36. You just like know all that?
36 /
you just like know all that?
rafael
When we’re about to arrive at Owen and Maeve’s house, donuts in tow, Charlie turns to me. “We have to… They can’t know. No one can know. You know that, right?”
“About what, red?” She rolls her eyes at me, and yet again, my dick takes notice. “About how you had my dick in your mouth a couple of hours ago? Or how you came on my tongue?” Reaching over, she flicks me on the ear, and I wonder if she learned that from Vó or if she’s also exceptionally good at inflicting pain with such a small movement. I take her hand and kiss her knuckles. “Or do you not want them to know how much I like kissing you? How you’re my favorite taste in the world? Is that what you don’t want them to know?”
Her answering blush travels from her cheeks to her neck. “Your filthy mouth is truly relentless.”
“Yeah, but you like it, carrot cake.” I wink at her, and she scoffs. Our old dynamic comes back easily, but now it’s got a fresh foundation. One built on trust, understanding, friendship, and something I’m sure I’m not allowed to name .
Walking into the James household, Charlie is immediately whisked away by her sister. Owen steers me to a table outside, where Adam is nearly inhaling a cup of coffee.
“Hey, man. We brought donuts, but good luck prying them away from the girls.” I give him a pat on the back and move to sit next to him.
“We?” He sets his cup down and gives me a knowing look. “You and Charlie are we now, huh? I guess the hate game you were playing has finally ended?”
“Well, we arrived together, if that’s what you mean.” I pour myself some coffee from the carafe someone must have brought out earlier. “And I never hated her. You know that.”
Both of my friends hum a non-committal response, and when the conversation moves to Adam’s latest project and Owen’s expansion of the stables, my brain stays laser-focused on every minute I’ve spent with Charlie, which is probably why the question slips from my lips. “How did you guys know?” They both look at me, waiting for me to explain what the fuck I’m talking about. “That she was the one, how did you know?” Adam is about to start answering , but I cut him off. “Actually, never mind. You don’t need to answer that. You fell in love with Lainey the second you saw her shaking her a—” I stop myself and glimpse at Owen, who is already shaking his head.
“Were you really just about to say my brother-in-law fell in love with my little sister when he saw her ass?” He rubs a hand down his face in exasperation. He had to watch Lainey and Adam fall in love, just like the rest of us did. But I don’t feel bad.
“You know what, yeah. I was. And I’m not even sorry about it because you fuckers had to go and fall in love with women I was already friends with. Not my fault one of them is your little sister.” I shrug, watching as both men rear back in surprise .
“Dude. You okay?” Adam asks. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I don’t actually give a shit that they fell in love with my friends. I love that we’ve built this little family. It just also feels like I don’t belong here on my own anymore. Even with their wives in another room, they’re not alone. They belong to a whole new family now.
Choosing not to dwell on my shit, I shake off the sadness that could surely bring me to tears right here and move on. “I’m fine. Owen, can you please answer my question?” The question I didn’t mean to ask. The question that I can’t stop thinking about now that I’ve kissed Charlie. Now that I’ve tasted her.
“All right. Well, I guess I knew when we started talking more. When she’d ask me to tell her something good. It was just this feeling, like I don’t know, man, like I just felt better about everything, even while we were deployed. I don’t know how to explain it.” Owen and I both look at Adam, knowing he’s got the answer sitting on the tip of his tongue.
“It’s like some part of you that was always missing is there now. When I’m around her, I’m complete. The air is easier to breathe. The colors are brighter. Everything is better. Loving her isn’t something I do; it’s just part of who I am. It’s automatic. Subconscious. Like breathing or blinking or closing your eyes when you sneeze. It just is.” I watch as my best friend smiles, no doubt thinking about his wife.
Loving her isn’t something I do; it’s just part of who I am.
Owen nods, pointing at Adam. “Yeah. What he said.”
I stare at Adam, wide-eyed. “Jesus, man. You just like know all that?”
His smug smile stays firmly in place. “Yeah. And if Charlie makes you feel any of those things, even just one of them, then this is worth exploring. Don’t sell your feelings short.”
Owen continues to nod, and I join him before realizing what’s just been said. “Wait. What? Who said anything about Charlie?”
My two best friends look at each other and then burst into laughter.
Assholes.
I fucking love these guys.