chuckling. He retrieves a bowl of berries and a container of Greek yogurt, knowing the way to my heart, and sets them on the counter. “That’s too bad. For me.” He winks and then taps my pouty bottom lip. “I was looking forward to seeing your ass in the air.”
“I can save us both the trouble and show it to you now.”
“Naked?”
I hate dashing his hopes, especially when he looks so cute from even the thought of me stripping off my clothes right here in the kitchen.
“Ehh.” I sidle up to him at the island. “I think I need a few hours to recover. Silver lining, we’ve burned a lot of calories over the past twelve hours.” I run my hand under his shirt and casually count the defined muscles of his abdomen so I can make a proper plan of licking them later, or maybe in a few minutes if he lets me. “So no need to burn more with things that are just a distraction from us having sex.”
With a raised eyebrow, he asks, “Have I created a monster?” And then he waggles his brow in the cutest dang way.
I just want to pinch his ass cheek or hump his face. It could go either way with how horny he makes me. “Not a monster per se but an addict.”
“It’s not like you haven’t had sex before. Though there’s no fucking way I want to hear about some other guy— fuck . Let’s not even go there.”
I’m leaning toward the face humping when I see the way his jaw ticks. He’s just so freaking gorgeous I almost can’t stand to look at him. It’s like staring into an eclipse—fiery sun rays and darkness shadowing his other half. I’d burn my retinas for him. “The past is the past. Your past is a no-go for me as well just to be clear.” Resting my butt against the countertop, I ask, “Is it only us that feels like we were made for each other, our bodies fitting together so perfectly that I’m missing a piece of myself when we’re apart?”
His arm comes around my neck, locking it under his chin and bending to kiss it. “I’ve never felt this way either.” Simple and direct, sharing our hearts without worrying about what’s next. “As for burning calories together, I’m happy to give you a good workout anytime you want.”
Holding his arm, I giggle, but then I remember how he’s gone so much. “I need you all the time, but what happens when you’re on the road?”
“ Shhh .” He presses his lips to the top of my head, then rests his chin there instead. “No reality this weekend. I just want this for a few days. Normal. Quiet. Us and no one else. No screaming fans. No paparazzi. No demands being made of me. Unless it’s you, of course, and then I’m here reporting for duty.”
I know he’s trying to be funny, but he still speaks the truth about his life. And it worries me. I won’t ever be someone who loves the spotlight or even shines it. I’m good with my low-key life. How will we balance the two?
A calm has soothed his storms, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s only temporary. Will the thunder return when we go back to LA?
I agree with him. I don’t want the outside world to invade this little piece of heaven-on-earth perfection we’ve found. “The beauty of this weekend is that we can do whatever we want—stay up late or sleep in, avoid certain topics and talk all night about others.” Spinning in his arms, I fist his shirt and lift on my toes, but I can’t reach his mouth unless I jump. I pull him to me. “It’s glorious really. Now kiss me, you giant.”
He does not disappoint, but I knew he wouldn’t here in Deer Lake or back in Los Angeles. He’s rid his life of a lot of the demons he had, bad habits that were dragging him down, and flipped his mood like a light switch. Open and honest. I love seeing him this free, this happy. I love seeing him in love. And I’m the lucky one who gets to love him.
“This is a good transition to talk about the itinerary.”
Releasing me, which makes me feel cold and desolate without him wrapped around me, he opens the container of berries and plops a raspberry in his mouth. “What about it?”
“It’s the sweetest that you went to so much trouble for me, buuuuut I was thinking we could go into town today. What do you say?”
He feeds me a blueberry, then kisses the tip of my nose. “I thought we decided to keep the real world at bay for a few days?”
“We did, but I need to pick up something in town.”
“Cryptic.”
I reach over and grab a berry from the container. “A prescription.” I don’t know why I suddenly feel weird talking about this. I also don’t like that it feels like I’m keeping secrets from him. “I had the prescription transferred up here.”
“Should I be worried?”
“No. It’s all taken care of.”
Running his hand at the curve of my waist, he smiles as if he’s been given a secret. Nodding, he replies, “We can go after breakfast.”
“Thanks.”
We eat breakfast down by the lake. Finding the wineglass and beer bottle left as evidence from last night’s prelude to sex makes my typically prudish side smile regarding the spontaneity.
