Chapter 16
brIELLE
Ripping up pieces of lettuce, I occasionally glance at my phone. Lena is on the other end of our video call, soaking in all the details of my whirlwind few days. Her jaw dropped two sentences in, and I think she is still trying to wrap her head around it.
I probably should be too, but it all feels right. “I know it’s crazy, but I feel like Ford maybe has a point and this is now our time.”
Lena closes her mouth, and her head moves in different angles as she tries to form a sentence.
“It’s fast. However, I guess… it’s no different to before, just now you upgraded to some serious benefits.
I mean, you two were always emotionally there for one another, protective of each other, and now you can openly admit what you’ve been toeing around, plus add the physical aspect.
It’s not like you two are strangers. You talk on a daily basis… and have been for ten years.”
I grab my half-filled wine glass to sip my Chardonnay. “Exactly, right? I’m not being irresponsible, am I?” Should I have more doubts?
Lena shakes her head. “Ford? He would kill for you, so no; he would never hurt you. Maybe being together together is different now that you’re older?
” Her voice grows squeaky, as even Lena isn’t sure what to question.
“Nah, it goes back to what I just said, you’ve both kind of been in a relationship, emotionally unavailable to anyone else, so if the physical aspect feels stellar, then I think you’re good to go. ”
“Absolutely no complaints in that department.” I try to keep my face serious, but I can’t control the satisfied smirk that wants to break out.
It causes Lena to clap like a penguin in excitement for me.
“Anyhow, I’ll be staying here for a few more days, then I need to head back to Hollows.
My study group is meeting up again almost every day until the exams.”
“I’m sure Ford can destress you a few times.” She couldn’t help herself and teases me.
I gulp a sip of wine. “Unfortunately, he is staying in Lake Spark and is going to keep Connor here so I can have some quiet.”
Her face softens. “He wants this for you as much as you do.”
“I think so. I’m curious how the man-to-man talk went. I think Connor wants us together. What kid doesn’t want their parents together?”
She shrugs. “You’d be surprised, families come in different shapes. I’m just happy for you.”
“Thanks. I should go, they’ll be home any minute.”
We both say our goodbyes, and I look down at the bowl of salad that is now home to tiny pieces of shredded lettuce because I got carried away daydreaming while prepping the salad.
Ignoring it, I grab the cucumber and begin to cube the vegetable with a knife. Randomly, I begin to wonder if a cucumber is really a fruit. I’m in doubt now and hold the green thing in the air to examine it.
I nearly drop it when I’m startled to feel two hands sneak up and snake around me, squeezing.
“Don’t worry, there is no comparison,” Ford informs me from behind.
Rolling my eyes, I lean back as he wraps his arms around me, enjoying being this way with him. “Is cucumber a vegetable?”
“I have no clue.”
“It’s a fruit,” our son announces as he walks into the kitchen.
Instantly, from habit, I attempt to get Ford to back up, but he doesn’t give in.
Instead, he leans down to whisper in my ear. “He knows.”
Turning quickly in Ford’s arms, my eyes grow big. “And?” I whisper back.
“Why don’t you ask him?” Ford says in a normal tone with a neutral look, yet a hint of joy is there to ease me.
Stepping out of his hold, I walk into the middle of the kitchen with caution. “So, you and your dad talked?”
Our son doesn’t look at me, instead putting something in the freezer before he searches the cupboards for what I can assume is food. “Yeah, no big deal.”
“No big deal?” I’m slightly disappointed. I thought for sure this would be one of the greatest days of his life.
Connor turns to me with a box of Pop-Tarts in his hand.
I take the box from him because he will ruin his dinner. His glance down informs me he knows my logic. “Don’t want to talk about it?”
“It’s cool. Now you guys don’t have to pretend everything is fine when it really wasn’t.”
My mouth opens but only a rambled sound escapes me. I feel Ford’s presence behind me, and he rests his hands on my shoulders to send comfort through my blood.
“Connor means he is thrilled. If he’s trying to make his mom freak out for fun, then he knows he needs to stop.” Ford is speaking more to our son than me. “He saw us last night and didn’t let me know until after our conversation,” he grits out to me.
“Oh. You saw your dad and I…”
“Kissing. It’s kind of gross but kind of sweet. Can we not make a big deal about it?” Connor pleads as he opens God knows what sports drink he just grabbed from the fridge that is fluorescent blue.
