43. It’s You and Me
It’s You and Me
Arlo
A way too satisfied smile curls my lips as I sit in one of the chairs on the back porch, drinking coffee. It’s still early, and the mist of dew rising off the grass as the sun lifts into the sky confirms that.
Last night was fucking incredible.
Bree gave herself to me in a way nobody ever has, in ways I know she’s never let go with anybody else, and the connection was out of this world.
I love her. I can’t even begin to pretend I’m not completely in love with this woman. I resented her for the longest fucking time, and now, by the grace of whatever higher or lower power is looking out for me, she’s back in my life and my bed. I shake my head and take another sip.
Nolan’s been too quiet, and it unnerves me, but my girl has laughed and moaned and slept this past week, so I hope, even though I know it’s unlikely, that he’s seen us happy together and has given up. I wouldn’t, though. I know what it is to love and lose Breanne Campbell, and now that I have her back, I won’t be giving her up, so I’m certain he feels the same way.
‘What is all this?’ Her voice has me turning to smile up at her as she approaches from the back door wearing the shirt I tore off last night. She’s so tiny it hangs down to mid-thigh on her, and I fucking love her in my clothes. Beans freezes on the lawn and looks up from chasing the birds as they search for worms, and she chuckles at the expression on his face. ‘Good morning, baby,’ she calls out to him, then turns to me. I hold out my hand for hers and pull her into my lap. ‘Good morning, baby,’ she repeats, quieter this time, just for me.
I lean in, and she meets me, pressing her mouth to mine.
‘You’ve been cooking.’ She smiles as she speaks softly. ‘It’s not even nine, and you’ve been baking.’
I nod. ‘Just wanted to get a head start on pies for tomorrow.’
She kisses me again. ‘They smell delicious. If you don’t keep them out of my way, they won’t last until tomorrow.’
Cupping her cheek, I bring her back to kiss her again. I can’t get enough of her. The kiss deepens, and she adjusts in my lap as my dick wakes up beneath her.
‘You’re insatiable,’ she whispers breathlessly between kisses, and I wrap her up, holding her to me as my lips move hers and her tongue rolls against mine.
‘It’s your birthday,’ I say softly, and she nods as she comes back in for more. ‘What should I give you for your birthday, pix?’ I have her gift upstairs, a little something I brought with me but waited to give to her, but I was thinking more along the lines of my di…
‘Oh, gosh, sorry.’ The soft, sweet Scottish accent has me and Bree turning to find Cara, Doug, and Bowie standing on the lawn, with baby Lottie in her baby carrier strapped to Doug’s chest. Beans bounces around them, desperate for attention, which they—especially Bowie, who runs around with him, giggling as he chases—give happily.
‘Hey.’ Bree makes a move to stand, and I grab her hips to keep her there. Her brother does not need to see me tenting my sweatpants.
‘Happy birthday,’ Doug says, trying to hide his smirk. He fuckin’ knows!
‘Sorry, we did knock on the front door, but there was no answer, so we were just going to leave these here for you.’ Cara grimaces as she holds up a bag and a bouquet of pink roses.
Bree stands now as she feels me at ease, and she moves to take the bags from Cara and give her family a hug. ‘Oh, great, thank you. You didn’t need to get me anything.’
‘It’s your birthday. Of course we did,’ Doug says as Bree hugs Bowie, then stands to lean in and kiss Lottie’s head.
‘The flowers aren’t from us, though,’ Cara says, and I stand. Why does that make me stand? Maybe because Bree isn't a flowers girl, and everyone who truly knows her would know that. ‘Someone left them out by your front gate. I don’t know why they didn’t bring them down to the porch, but I thought I’d bring them in for you.’
Bree meets my eye, and I head down to join them and reach out for the bouquet and the bag of decorations.
‘Why don’t I take these for you?’
Bree nods, and I turn back to the porch and then search for a card.
‘Well, we’ll not disturb you anymore.’ Cara grins. ‘We were just passing on the way to take Bo to school, so thought we’d drop in. We’ll be back in the morning to help you set up,’ I hear her say as my fingers land on the card buried deep in the flowers. ‘See you later.’
Turning, I wave goodbye, and Bree heads my way. The look of fear back on her face after days of it being gone guts me.
‘They’re from him, aren’t they?’
I turn over the card and written on the envelope is one word: Princess.
Ripping it open, I read the words that make my blood boil.
Happy birthday, Breanne. We can’t be together for this one, but we’ll be together for the rest. I love you.
‘What does it say?’
‘Nothing of interest.’ I tear the card in half and grab the flowers, stalking through the house and yanking open the front door, then storming out to dump the flowers and the card in the trash.
‘Arlo, what did it say?’
Turning back to the house, I find Bree gripping the porch railing, and I drop my head, inhaling deeply. We let our guard drop. We were wrapped up in each other and felt safe in that. I let her down.
‘Baby,’ I never call her that, so her eyes widen as I approach. ‘You don’t need to worry about what it said because I’ve got you. It’s just you and me, Bree, you hear me? It’s you and me.’
‘He’s coming, isn’t he?’ she whispers as I reach her and cup her face in my hands.
‘He’ll be dead before he gets anywhere near you.’
It’s a promise, and I see in her eyes she knows it.
‘I’m scared.’
I shake my head, no. ‘You’re my girl, you hear me,’ I lift her chin with my finger and lean in to kiss her. ‘My girl is a badass. Don’t forget that.’
T he prick killed the mood. We’d been happy and relaxed.
Now we’re tense and alert, but her whole family is here, so we’re putting on a show. She feels safer, I think, surrounded by love, but I feel Mrs. C’s eyes on me, and I know she wants to get me alone. Nobody knows that my best friend in the world is the oldest person at the party, and nobody is questioning why my dog seems so fucking happy to see her, but as she approaches me while I stand at the grill, I wonder what everyone will make of her stealing me away.
‘Okay, time for me to get to know the man monopolizing my granddaughter’s time.’ She loops her arm through mine. ‘Merv, you’re on grill duty.’
Dragging me into the living room, Mrs. C looks around for ears that could overhear before sitting, and I join her on the sofa.
‘What’s happening? Is he gone? Is this over?’ she asks quietly, and I shake my head, no.
‘Not yet. It will be.’
‘Arlo, I’m worried.’ She isn’t a worrier, Mrs. C, so I hate that.
‘It’s taking longer than we thought. He goes quiet, and we stupidly thought maybe he’d given up, but he sent her flowers yesterday and said he’s coming.’ I shake my head. I shouldn’t have told her that. ‘Bree doesn’t know what the card said. I didn’t want her to be scared.’
‘Can you get her away from here? Take her someplace safe?’ I cover Mrs. C’s hand on my knee with my own and give it a squeeze.
‘I’m going to keep her safe, I promise.’
‘This isn’t fake for you anymore, is it?’
I smile and meet her watery gaze. ‘I love her. I loved her then. I love her now.’
‘And she feels the same.’ It’s not a question, but I shrug and check behind me that we’re still alone.
‘We haven’t said the words, but yeah, I think she does.’
‘Tell her, Arlo. Say it to her. It’ll give her the strength she needs.’
‘You don’t seem surprised that this thing has become real.’ I smile softly, and she perks up, grinning.
‘Because I’m not a damn fool, as you should know. There’s something special between you two. There always was.’ She opens up her arms to me, and I lean in to give her a hug. ‘There’s nobody I would rather have loving my precious girl than you, Arlo Harper.’