Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
Josh
Reegan was in love with me. And moving to Amethyst Bay. And in love with me.
I almost couldn’t believe it. The whole summer, I thought I was the only one falling in love, feeling crazy for loving someone I barely knew, but I wasn’t crazy alone. She was right there with me.
I invited Christy, Oscar, Ashlyn, and Reegan over for a cookout the following night. Reegan and I had a private celebration after we confessed our love to each other, but I wanted to celebrate with our friends.
I hadn’t seen much of Christy since Coach died, and I knew she was working too much. She needed friends just like we needed her. Thankfully, she was available and said she’d join us. Oscar, too.
I told Oscar about Reegan applying for the job with Bethany, but he promised not to say anything to his sister-in-law. We both wanted to call her, but there was no way I was going to step in Reegan’s way. Not when she was so adamant I not get involved.
“Welcome home,” the woman I loved said when I got home that afternoon. She slid her arms around my waist. She smelled like us. We had a scent. After practically living together for a few days, I’d lost a sense of where I ended and she began. And I fucking loved it.
“That’s a damn good welcome home,” I whispered as her hands trailed south to my quickly growing erection.
“It feels like it’s going to be.” She worked her way into my boxer briefs and wrapped her hand around me. It didn’t take more than a few strokes before I was pulling out of her grasp and pressing her to the island.
I claimed her lips, diving between them as I lifted her onto the surface and pressed myself between her thighs.
She groaned against me, hooking her heels together and digging them into the backs of my thighs.
“I love you,” I whispered against her lips. I couldn’t stop saying the words to her. I was as addicted to her reply as I was to her.
“I love you,” she said, a smile lifting her lips. “Do we have time for this?”
I raised an eyebrow. “You know none of our friends are going to be early. I need a shower before they arrive. I was hoping I could talk you into joining me.”
She grinned and ran her nails over my chest. “Why are we still out here?”
I picked her up off the counter and carried her to the bathroom. I set her feet and turned on the water. In seconds, we were naked and stepping into the shower.
“We need a bigger shower,” she grumbled.
“We?” I smirked.
She bit her lip. “I didn’t mean to say that.”
I shook my head. “You know what else we need?”
“What’s that?”
“We need a vasectomy.”
“What?” she gasped.
I stopped. I thought she’d be relieved. “Not really we. Sorry. I meant me. Are you mad?” Water ran down her face, but I could have sworn there were a few tears mixed in. Fuck. I screwed up big time.
“You would do that for me?”
I cupped her jaw. Those were definitely tears.
“I’d do anything for you, Reegan. I love you.
I know you don’t have a job yet, but I want you here.
I want you in my life. I want a future with you.
And that means no kids. I’m on board with that, but I’d really love to be able to press you against the shower wall and sink into you.
I’d love to know if the mood hits when we’re out of condoms, we don’t have to worry.
I want to feel you with nothing between us.
And I want you to never feel like I’m forcing something on you that you don’t want. We’re in this together.”
“I…” She exhaled a shaky breath. “I didn’t think I could love you more.”
I grinned. “Is that so?”
She nodded.
“Even after a few orgasms?”
She shrugged. “Maybe we should try. Just in case.”
I chuckled and dropped to my knees. She was right, though. We definitely needed a bigger shower. Maybe one with a seat. And knee pads. And more showerheads.
Big enough for two.
The food was gone, and the drinks were on the way to gone. We all sat around the fire pit and enjoyed each other’s company. Ashlyn invited Sage to join us, and Oscar brought Kannon along. It was good for all of us. Especially for Christy.
“I have something for you,” Reegan said.
“You’re all I need,” I told her.
Everyone else groaned, but I meant it. I had a great kid, a job I loved, and a woman I couldn’t get enough of. What else could I need?
“Well, I hope you’ll accept this. I actually have one for Oscar and Christy, too.” She grabbed three boxes from a table near Ashlyn’s door.
Oscar, Christy, and I exchanged looks. I shrugged. I had no idea what Reegan had for us.
Reegan handed one to each of us. She sat on the arm of my chair, nibbling her lip while she watched us.
We all opened them together. When I lifted the lid, my eyes welled, and my heart expanded. “Wow.”
Inside the box was a simple wooden frame with a photo of Christy, Oscar, and me from Coach’s funeral.
The casket was in the foreground of the picture, and the three of us were smiling at something, our heads together as we looked at Coach.
