Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
Expect good things—flowers, jewels, amazing sex. LOTS of it. Manifest your own damn luck.
I’m sitting on Adam’s lap, one arm around his neck, fingers absently playing with his hair as our friends argue over whether butter and margarine are the same thing. I have no idea how we got on this topic. It’s late, and most people have gone home.
We’re all outside because Mav is celebrating his birthday in the living room. And by celebrating, I mean there’s a good chance he’s having a threesome on the couch. Happy freaking birthday to him.
I kind of miss him, though. Our group never feels quite right without his shenanigans.
“Margarine is processed bullshit,” Liam says.
It’s maybe the meanest thing I’ve ever heard him say.
He’s got this wholesome goodness about him, from his perfectly kept blond hair and preppy clothes to the polite way he talks and acts.
I’m surprised he’s out this late, to be honest. He’s the kind of guy I assume follows a strict curfew, and also takes vitamins.
I scan our friends. Heath and Ginny, Rhett, and Dakota.
All of us sitting here just enjoying the night and each other’s company.
My heart squeezes. This group is so much more than just my friends.
Before when I was pining away for Adam, it was hard for me to really feel this at peace when we were all together, but now I can’t imagine a group of people that could feel more like family.
“You good?” Adam whispers next to my ear. His arms slide around my waist, holding me protectively.
I turn to look into his hazel eyes. “So good.”
His gaze drops to my mouth, and he kisses me softly. “I’m crazy about you. Can’t seem to get enough, but right now—somehow it feels like enough. Tonight’s been perfect.”
My heart flutters, and I’m putty in his hands. I can’t think of a response. All of my emotions feel too big and overwhelming to put into words. Instead, I nuzzle into him, enjoying the warmth it brings me inside and out.
Dakota’s next to us. She smiles and winks when we make eye contact. She’s been hesitant to trust Adam, afraid he’d break my heart, but I know how happy she is for me.
“I think I’m out,” she says. “I can’t miss my eight o’clock class tomorrow.”
“Good luck getting through the house without going blind,” Heath says as she stands to go inside.
She leans down to hug me. “I’ll survive.”
“I’m out too.” Liam stretches his long legs and then gets to his feet.
“You need a ride?” Adam asks him. I grin up at my considerate boyfriend. Always looking out for his guys.
“Nah, I didn’t drink tonight.”
“You were arguing over butter and margarine stone-cold sober?” Heath shakes his head and takes a drink from his beer, emptying it. Ginny’s on his lap, and he leans forward. “Ready for bed, baby doll?”
Ginny nods, and Heath stands, carrying her with him. I hear him tell her to cover her eyes before they walk in.
“I don’t want to go in yet,” I say. “It’s so nice out.”
“We can stay out here as long as you want.” Adam brushes my hair away from my neck and kisses me. I want to soak up this night, this feeling, as long as possible.
Rhett kicks his feet up on an empty chair. “I’m giving it another thirty minutes before I go in. I do not need to see Mav’s O-face.”
“It’s all clear,” Heath calls from inside.
Rhett doesn’t move. “I’m still not ready to go in yet. Sorry, you two are stuck with me for a little while longer.”
“We’re good,” I say. Adam pulls me closer, wrapping me up in his arms, and I lean my head on his shoulder. “You can stay as long as you want.”
Rhett’s gaze narrows, a slow smile spreads on his face. “You two snuck away and boned earlier, didn’t you?”
Adam chuckles. My face heats.
Rhett sighs. “Man, that must be nice to have your girl here every night. My hand-to-girl ratio is pathetic.”
“Hand-to-girl?” I ask.
“Amount of times I’ve fucked my hand instead of my girl.”
“Oh.” My face flames even hotter. Poor guy. “So, you and Carrie are back together?”
“No,” he says immediately, then. “Yes? Fuck, I don’t know. We’re talking.”
Adam’s quiet, but I can read his silence well.
“Nothing to say?” Rhett grins over his beer. Obviously, he can read Adam well too.
“Nah, man. I just want you to be happy.”
