Chapter 19
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
brOOKE
Silas is coming home today, and I’m really excited to see him. I didn’t anticipate missing him as much as I have. And I think he missed me just as much.
The night we had phone sex will probably live rent-free in my head forever. But I’m also dying for the real thing. Maybe we can do a little preshow with the vibrator then …
My dirty thoughts are interrupted when Charlie walks into the kitchen.
“Whatcha doing?” She looks over my shoulder.
“Silas comes home today, so I thought I would make him some cupcakes to welcome him back.”
“That’s sweet. I bet he’s ready to be back. Your brother slept for, like, two days when he got back. And you know he never sleeps like that.”
I nod. “Yeah, he’s pretty tired. I can see it in his eyes at night when we FaceTime.”
“So, how’s it going with you two? I see you’re wearing his sweatshirt, and it seems you have confiscated most of his T-shirts.” She smirks.
“It’s going well. And, yes, I’ve stolen a lot of his clothes. I can’t help it. They’re soft and comfortable. And they smell like him. Besides, he steals my ability to walk, so I steal his hoodies. I feel like that’s a fair trade.”
Charlie gasps. “Brooke Linson! You naughty girl!”
When I look at her, her mouth is hanging open, but she’s clearly amused.
“Is it weird if I say I’m proud of you?”
“Nah. I’m kind of proud of myself, to be honest.” I start to frost the cupcakes.
“You’ve definitely been full of surprises the last few months. I mean, Silas’s feelings for you were pretty obvious, and I thought maybe you were at the very least attracted to him. But getting married, becoming this little vixen … I didn’t see that coming.”
“Me neither. I don’t even know if I can even understand it myself yet.”
“Have you talked to your dad any more about it? Or Beck?”
I shake my head. “Not to Beck.” I sigh. “I did talk to my dad the other day. He’d had annulment papers drawn up for us. I told him I wasn’t ready to do anything yet, but it was like he didn’t hear me. The thing is, I’m happy right now. And Silas and I are getting closer.”
“Your dad just wants to protect you, is all. I think it’s hard for them to let us go.
My parents love Beck, and I know they’re happy for us, but sometimes, I see my dad looking at me like I’m still a little girl.
” She wraps an arm around me. “Add in everything y’all went through, and I think it made him even more protective. You know?”
“I know. I just don’t want to feel like it’s already decided for me. I’ve always put my feelings on the back burner to keep the peace and not to worry anyone.”
“Well, you’re finding your voice now, it seems.” She lets go of my shoulders and starts to take out the dishes in the dishwasher.
“I guess so. I promised Silas I would give us a chance, and I’m glad I did. I mean, I knew he was a good guy before, but there’s a lot more to him that no one else knows or sees.”
“Beck said he’s, like, super smart. I think he won the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award last year.”
“He did?”
She nods. “Yeah, I think so. He never makes a big deal of it though. Like, he didn’t say anything to us in the house.”
“He is pretty modest, which is funny, considering he’s a completely different person on the field.”
“So true, but I feel like they’re all like that. Kinda teddy bear at home and beast at their games.” She laughs.
“In the bedroom too,” I say under my breath, but she hears me and starts cracking up.
“Brooke!” she gasps, holding a bowl in her hand.
I can’t help but laugh with her.
“I won’t ask details, but I have to know. Is he pierced?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve never seen him wear any jewelry.”
“Noooo … I mean, his dick.”
“Charlie. Oh my God.” I feel my face flush.
“I heard he was pierced and that he’s big too.”
“You really want to know this about my husband? You have to look at him every day.” I pick up my mint-green Stanley and take a sip of my protein water.
“And? He’s not a blood relation to me, and I hear all kinds of stuff about these guys. If I were shy about it, I would never be able to look any of them in the eye.”
“I guess you’re right.” I finish frosting the cupcakes. “No piercing, but I can confirm, he is tattooed almost entirely. And the rumors are true.”
“I knew it. He just looks like the type to be packing.”
“Okay, I’m not talking about it anymore. But I will say, I’m a really lucky bitch.”
“Good for you. I love that for you.” She walks back to me and takes my hands. “Brooke, I really am happy for you. I know your dad and brother are worried about how this is all going to play out, but if you were going to elope with anyone, you picked a good man.”
“Thanks, Charlie. I still can’t believe it sometimes. Like, I wake up next to him, and I’m like, Is this real?”
“Then you snap out of it when he bangs your brains out?” She cackles.
I shrug and smile. “Pretty much.” I release her hands so I can put the cover over the cupcakes. “Or when I come down from my orgasm.”
“Who’s having orgasms?” my husband’s deep voice grumbles as he walks into the kitchen.
I didn’t even hear the door open.
“Broo—” Charlie starts, but I put a hand over her mouth.
Silas wraps his arms around me from behind and nuzzles my neck. “Cupcake, are you being naughty?”
I drop my hand from Charlie’s mouth and spin in his arms to face him. “Me? Naughty?”
He hums, then takes my mouth in a deep kiss, right there in the middle of the kitchen.
We have been able to talk while he was away but it hits me at this moment how much I truly missed Silas. Not just the feel of him in my arms, and the taste of his tongue against my own. It’s the feeling that I get when he’s near. It’s like I finally feel like I’m home.
“Hey, guys.” Bo walks in.
“Hey, Bo,” I hear Charlie say but I’m still lost in Silas’ kiss. It’s like a trance that I can dive deeper into with every flick of his tongue and curl of his lips.
Bo chuckles. “So, should we leave, or are we going to talk about food? I’m starving.”
Silas and I break apart, and I look over at Bo. “How did it go this week for you?”
“Really well. I feel like I did what I needed to do to showcase what I can offer a team.” He opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water.
“That’s amazing, Bo. Just a few more weeks!” Charlie leans against the island. “So, what do we want to do for dinner? Brooke made some cupcakes, but they’re for Silas.” She winks at me.
“Baby, you made cupcakes just for me?” He kisses me quickly on the lips.
I nod. “I did, but everyone can have some.”
“Hey, I thought they were mine.” He peers over my shoulder.
“They are, but you won’t eat all twelve.” I put my hand on his chest. “You’re still in training.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll share with everyone.” He places a kiss on my forehead.
“What do we want for dinner?” Bo pulls out his phone. “Let me see if Chelsea’s on her way. Casey went to pick up Noelle.”
“I figured.” Charlie pulls out her phone. “You looking for a cheat meal or a good meal? I can run out and get something if you want anything specific. I don’t mind.”
“You don’t need to include us,” Silas picks me up in his arms—and my water bottle. “I’m just gonna go lay my wife down and have my favorite meal. We’ll see you all later.”
“Silas!” I cover my face with my hands. It’s one thing for me to be brazen or naughty when I’m talking with my future sister-in-law, but I’ll never get over Silas’s bravado when he’s around his friends. He’s unabashedly proud to share our love with the world.
Our love…
Is that where we’re headed?
He laughs and walks us toward the bedroom, and when we get to the edge of the bed, he lowers me to the mattress, then hovers over me, looking me in the eyes.
“You know, I was raised to finish my meals, so I don’t care if your legs are shaking; we’re not stopping until I say so.” He kisses one side of my mouth, then the other.
“Okay,” I whisper.
We don’t see anyone the rest of the night.