I pretend to zip my lips. “Not a word from me.”
Ford clears his throat, and there is an odd tension in the room until Connor walks around the counter and comes to give me a hug. My ten-year-old is willingly giving me a hug, and I’m not going to waste a second questioning this. I bear-hug the heck out of him.
“Dad can really make you happy now.”
I look down at my son who has a twinkle in his eye and a soft smile. I brush his hair back with my hand and cradle his head. “He can.”
“I will,” Ford corrects me.
“Is this all happening too fast?” I ask our son.
He shakes his head. “It makes life a hell of a lot easier.”
“Language,” Ford warns him, and I’m grateful that he is here to take the authoritative tone because I don’t always want to be the rule mom.
“Sorry.”
“I’m happy you’re happy,” I say.
He nods. “We brought you a Turtle sundae.”
I smile brightly. “Is that what you placed in the freezer?”
“Yeah.”
“The key to my heart,” I reply.
Connor scoffs a sound and backs away. “Don’t get sappy on us now.”
“My mistake,” I one-tone.
“I’m going to play a game now, Dad said I could before dinner.”
“Thirty minutes, then I want you outside,” Ford reminds him, but Connor is already turning the corner down the hallway.
I swivel on my toes to face the man who made this transition somewhat easy for me.
“What did you say?” I’m far too curious and loop my arms around Ford’s neck.
He plays it cool. “Not much. Sometimes the obvious doesn’t need to be explained.”
Ford kisses my cheek, leaving me there to reflect on his comment.
A little while later, I’m walking barefoot out onto the patio where Ford is working the grill.
I place my ridiculous bowl of chopped salad on the table.
I can’t help myself, I drink in the view of Ford.
Something about late-afternoon sun hits him just right.
He’s extra sexy as he flips a burger, occasionally drinking from his beer.
He has no clue that I’m admiring him, feeling lucky that he is someone that I get to call mine.
Music plays on the Bluetooth, “My Sweet Baby” by Thieving Birds. I like this song.
Ford glances up, catching me in my near-drooling state. He grins, sets the grill tongs down, and walks around the BBQ to me.
“You look relaxed,” he comments.
“I am. It should be one of the most stressful times of my life, yet I feel almost Zen,” I remark.
Ford steps to me, pulling me around the waist to his body, and he holds my hand in his when he begins to lead us in a sway. “See? I sometimes have good ideas.”
“You mean to get me here under false pretenses and get us to admit what we want?”
“Absolute brilliance,” he remarks.
He twirls me around with our bodies flush, but it’s nothing compared to his eyes that hold me captive as the sun causes a glint in his eyes.
“It’s all okay,” he assures me.
“I’m beginning to believe that,” I say softly. “Connor does seem fine. He is, right?”
“Totally. I did tell him the sibling request needs to be on hold.”
I laugh. “Good, we have time.”
Ford tilts me back. “Just tell me when we have the green light on that.”
I playfully nudge his shoulder before returning to our embrace for a dance on the patio under the summer sky.
“You just focus on that Bar now, okay? Everything else is for later,” he promises.
“Sounds good.”
Ford’s fingers slide along my cheek into my hair, and he gives me a warning glare before his mouth meets mine for a warm kiss that keeps me grounded to the earth because this man is like a foundation of a house, except it’s my heart.
“Everything is ours for the taking,” he murmurs against the corner of my mouth.
“It is.” I kiss him again, and this time I bring my leg up around his waist as we sway in our dance, and my dress hikes slightly.
He growls as we both laugh, completely lost in our moment.
“You know, I think I can get away with sleeping in your room tonight,” I inform Ford with a sultry tone.
“Thank fuck for miracles,” he nearly groans before kissing me.
“Okay, lovebirds, don’t burn my burger,” Connor orders as he walks along the pool and straight into a chair.
Ford and I step back and study ourselves. Our clothes are ruffled and our lips swollen. Admittedly, we are proud of ourselves because we’re happy.
And a few minutes later, we are all laughing around the table for dinner. It’s a perfect setting.
Sliding my phone to the other side of the counter, I decide to ignore it. My father sent a text checking in on my studying. As much as I know he means well, it also feels like pressure. I just quickly texted back that I had a study session this afternoon, which was true.
