Chapter 40
Lucy
Aknock sounds on the door of the duplex I’m sharing with Rose. I toss my cross-stitch hoop down and jump up.
It’s been three months since TJ and I officially became a couple.
Three months since my cover at Daisy’s Inn was blown.
Three months since I flew to California and then flew back to Chicago for Tess’s benefit.
Three months of stepping into the spotlight alongside TJ, facing down the critics with humility but also with my chin held high. TJ has been my constant support.
The producers of Dinner with the Duprees decided to air the unedited sequence of events, with me coming to dinner and having a heart-to-heart with my family and those in attendance, explaining myself and offering an apology.
They felt like it was the most direct way to reach the most people, and it’s been mostly well-received.
Some people are still absolutely vicious with their words and opinions, and they often hide behind their computer screens, more than happy to tear me down.
Other people—both online and in real life—have willingly forgiven and offered me validation and well-wishes.
It’s been a mixed bag, but I’m grateful to be on the other side of my stint in hiding.
It’s good to live in the light instead of hiding away in the shadows.
“Somebody’s excited for her date.” Rose grins at me from her end of the couch.
I moved in with her in January, and it’s been such a good fit.
She’s got her laptop out, and we’ve been working alongside each other in amiable silence for the past hour.
She’s writing a story of her own, and it’s been killing me not to tell her about my author career.
Soon. The two of us have become close as roommates and as we shared the ups and downs of watching the River Foxes win their second straight Super Bowl together earlier this year.
I stretch my arms over my head. “It’s a tough job, dating a sexy and sweet football star, but someone’s got to do it.”
She laughs. “Co-sign!”
I cross the room and open the door to find TJ looking devastating in jeans and a worn, brown barn coat with a tan, corduroy collar.
“Hey, you.” He steps forward and sweeps me into his arms, kissing me soundly. “Missed you,” he says as he buries his nose in the crook of my neck and inhales.
I sigh in contentment. These are the moments I live for. “Missed you too.”
He leans back and his eyes bounce up and over my shoulder. “Oh, hey, Rose.”
“Hello, you sweet, little obsessed man,” she coos back.
“Guilty.” TJ grins.
I laugh at the look of puppy love on his face.
I could say something about how he’s being silly, but I know he’s not.
He constantly shows me how much he adores me—how much he values me.
He dropped off an afternoon coffee at Daisy’s Inn every day while I was pushing to meet my manuscript deadline back in January.
He planned the coziest winter date nights where we watched romcoms and adventure flicks and laughed and talked and kissed until well into the early morning hours.
We’ve cooked family dinners together with Martin and Loretta, and we play cribbage at their senior living complex whenever we have a Thursday night free.
I’m helping TJ with a new crop of chicks, which are currently living in his basement until they get big enough to join the rest of the ladies in the coop.
Last month, after his Super Bowl win, he flew home with me to California and proceeded to charm Ruby, Hilary, and Kait to within an inch of their lives.
TJ is considerate and warm, and we talk about everything and nothing. He’s my biggest champion and my soft place to land.
“You ready for this?” he asks, tucking a strand of hair behind my ears.
I pout. “Ready to get it over with.”
He grins. “You’re gonna be great.” He grabs my hand as we turn to go.
“See you tonight for dinner?” I say to Rose, playing it cool. Every month, we have a standing dinner date at Guadalupe’s with her sisters and our other friend, Mallory.
Rose is looking at her screen, but she bobs her head in response. “I’ll be there.”
“Good. I’m in the mood for tacos.”
“Same here. You two have fun. Show that car wash who’s boss, Lu.” Rose winks.
I nod with determination as TJ leads me to his truck. He opens the driver’s side door for me. I take my seat behind the wheel and he joins me on the passenger side.
“Do you think she suspects anything?” he asks as he clicks his seatbelt in place.
“Not a chance.” I grin, glad to have something to focus on as I back out of the duplex’s driveway that is not my upcoming standoff with an automated car wash. “How’s Anton holding up?”
“He’s a wreck. In a good way,” TJ adds with a grin. “The guy has been ready to propose to Rose for over six years now. He just wants to do the dang thing.”
Little does Rose know that when she shows up to girls’ night later, it won’t be us waiting for her, but Anton.
