I swear, I thought Claire would get over it by now, but she still holds this small grudge or something against Bryce. Their banter is cute at times, though, almost brother and sister-like, but she’s still hesitant.
Bryce walks in the room, and I back up a tad. He notices and then exhales. “K, this is ridiculous. You can’t keep running to Claire and Austin’s house every time we get in a fight.”
“Who’s running? I drove over in my car.”
He rubs his hand down his face. It’s a new-ish move. He still does the scratching the back of his neck or readjusting his snapback thing, but ever since I started to show and we started to drive each other more insane than we already do, it’s the face scrub.
“Don’t be a smartass.”
“No one is being a smartass. I was simply stating a fact. You and I both know I can’t run. I’m not allowed to, remember?” I say, straight-faced.
“Jesus,” he says. “Can we just go home and talk this out? I’m sorry I told you to not to get the clothes out of the dryer. That was my mistake.” He holds up his hands. “Please let’s just go home. I’ll rub your feet.”
My eyebrows quirk at the mention of rubbing my feet. This makes things interesting… But it may also lead to sex, which wouldn’t be a bad idea either, because I could use a good orgasm.
This could be a win-win for me. After it’s all done, I can take a bath with the door locked and read one of the best sellers I’ve got stacked up in my room that I have to display at Mugs & Books.
“Okay,” I say. “You’ve got a deal.”
He exhales dramatically. “Thank God. I know Claire and Austin think we’re batshit.”
“Don’t put me in that pot with you. I’m completely sane,” I say, wobbling past him.
“Yes. Of course, you are, wife,” he says, following behind me.
“I heard that sarcasm.”
He doesn’t respond. Truth is, I know I’m a little crazy these days. There’s just been a lot going on. We’ve been traveling a good bit. Bryce has been getting back into the horseracing business.
Legal this time…
I’ve been picking up all kinds of things for Rylee. Her room is completely done in horses and dirt bikes (Bryce’s idea). I can’t say it’s entirely his doing. the first outfit I bought her had a dirt bike on it, after all.
Mills has been over a lot, and even bought his own place a few streets from us. We put in a pool, and Bryce and Dad wanted to build the deck themselves. So, there’s that business.
Claire and Austin come over with Axel, and we all swim and spend time together. We’ve even had a few cookouts. It’s July in Georgia, so I’m dying with this heat and being pregnant. The pool is my saving grace…that and the claw tub Bryce made sure I had.
He can be sweet…sometimes.
“I see you lost the battle,” Claire says as we come down the stairs.
“In my defense, he’s promised me a foot rub.”
She nods. “Well played, Grant. Well played.” Axel rubs his sleepy eyes.
“Give me a kiss, big boy.” I lean down and kiss his forehead. “I’ll see you later.”
Bryce opens the door, and we say our goodbyes.
“Good thing you didn’t unpack this time,” Austin says.
I flick him off. “I think I should just keep clothes here.”
“Nope.” Bryce shakes his head and hurries me out.
I laugh, because really this is ridiculous, but he needs to chill the hell out.
“We need to talk about that ‘just in case’ bag you always have packed.”