“Thanks. I am.” Rhett looks at us and points one finger from around his bottle. “Maybe not that happy, but happy enough.”
The thing about being this happy? I don’t think I’ll ever be able to settle for happy enough again.
Saturday morning, I wake up to strong hands squeezing my ass and pulling me against a very hard male body.
“Good morning.” Adam’s deep morning voice is straight sex. Or maybe that’s just what’s on my mind.
I mutter my greeting and wriggle closer. Sex before coffee is fine but talking is not.
Someone knocks on the door, and Adam tells them to go away as he climbs on top of me.
There’s a lot of noise in the apartment for a Saturday morning. I pry my eyes open enough to look out the sliding glass door. “It’s still dark out.”
“You can go back to sleep in ten minutes,” he says as he peppers kisses down my neck and over my collarbone.
His skin is warm under my hands as I slide them down his back.
“Yo, Scott,” Mav calls and knocks on the door. “Buddy, 9-1-1. Time to get up.”
“Fuck.” Adam groans. “Let me just make sure they haven’t set the place on fire. Don’t move.”
When he opens the door, Mav’s standing there in a Hawaiian shirt, backward hat, smiling like it’s a perfectly acceptable time to be awake. I pull up the sheet around me.
“This better be important,” Adam grumbles.
“I’m sorry for the early morning wake-up call.” Mav steps into the room carrying a tray of coffees as Adam pulls on a T-shirt and sweats. “’Morning, Reagan.”
“Hey, Mav. I’ll give you a thousand dollars for one of those coffees.”
He walks to the edge of the bed and extends it to me. “No money necessary, but I do need you to get up and pack a bag.”
I’m too tired to ask what the heck he’s talking about, but he grins and adds, “I’ll explain everything, but we have to hurry. It’ll be worth it. Promise!”
He leaves, and Adam and I exchange a confused look.
“This should be interesting,” he says.
We get dressed and head out to the living room, where Mav tells us his plan for a weekend getaway to Palm Springs to celebrate his twenty-first birthday.
“Didn’t we celebrate your birthday last night?” Dakota asks. She waves off the coffee he tries to offer her.
“Yes, and it was amazing. Thank you guys for that, but my parents already booked the house. It’s a five-hour trip, so if we hurry, we can be drunk in our own private pool by lunchtime.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound safe,” Ginny says.
“Come on,” Mav begs.
“Are your parents going to be there?” Rhett asks.
“Nah.” He shakes his head and makes a face like the idea is ludicrous. “The Maverick family doesn’t do birthday celebrations, but we do enjoy showering people in gifts instead of affection.”
“They got you a house in Palm Springs for one night?” Heath asks.
“Technically two, but we already missed the first night.”
“Maaav,” Ginny whines. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because you guys went to all that effort to invite people over.” He waves her off. “I loved it. Really.”
Adam is the last one I expect to jump in and offer his support of the idea, but that’s exactly who speaks up first. “Yeah, okay. It’s the last weekend we’re going to have off until the end of the season. Sounds baller. I’m in.”
“You had me at private pool,” I say.
“You had me at drunk,” Heath adds, and Ginny elbows him.
“Kota?” Mav asks.
My roommate nods. “Yeah, fine, but I call shotgun, and I need to be back early Sunday afternoon to study for a test.”
We all look to Rhett.
“I don’t know,” he says when he realizes it’s down to him. “I need to check with Carrie.”
“Are you serious?” Adam asks.
“How would you feel if Reagan went on a road trip with three dudes?”
The vein that notoriously pops out on his forehead when Adam’s agitated starts to appear, but he nods.
“I already thought of this,” Maverick interjects. “And there’s enough rooms for us to all have our own when we get there.” He looks to Rhett. “I’m sorry our friends are hot, and they’re going to be in bikinis, but to be fair, that could happen here too.”
Rhett’s quiet. His leg bounces as he stares at the phone in his hand. “Okay. Fuck it. I’m in, but no giving me shit for calling her to check in every few hours.”
“No promises,” Heath says as he coughs into his hand.