There was a soft glow above the casket, something that wouldn’t be visible to the naked eye but was prominent in the photo.
“Did you add that?” Christy asked.
Reegan shook her head. “I was taking pictures that day. I could tell how loved your father was. It made me sad that I never met him, but I wanted to have pictures so you would remember how celebrated his life was. When I saw that one, it was as if he was there with you guys. One last good memory for all of you.”
“Coach always told us the ones we love are never truly gone. When my wife died, he said I’d see her again, in the little moments. That I needed to hold on to the good memories. We were talking about that,” Oscar said.
I squeezed Reegan’s hip, unable to add words. I was overwhelmed by the gift, and knew my best friends were feeling the same.
“It looked like he was there. In the smiles you all shared. In the memories of all the people who came out to support you. He’s not forgotten.” Reegan’s words were soft and thoughtful, and meant the world to me, and to Christy.
Christy got up from her seat, set the picture down, and walked around to fire to Reegan. She smiled and hugged Reegan tight. “Thank you. This… This means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome. I have more for you. I wasn’t sure if you were ready to see this, but I wanted you to have it before I leave.”
The reminder of how quickly our time together was ending made me want to lock Reegan in my house and never let her go.
But I couldn’t. Reegan wasn’t worried about having to leave, about not getting the job, but I was.
I couldn’t interfere, no matter how badly I wanted to.
If she had to go back to MacKellar Cove, I would go see her, and she would come see me.
We would make it work until she found a job closer to Amethyst Bay.
“When do you leave?” Christy asked as she sat back down.
“Next weekend. I have to be there for a few days before students start,” Reegan said.
I tightened my hand on her hip.
“You haven’t heard anything from Bethany?” Oscar asked.
Reegan shook her head. “No, but hopefully I’ll hear from her soon.”
“How about now?” a voice asked from the darkness behind us.
“Hey, guys,” Oscar said, waving. “Join us.”
I looked back to where Bethany and Oscar’s brother, Tanner, were walking from my driveway. “Welcome. You guys want a drink?” I pointed to the cooler.
Bethany and Tanner nodded, moving closer. They were good people. Both a little older than me, so I was never as close to them, but I would have done anything for them. Maddie had spent as many nights at my house as Evie had spent at theirs, and they were amazing parents.
“Thanks,” Tanner said, reaching in for a beer.
He took a seat and smiled at his wife. They were the kind of couple I’d always looked up to.
Supportive of each other while letting the other shine when it was their turn.
The look Tanner gave Bethany was full of love and encouragement as she focused on Reegan.
Reegan slid a look to me, but I held up my hands. “I had nothing to do with this.”
“Blame me,” Oscar said, hugging his sister-in-law and fist-bumping his brother. “I mentioned I’d be here tonight with you guys. Bethany must have put two and two together.”
“I am so sorry,” Reegan said, facing Bethany. “I know this is highly unprofessional. I had no idea you were related when I interviewed with you.”
Bethany chuckled. “Small towns don’t keep secrets, Reegan.”
Reegan breathed a laugh. “No, they don’t.”
“Which means as soon as Hannah called me to say I should not hire you, I knew something was up. She’s not a friend. Our daughters are friends, but ever since they got phones, we haven’t had a reason to talk. And she’s never once reached out.” Bethany rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know what she said about me, but I can explain whatever she said. We aren’t friends, and she doesn’t know me,” Reegan rushed to say.
“Oh, I’m well aware of that,” Bethany said.
“She told me I shouldn’t hire you because you weren’t right for this town.
When I pressed her on why, she couldn’t come up with anything.
I think she expected me to just take her word on who I hire and not bother to do any research.
Which is not how I operate.” Bethany scoffed.
“I can provide you with additional references if you need them,” Reegan said.
I hated that she was so worried. That Hannah had anything to do with it. It wasn’t right, and I was done letting Hannah get away with her manipulation.
“I don’t need more references, Reegan. The ones you gave me were so good, I wouldn’t expect anything to change my mind.”
“Oh, um, okay?”
“If you’re still interested, I’d love to hire you. To start this year.”
“Are you serious?” Reegan gasped.
Bethany nodded. “Very. You were the best candidate we’ve had in years, and I hired the last one, too. You will be an amazing asset to our team. And you clearly have a built-in support system to help you get settled in the area.”