Page 58 of Divine Sense

For now though, I just ask that you guys trust that I know what I’m doing and that you give her a chance. She has a lot going on and really is a good person once you get to know her. I’ll explain everything at D and D on Wednesday, okay?

Hank:

You know I’ll back you up no matter what dude. If you’re happy, I’m happy.

Conrad:

Yeah, same. Whatever makes you happy.

Malcolm:

The thing I’m most curious about personally is the size difference. I mean, you’re like a foot and half taller than she is. Does she even need to get on her knees or…?

Talk about her like that again and I’ll deck you.

Hank:

I’ll hold him down while you do.

Conrad:

And I’ll cheer you both on.

Malcolm:

Wow, you guys are no fun when you get into a relationship are you?

Just you and me then I guess, hey Connie?

Conrad:

Fuck you Malcolm.

That Wednesday,all of my friends were at my place promptly at seven o’clock. I’d told them that if they wanted to come over early and ask all their questions, they were more than happy too. I’d texted Magnolia to make sure she was okay if I filled them in on everything and since she’d given me her blessing to go ahead, I was ready to tell them everything.

Malcolm walked in first, followed closely by Conrad. Neither of them said anything as they gave me the side eye and headed towards the dining room table which I’d already laid out with our game pieces. I was about to offer them a beer when I heard the door open and Bailey’s laugh fill the front room and echo down the hallway towards us. I couldn’t help but smile at the contagiousness of her joy. She came bouncing down the hall, pulling Hank behind her as if he wasn’t moving quick enough for her speed of life.

“Hurry up, soldier, we have a mystery girl to get to know,” she hurried, shooting me a smile and raising her brows in excitement.

“I thought we were grilling himalone?” Conrad said in a snide tone.

“I tried to tell her that—” Hank started before his fiancée cut him off.

“Oh please, you fools wouldn’t even know what questions to ask. If you want the full story on anything, you want a woman around to get the right answers. Me being here is a favor, Conrad,” she spat back towards him. These two had a brother/sister relationship that wouldn’t let up. Conrad would make a comment about something and Bailey would just throw it right back in his face. It’s why she fit in so well with all of us, she wasn’t afraid to hold her own. Hank took his seat at the table where he normally posted up and pulled Bailey down on his lap. All four pairs of eyes were on me.

I guess this is how this is happening.

“Alright, let’s hear it then, what do you wanna know?” I asked as I took the final open seat at the table.

“When did you start dating?” Hank was the first one to speak.

“Officially? New Year’s Eve. There had been a few things that happened before that but I would count our start date as New Year’s Eve.” Thinking back to that night felt like a dream that I conjured up in my mind. Pulling her out of the club. Kissing her on the sidewalk.Doing what I did to her in my bedroom upstairs.

“How did you meet?” This time it was Bailey who spoke, looking at me with wide, dreamy eyes. She had her arms looped around Hank’s neck and he was running his hand along the length of her back. The gesture so small, yet so full of love.

I chuckled before answering, recalling how Magnolia and I first met. “I almost ran her over with my skateboard. I knocked her down on accident, she was crossing the road and not paying attention. It was a whole thing.”

“Was this before or after her family hired you?” Hank inquired. I knew where his head was at because it’s where my head was at not even three months ago.

---