Page 81 of Last Fall

“Laura,” Erik said. “I have heard wonderful things about you.” He took her hand and sheblushed.

“Nice to meet you too.” Even moregiggling.

Okay. Not sure what was happening there. So I turned to Julia. “Miss Julia. Our queen of historicals andmermaidhair.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Erik. We promise tobekind.”

“Kind of nosy,” Alexisquipped.

I sighed. “This is Alexis. Watch outforher.”

She scowled. “I’m notthatbad.”

“Yes you are.” She really was. I moved quickly on to Alexandra. “Our Mistress ofPositivity.”

She bounced her eyebrows. “You have a nice big truck. Has Zoeriddeninityet?”

I almost choked, but I’d warned Erik many times what he was in for. Innuendo, sex jokes, and cookies were always in largesupply.

He smiled wide. “No, actually she hasn’t,” he said without missingabeat.

Maybe ballplayers really were as dirty as romancewriters.

“Hm. Such a shame,”shesaid.

I shook my head and moved down the line to Lindsay. “Our Grande Dame of Snark andMysteries.”

“She’s too much. Really,” Lindsay gushed with all the theatrics she could muster. “I’m also the self-proclaimed cookie queen. Speaking of which, why don’t we all move this to theporch?”

The minute they left, I let out the breath I’d been holding. “Sothat’sthem.”

One could make the argument that because we spent so much quiet time with our characters we had no choice but to let out all our personality at once, anytime we came into contact with multiple human beings. It would certainly help explain the over-the-top introductions I justwitnessed.

Erik pulled me back for another hug and a real kiss. “I like your friends. They are as bad as Ieverwas.”

“What do you mean?” I wrapped my arms around his waist,lookingup.

“Oh, were you were too busy freaking out to notice the deaththreats?”

“I was notfreakingout.”

“You were totally freaking out.” He squeezed me against him. “They all just gave me the silent third degree. I can guarantee you Laura will kill me if I hurt you. Lindsay will bury the body. Julia will concoct the cover story while Alexandra distractseveryone.”

“Andtherest?”

“Mary will make sure no evidence is left behind. I’m fairly certain Alexis is already planning ways toblackmailme.”

“That’s stunninglyaccurate.”

He shrugged. “They love you. When you love someone you don’t dick around. You make sure the new person knows their balls will be sliced off withouthesitation.”

I could have done without the graphic description, but knowing that my friends had my back and that Erik was aware of it, was strangely comforting. “Are you sure you’re readyforthis?”

“I’ve been looking forward to it all week,” he said with all the sweetness I could stand, all while his steady gaze dug deeper inside me. “I’vemissedyou.”

“It’s been six hours.” Six long hourswithouthim.

“Sixminutesis too much.” He ran a finger under my chin and stole a kiss. “I like seeing you every day. I likekissingyou every day. And I really like the way I feel when you’rearound.”

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