Page 49 of Boyfriend Maintenance

“That money also bought your secrecy about the Skee-Ball machine. Are you going to spill the beans on that?”

I want to smile and laugh and pull her into my arms, but I hold back. I pull my fingers across my lips, the universal sign of zipping my lips. “Never.”

“I might be semi-estranged from my parents, but there will be times that I can’t get out of going to King family functions. Those events will be filled with rich and pretentious people. Will you be able to handle that?”

“As long as I’ve got you by my side, I can handle anything.” I’m smiling now and I can tell she’s fighting back her own.

“And what if there comes a time that I need you to wear some god-awful sweater vest orDoctor Who-esque suit? Will you wear them?” She’s clearly fighting back her grin now.

“I’ll die before I ever wear a sweater vest.”

She hmphs.

“But I can tell you that nothing else matters, because I love you.”

She twists her lips then finally says, “Well, lucky you, because I love you, too.”

We both stand there for a moment, stupid-ass grins on both our faces. Then I reach out, grab her arms, and haul her in to me.

Our noses nearly touching, I look down into her eyes. “I’m sorry I was a jackass. I can’t promise I won’t have my moments, but I’ll do everything in my power to try to keep you happy, Emmy.”

“You don’t have to keep me happy. I’ll be happy as long as I’m with you,” she whispers.

My eyes close briefly at the sound of her hushed words.

“Are you going to kiss me?” I can hear the mirth in her voice.

I smile as I give her what she wants, because making Emmy King happy is my top priority for as long as she will have me.

Epilogue

Emmy

Four months later…

“Oh, yeah. Get in there.”

I can’t help but giggle at Jake.

“Nooo … it went in the wrong hole.” He covers his face with his hand.

“I told you I have the magic touch. These balls are putty in my hands.” It’s the truth.

“Hmm, yes, you do, baby,” he says and nuzzles my neck.

“Ugh, you two are gross. If we couldn’t see you playing Skee-Ball right now, we’d be begging you to get a room.” Bex sounds disgusted, but when I peek over my shoulder at her, she’s smiling. She’s perched on the couch next to Kevin.

I snag up the first faux-wooden ball from the machine. And hip-check Jake out of my way.

“We’d be more than happy to get a room.” Jake laughs next to me.

“Sure, but in some other apartment. As in not here, in this one.” Becca turns up her nose.

“Oh hush, Bex, we’re quiet and you know it.” I turn to look at her again and she scrunches up her nose.

Jake looks smug and Kevin chuckles, but his focus remains on the halftime report on the television.

Kevin and Jake have taken to coming over to watch sporting events with us. Mostly because our television is bigger, we always have food, and it’s easier for Jake to swing by when he’s on call or just off work.

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