Sitting in the same chairs as last night, I can imagine they’d be the ones we always chose until we’re old and gray. I smile just thinking about it.
“What’s got you smiling like that?”
I roll my neck to face him. “Nothing. I’m happy to be here.”
Bridging the divide, he reaches over to hold my hand. “Me too.”
I return my gaze to the lake, soaking in the beautiful scenery and fresh air. My head feels clearer because of this trip, so I need to take advantage of all it has to offer. But there is still a mystery to be solved. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the marriage.”
“Our marriage?”
“No. The cheating scandal rocking the Danish royal family.” I laugh because I think I’m pretty funny. “Yes, our marriage.”
“Are you going to divorce me when we return?” He chuckles, but no humor is found in its sound.
The question hits me sideways. I’ve never had the intention of staying married. Dating shouldn’t change the plan. But then I look at how far we’ve come—from our attorney’s office to falling in love. We’re proof that anything is possible. “I’m not looking to rush and change the status quo. It’s something we’ll talk about another time. Lay everything out on the table and figure it out from there. But that’s not the aspect of marriage I was talking about. I want to solve the mystery of how we got married in the first place.”
“It would be good to know.” He sits forward, resting his arms on the tops of his legs. “Where do we start?”
“I have a yearbook somewhere in my apartment. I didn’t keep much over the years, but I kept that. Maybe it will lead us in the right direction.”
“Who said we were going in the wrong one?”
I’m not sure if I detect a hint of annoyance or if it’s a genuine question. “You know what I mean.”
His gaze redirects to the lake and distances off the choppy waters. “Yeah. I know.” Standing, he offers his hand. “You ready to head into town?”
I slip my hand into his, and he pulls me to my feet. “Ready as I’ll ever be—No. Scratch that. I need to change first.”
“Get ready for an adventure.”
I didn’t really understand his comment about an adventure, but I do now. Big dually trucks covered in mud, a few with logging trailers, plaid on everyone we’ve seen, and beards for days. The Deer Lake sign came with a distinctive feature. “I’ve never seen a statue that big before. Impressive deer.”
“It’s a stag,” Shane says, his eyes glued to the winding road.
“It’s a deer, right?”
“A male deer. A buck. A stag.”
“It’s weird they can’t just be called deer. Seems someone was overcompensating when carving that thing.”
Reaching over, he covers my leg with his hand. “We’re not in LA anymore. It’s a way of life for slower, hard-working people. Friendly but also love to gossip.”
“So how does a family of celebrities fit in?”
“I hate being called a celebrity.” There’s no anger or frustration. His tone is altogether indifferent as if he gave up fighting that battle a long time ago, which is worse. “Makes me sound like a talentless hack. Famous for famous sake.”
The word “celebrity” is tossed around LA all the time, a part of the culture of being near Hollywood. So I hadn’t thought twice about using the word as if it encapsulates him that easily within it.
“I’m sorry?—”
“Don’t apologize.” He glances over and gives me a reassuring smile. “It’s just a pet peeve of mine, but I’m used to it.”
“No, I agree with you.” Covering his hand with mine, I give it a squeeze. “I’ve never thought twice about it because I never had to. You’re more than a celebrity. And you’re everything to me.”
“Look at you charming me.” I playfully shrug like it’s no big deal when it’s the opposite. “And to answer your question, we don’t, but most of the locals don’t care about fame or . . .” He laughs. “Celebrities. Plenty pass through. The tourists in high season are the ones who tend to steal the peace.”
A set of stores appears around a bend and just after a dense line of trees. I squint to make out the signs. “There.” Just like I saw in an online photo, the word Pharmacy sits solidly in green under a big sign that reads Grocer. “There it is.”
He hasn’t asked me anything other than if I’m okay, though I’m sure he has questions. His concern for my well-being is his top priority. I’ve never been someone’s top priority before. It feels good, better than good. It feels fulfilling.
He shifts his Ferrari that stands out like a sore thumb into park. Out of the car and coming around before I have a chance to unbuckle my seat belt, he opens the door and offers a hand.
