Chapter 40
Fucking Surprise, Bitch!
Vince
Aubrey and Wayne eventually show up to help unload the cars into the house.
I have no idea where we're going to fit all of Andy's stuff in this tiny, already mostly furnished place, but we'll figure it out. Step one is getting everything inside. Step two is deciding what to keep. This little house by the beach will be ours. We'll make it work.
Aubrey hops out of Wayne's truck, hands on his hips, his smug grin already in place.
"Wow, what a curiously long time to have spent deciding on your house options while we waited around for an answer, Andrew," he says, raising his eyebrows dramatically.
Andy rolls his eyes, cheeks turning red. He smacks Aubrey's arm lightly, but Aubrey acts like he's been hit by a truck, staggering back and groaning for effect.
"Um, Andrew. Your neck is—"
"When are you talking to Eli again?" Andy cuts in, clearly trying to deflect from the hickeys I had left all over him an hour ago.
I'd gotten a little carried away. Okay, maybe more than a little. The marks aren't just on his neck... they're all over. No one needs to know that.
I bite back a grin.
Aubrey's face falls at the mention of Eli.
He straightens his shirt and heads for the truck bed. "Never," he yells back. "Never will I hang out with Eli again. And I'm not rejoining the group chat. I'm done with the whole thing. I'll talk to you all, but not him. I'm serious. I'm done with Eli."
"They both like the tension, but don’t want to admit it," Andy says to me, deadpan.
Wayne laughs so hard he has to stop messing with the ratchet straps on the truck. Aubrey's face turns beet red, his expression like he's about to explode.
"Andrew," Aubrey warns, narrowing his eyes.
"You're probably right," I mumble back to Andy.
"I bet he still has Eli's jacket. I bet he sleeps with it," Andy teases, grinning.
Aubrey storms off to help Wayne carry one of Andy's bookshelves into the house. Andy laughs, and I can't help grinning too.
I throw my arm around his waist, pulling him closer, watching a car approach down the street.
"Is that the girls? I was going to see if they wanted to order dinner for everyone."
"Yeah, that's them."
"That's not them."
"Yeah, it is."
"That's not the Porsche."
"No, it's not."
"Vince..." His voice holds a note of warning.
"Don't be mad."
"Vince..." He scowls, the lines on his forehead deepening.
"Don't be mad, baby."
This is the second part of my surprise. Or maybe it's the third by now.
Malia pulls up in a green Land Rover. Not the rusted relic I'd nearly crashed in earlier, but a new Range Rover, gleaming under the afternoon sun, temporary plates still pristine in their holder.
The same emerald green, but without the scars of a hard life.
No duct tape patching together what time has tried to tear apart. It is safe. Reliable.
It won't stall at red lights or threaten to kill the love of my life.
"Andy, don't be mad. That car is yours. It's safer—"
"Vince, you bought me a car as a surprise... You bought me a car. A new car. You bought me an expensive car." His voice cracks, the words tumbling out in disbelief.
Shit. I think I've broken him.
"Are you crazy?"
"Actually, I got it used. It was a great deal. The previous owner recognized me as 'that one guy from TV,' so he knocked the price down. Only one owner and about five thousand miles—it's practically new—"
"Vince!" He shoves me, his eyes wide with panic.
I try not to laugh, but he's so adorable when he's mad.
Malia parks the car behind Andy's old rust bucket and jumps out, running over to pull Andy into an excited hug.
"FUCKING SURPRISE, BITCH!" she yells, cracking herself up.
“Language!” I yell, though I don’t know why I continue to bother.
Andy doubles over laughing, pulling her in tighter. Tina runs around the car, jumping up and down before launching herself onto both of them.
There's no way Andy can still be mad now.
He isn't. He's grinning, hugging both girls and shaking his head. "This is so stupid. My car was fine!"
Fine. Sure. That death trap is totally fine for my boyfriend to drive.
"Hey, Andy. How’s it feel having a sugar daddy?" Aubrey teases as he casually walks past with more furniture.
"Vince isn't my—"
"Yes, I am, my sweet sugar baby," I say, grinning.
Andy's eyes widen in horror, but I can see the laughter he's holding back.
"No!" Tina slaps her hands over her ears. Malia cackles.
"Wow," Andy says, turning to the girls with mock exasperation. Then his gaze softens, locking onto mine. "I love this dork. What's wrong with me?"
I break up the group hug to claim Andy for myself, ignoring the girls' groans of secondhand embarrassment as they smack me and retreat to unloading the car.
In a hushed voice, I tell him, "Nothing's wrong with you. You just have terrible taste in men."
Andy's face flushes red as he laughs, throwing his arms around my shoulders.
My heart feels so full. I couldn't be happier... with this man, with how much he loves me, how much he loves my girls. Andy is everything I've ever wanted.
"I love you, Andy," I whisper. "Please, just let me love you. Please."
He hugs me tighter, burying his face in my neck.
"Fine."
This is it. This is us.
And it feels right.