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He nodded slowly. “And Maddox . . .”
“I know,” I replied. “I’ll talk to him. When I’m ready.”
Jeremy’s eyes flinched but he nodded again. “He feels bad.” He put his hand up before I could say anything. “Just don’t leave it too long.”
It looked like he wanted to say a lot more on the matter, and Steve was very quiet. I had to wonder what I’d missed.
I hated that things were tense and not like how they used to be.
My phone pinged again and I sighed, taking it out of my pocket, and handed it to Luke. “Can you please go throw it in the pool for me? Thanks.”
“What did you expect when you break the internet?” He read the screen. “It’s your mom.”
Goddammit.
I sighed. “Boy, do I have some phone calls to make.”
Jeremy gave me a soft smile. “Does she know about you two?”
“Not exactly,” I said. “Not from me. Becca told her I went to Mexico and that I was with Luke.”
“Becca?” He made a face. “So how’s that . . . ?”
“We talked,” Luke answered. “She’s fine. She said she knew all along. Like Vana, I guess.”
I pulled Luke in and kissed the side of his head. “We’ll go see everyone. Tell them. Explain things.”
Luke looked up at me, his hand on my stomach, and smiled.
“So . . .” Steve said. “You guys are . . . ?”
“Yes,” I replied. “We are. Together. If that’s what you’re asking.”
He grinned, and Jeremy smiled at Luke. “Finally, huh?”
I huffed. “Jesus. How blind was I? Look, I got there in the end, okay.”
Luke laughed, his eyes sparkling when he smiled at me. “You did.”
“Okay,” Jeremy said. “I recognize that look. We’ll leave you two alone.” He gave us a bro-shake. “Glad you’re both back.”
“Thank you for coming to get us,” Luke said. “I really appreciate it.”
“Yeah, next time you want to cause a whole security issue,” Steve said, “how about you don’t.”
I laughed. “Are you kidding? Playing the piano in the airport was so much fun. One hundred percent will be doing again.”
Luke sighed as if he was trying to find some patience. “Thanks again, guys. Give us a day or two and we’ll have everyone around for a cookout or something.”
We said our goodbyes, then it was just Luke and me.
In his house, the house we’d lived in together for years. Together, but not. In separate rooms, at either ends of the house.
“So,” I said. “About rooms. What did?—”
He took my hand. “You’re sleeping in mine,” he said, leading me down the hall to his side of the house, his room. “I want your clothes in my wardrobe, your books on the nightstand.” He looked at my lips. “I want you in my bed.”
“Mm,” I said, pushing him down onto his bed and crawling up over him. Rough hands, hot mouth. I pulled his bottom lip between mine and spread his legs with mine. “Want anything else of mine?”