That little awkward turn and the muscles I use to get out of the door’s way remind me, and not so gently, of being with Shane. I love you is said with ease, and husband and wife rolls off the tongue. The assumption that everything will be the same as it is now once we return to LA makes my heart flutter. I believe in us.
The groundwork for a solid foundation—trust, honesty, a deep connection, and the physical—makes me feel invincible with him. We’re a team we’ve created to take on the world together.
Entering the store hand in hand, I glance at him, walking with his head down and sunglasses covering his eyes. He is either truly in tune with how the world sees him or has no idea that sunglasses don’t disguise him like he thinks they do. It’s probably somewhere down the middle.
The cashier stands straight from where she was leaning against the register when she sees us. “Welcome to Grocer.” I’m thinking the abrupt change in body language isn’t for my benefit.
The store is tiny compared to grocery stores back in LA, so the pharmacy sign pointing to the back of the store is easy to find. “Hey,” I say, stopping in front of an aisle containing wildlife feed. “I’m going to run to the back and get what I need. Meet you at the register . . .” I check the time on my watch. “In say, ten minutes?”
“I’m going to look for some healthy juice shots. Do you prefer beets or turmeric?” I love how he thinks he will find that here when the vegetable section is practically nonexistent, and we’re literally standing in an aisle of food for wild animals. Maybe he will. At least it will keep him busy while I pick up my prescription. “I’m good with either.”
Walking backward, he says, “Got to replenish for our afternoon activities.”
I thought I was okay letting him walk away from me, but that wink and click of his tongue just made my entire body tighten in anticipation. I’m running back to him, jumping into his arms, and kissing this man simply because I can. He’s mine, and I’m his.
He caught me with a thud, one hand protectively on the back of my head and the other under my ass. Our mouths part, and I lower my feet back to the linoleum. Watching him lick me from his lips is an aphrodisiac that has me wanting to detour back out to the parking lot.
I look around. The place is basically empty.
Bending down, he whispers, “What’s on your mind, pussycat?”
Who am I? I’m actually considering having sex in public? I sure am glad I left my comfort zone back in LA because this is what he does to me. And I’m not saying no to the possibility.
But I should get my prescription first. Nothing sounds appealing about walking back in here after having fresh sex in a Ferrari. The shame would eat me alive before I could get what I need. Baby steps, Cate.
Speaking of babies, get your prescription.
“I’ll be quick.” I pull away, the tip of our fingers the last contact shared before we’re out of reach.
He shoves his hands in his pockets, probably able to read every naughty thought I was having about him. As soon as I round the corner to the nearest aisle, I rush to the back of the store.
I reach the counter and lift to see if I can find anyone working. A man walks from a back room with his eyes on a pill bottle. His eyes spy me over the top of his glasses, and he detours in my direction. “How can I help you?”
“Hi, I had my prescription transferred to this pharmacy this morning.”
He starts typing on a keyboard. “Name?”
“Catalina Farin. It was transferred by?—”
“Yes, I see it here.” He shifts back in front of me, and says, “Unfortunately, we’ve had to order it. We should get it in with deliveries this Tuesday.”
“It’s Saturday,” I say, like I need the confirmation. “I don’t understand. In LA, they’d have it ready in an hour. We’re not even three hours away from the city.”
“You do have that option.”
“Of going to LA to pick it up?”
“I’m sorry. We’re a small pharmacy. We can’t carry everything, and it’s a holiday weekend. I can offer you a different type. We have samples.” He opens his drawer and starts rummaging through it. He’s offering me birth control shoved in a catchall drawer? This is an adventure indeed, and not the good kind. “Let’s just make sure they’re not out of date.”
“It’s hormonal.” He knows this already as a pharmacist, so it’s an odd suggestion. I glance at the wall to the right of me covered in a hundred varieties of fishing lures, wondering how they can carry so much of the same thing but not one of the most popular brands of birth control in the country. Their different priorities have my thoughts racing to figure out another plan since this one didn’t work out. “I can’t just switch for a few days.”
“I understand, but there’s nothing else I can do to speed up the delivery. They only come twice a week, but the good news is that your prescription will be on the next truck.” He uses his whole hand to point as if that’s less adamant. “If you need something immediate, prophylactics are on aisle four.”
And on that note . . . “Thank you.”