But now, I’m done for the day, and tomorrow I head back to my house, and because I am still at Ford’s, then that means I get to join my guys right after I bring them a fresh bowl of snacks.
Filling a bowl with tortilla chips, I walk into the den off the hall to the laundry room. A complete man cave, and to my surprise, Ford and Connor are not gaming but watching television and laughing.
They ignore me as I wiggle my way between them on the sofa, offering my son the bowl first.
“What on earth are you two watching?” I look up to see dogs running an agility competition.
I feel Ford bring his arm around me on the back of the sofa, but his eyes stay fixed on the flat-screen on the wall.
“It’s the national dog competition, they have to beat a certain time,” my son explains.
“This is so ridiculous. This is on the sports channel, with the same guy who used to run commentary on my hockey games.” Ford shakes his head in disbelief. “He actually looks serious. It’s canines jumping over a pole, how is this earth-shattering?”
I listen in, and when the commentator says, “Look at that border collie in his perfection, running the weevils, perfect form for his category,” I snort a laugh, because it does sound ridiculous, so damn serious.
“You’ve been watching this all afternoon?” I wonder.
“Made him read his book first.” Ford gives me side-eye with a proud smirk.
I sneak my hand behind Ford to urge him forward slightly and rub a circle on his back in appreciation, as I may have mentioned at breakfast today that we need to push the reading list a bit.
“Oh no.” Ford throws his arms up in the air. “Totally a bad ending.”
“That Irish setter was so much better,” my son adds.
I glance between my guys. “You both are into this, like really into this.”
“I mean, if you’re going to name your dog Bullet, then you better deliver the score.” Ford is still focused on the television.
“I hope they go back to dock jumping, that was awesome.”
A half-laugh escapes me. “I’m not sure what I walked into, but I think you are the same people I saw at breakfast.”
Connor glances back at me. “Can I have a drink?”
My eyes go wide. “You may have a drink, and you can get it yourself since you are fully capable.”
He whines a sound but reluctantly gets up and heads to the kitchen.
I focus my attention on Ford, slipping my fingers underneath his t-shirt over his lower back, and a second later his gaze is on me.
“How was studying?”
“Okay. My dad texted, by the way.”
Ford gives me a strained look. “He’s going to be thrilled when he finds out about us.”
I tickle his skin. “I think you kind of enjoy that.” They’ve always had a civil enough relationship, the key word being enough.
He leans in to plant a kiss on my lips. “I may get a little satisfaction if I get to see his face when he finds out.”
“Thought so.” I grin.
“I’ll run into town to pick up takeout from Catch 22. Mozzarella sticks for my lady?” he suggests.
My hands land on my heart. “I’m in love again.”
He chuckles faintly, his hands finding my waist to slide me onto his lap. I take in this moment of pure serenity of the last few days.
Days. It causes my brain to run wild.
“Okay there?” Ford notices.
“We’re not moving too fast, right? I mean, a few days in your bed and then here we are, already telling Connor that we are back together. We’re not being irresponsible? It’s just… it feels right.”
A gentle smirk appears on his lips, and he tucks my hair behind my ear. “It is happening fast, but we’ve always been here. We’ve talked about this.”
“I know. I just find myself in disbelief sometimes,” I admit.
“Doubt?” I hear a tinge of fear in his voice.
“No way.” I kiss his cheek. “Just trying to be a responsible human.” I laugh.
“We are, don’t worry. Now watch the Yorkie about to hop over a pole, it will be great for your mental health.” He indicates with his head to the screen.
Connor groans as he reappears in the room with a bottle of juice. “Seriously, you two.”
He flops onto the sofa, and we all evaluate each other. “Get used to it, my little prince,” I inform him.
“Yeah, got the memo.” There is a subtle smile on our son’s face. “Yes, the frisbee competition is next.” He seems to be lost again in the television.
“All stakes are on this round. This spaniel is the youngest in the competition, and if he wins, then this underdog will beat the odds,” the commentator announces very seriously.
Examining Ford’s face, and he can’t keep it in. He loses it, laughing in hysterics. Then Connor follows, and the domino hits me.
We’re together, hanging out on a normal day, a family.
Completely content.
The way it was meant to be.
Completely unaware that sometimes life decides to throw you something unexpected at the wrong time more than once.