I do a little shimmy in my seat. “Second chance romances are the best.”
TJ’s hand finds my thigh and he gives it a squeeze, which makes me shiver for a whole other reason. “I think our romance is the best,” he says.
I flick my gaze over to him and smile. “That goes without saying.”
He leaves his palm resting on my thigh, and I glance down at it and over to him again. “Maybe the car wash can wait. I can think of some other things we could do in this truck.”
I stop at one of the only red lights in Cashmere Cove and glance over to find him staring at me, eyes smoldering. He leans across the console and kisses the tender spot behind my ear, making me gasp and grin, because I think I got him, but then he whispers, “Good try.”
He leans back in his seat and I groan, focusing on the road as the light turns green.
He chuckles. “Be a good sport, Lu. You promised you’d conquer the car wash today.”
“Why are there so many car washes in Wisconsin?” I grumble. “It’s like they’re popping up on every corner for the sole purpose of taunting me. I could wash my own car. Or your truck. I could wash your truck!”
When TJ doesn’t respond right away, I cut him with a look.
He’s got his lips pressed together and his eyes closed.
He cracks one eye open and glances at me with a wolfish grin.
“Don’t mind me, I’ve got a great mental picture going.
There’s bubbles, and you in a bikini, and me laying you down on the hood of my truck, and—”
I reach over and swat at him, laughing. “TJ! You’re the worst.”
He catches my hand and kisses my palm. “You put the thought in my head, sweetheart.”
I try to pout, but I can’t help but smile.
TJ kisses my hand again. “To be fair, you’re always in my head.” He pulls my hand over and places it on his chest. “But more importantly, you’re always here, in my heart.”
I feel like I’m floating on a happy little cloud of love dust. The best part of my relationship with TJ is that we can be both fun and playful and serious and thoughtful with each other. I have never once worried that he’s only into me for my looks.
I turn into the car wash parking lot, and my heart starts beating faster. “Alright, what do I do?”
“I promise this is not going to be as bad as you think. I’m right here to walk you through it.” TJ directs me where to drive, and I get through the touch screen prompts without issue. There’s a car in front of us, so we have to wait.
“Of course,” I grumble. “We have to draw this out. As soon as it’s warmer, we’re going to the zoo. It’s only fair.”
TJ grabs my hand and runs his thumb over my knuckles. He doesn’t tell me to chill. He doesn’t make fun of me for my temper. He just sits with me. He’s exactly what I need.
I sigh and rest my head back against the headrest, turning so I’m facing him. “You really are the best, you know that?”
“I do,” he says easily, grinning.
I huff out a laugh. “And always so modest.”
“Nah.” He turns serious. “I’d better be the best when it comes to you. You deserve nothing less.”
I shake my head. “How is it possible that you are smoother than any main character in any book I’ve ever written? Or read, for that matter?”
He shrugs. “Because I was made for you.”
I smirk. “There you go again, basically writing romance novel lines for me.” I lean across the console and kiss him as the car in front of us pulls out and the garage doors open. The lights are blinking and the arrows are flashing, telling me to move forward.
“It’s my turn.”
“You’ve got this. Ease forward, lining up your tire with the track,” TJ coaches.
I do what he says, and I feel my tires lock in place.
“Now put it into neutral,” he instructs. “And take your foot off the brake.”
“Okay. That’s done. Now what?” I’m gripping the wheel for dear life, but TJ reaches over and gently pries my hands off it.
“You don’t want to accidentally get us off track. That’s all.” He keeps my hands in his as the water starts spraying all around us. The truck moves forward on its own, and I look around.
“Really? That’s it?”
“That’s it. You did it.” He brings my hands to his mouth and kisses every finger. “I’m proud of you, Lu.”
I beam. “So now we wait for it to be done?”
He nods.
“Dang.” I free one of my hands from his and tap my chin, arching my brows with feigned innocence. “I should have brought my cross-stitch hoop. Got any ideas about how we can pass the time?”
As the water and soap foam around us, TJ deftly unhooks my seat belt and lifts me into his lap. “I’m sure we can figure something out.”
He covers my mouth with his, and it’s official. Car washes are my new favorite thing.