Me being upset isn’t going to get me what I need. I walk down aisle four, grabbing a small box of condoms just in case. I don’t mind going old-school, but this will throw my whole month out of whack. I grab a variety of candy bars and a bottle of Gatorade because I can’t just show up at the register with condoms. I mean, I could, but yeah . . . no.
When I reach the front of the store, Shane waits for me with a bag of hot ’n’ spicy fried pork skins in one hand and a big bottle of orange juice in the other. “That doesn’t look like health shots.” I laugh, though it’s only surface, me smiling for him as I try to sort through this prescription mess in my head.
He’s smiling the moment he sees me. The man knows how to make a girl swoon. “I don’t think we’re surprised they didn’t have any.” His gaze dips to all the crap I grabbed on my way up here. “Get everything?”
I start for the register, whispering when I pass him, “We need to talk outside.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
I stop before I feed into the line and turn back. “It’s nothing about us. I have a little situation that needs to be handled.”
“That sounds worse.”
“It’s fine. Really.” I don’t sound convincing even to myself. “We’ll just talk outside.”
“Are you okay, Cat?” I hate that he’s worrying over me. He has enough to worry about from his own life. This is supposed to be a break for him. Not a dose of reality that I would typically handle on my own. But I can’t. We’re here together, so I reply, “It’s okay. For real.” I dump all the stuff on the grocery belt. “I’m okay.”
He sets his stuff down and pulls his wallet out. “I’m buying.” He eyes the stuff I want, and says, “Why do we need condoms?” Alarm bells fire in all directions when I see him pick up the box. Shooting me a glare, he opens his mouth and closes it, then opens it again. “Small?” Offense sews his brows together in irritation. “What the fuck?”
I whip my gaze to the box just as the cashier starts ringing our order. Flustered, I scan the words on the front. “I wasn’t looking at the size. I just grabbed it.”
“What is going on, Cat?” Shortness clips his tone, and then he tells the cashier, “We won’t need these. Thanks.”
“We do need those.” I try to calm the distress in my voice, but it’s not working. “Just get a bigger size.”
“You’re on the pill.”
“I need birth control, Shane,” I shout in a panic. Oh God. The ringing stops as I close my eyes, hoping the earth opens us and swallows me whole. When I open my eyes to find I’m still stuck here at the Deer Lake Grocer with a gob-smacked cashier and a manager who seems to have nothing better to do than stare at me, I turn to bury my head in his chest. “I don’t have any with me.”
His arm comes around me as he pulls his wallet out to pay with the other. The cashier asks, “Do you want the condoms or put them back?”
“Put them back, please.” The purchase is quick, and he’s guiding me out the door by my lower back. We’ve been trapped in tension since I lost it at the register. I dread what’s next. I tried so hard not to worry him, and now I’ve done it for the entire staff of Grocer to witness. As soon as our feet hit the pavement, he releases me and runs a hand over his head. “You definitely gave them something to gossip about in there.”
I cringe. “Sorry about that.”
He shakes his head, but looks at me while we hurry to the car. “You told me you’re on the pill. That’s why we could have sex last night and this morning. Did you lie to me?” I can hear the betrayal in his voice and see the hurt clouding his eyes.
“I’m on the pill. I wouldn’t lie to you about that. I picked up my prescription right before I got to the apartment yesterday. But there was a mix-up, and I didn’t discover it until I went to open the new pack to take one this morning, and my prescription wasn’t in the bag they gave me.”
He opens the car and tucks the bag behind my seat before holding the door for me. “You’re on the pill, but you’re out?”
“Yes. I had the prescription transferred here to pick up. It shouldn’t have been a big deal, except they don’t have any in stock and don’t get their shipment in until Tuesday.”
“Tuesday?” I slip into the car, and he closes the door. As soon as he sinks into his seat, he asks, “What do we need to do?”
I reach over to hold his hand, hoping he doesn’t hate me for ruining the trip. “We need to go back to LA. Today. It’s the only way to keep me on track.”
“Okay.” He leans over and kisses me once and then twice more. “We’ll pack up and head back.” He steps in without hesitation to support me and to make sure we get what we need, no matter the inconvenience to him.
Something I was stressing about became a non-issue in a matter of seconds. Another brick cemented to strengthen our foundation.
And just like that, it became us against the world.