Page 74 of It Happened Back Then
I snort.
“Anything with peaches, honestly. You turned me onto them at a young age.”
I sigh. “Glad I could feed the fascination.”
He winks and when he turns back to the stove, I watch him, shirtless and barefoot, laughing and making breakfast like it’s just something we do. It’s not forced and doesn't feel like we’re pretending. I get a glimpse of this same morning, but with two or maybe three kids adding to the chaos.
He plates the eggs and pancakes, then sits down with me, scraping some onto a new plate and sliding it over. I pour another juice and slide it his way. I smile as I see his lips twitch and I know he’s thinking the same thing I am.
This is how it’s meant to be.
“So, since we’re telling secrets of the past,” I look at him with wide eyes and he laughs, “I have a confession.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Tread carefully. I’m hormonal.”
He shoves a forkful of eggs into his mouth, chewing and then washing it down with juice. “Remember the gym guy you had a date with? The one who beeped the horn at you instead of coming to the door like a real man?”
I sit back in my chair, absentmindedly running my hand over my belly. “I mean, kind of. It was years ago. What about him?”
“I asked Meadow who he was and then, as fate would have it, I actually ran into him when I was in Bluemoon for my interview at The Luxury.”
“What did you do?”
He shrugs, like he’s asking about the weather. “I may havetold him you were dealing with a complicated ex and he should steer clear of you.”
My jaw drops. “Bennett!”
“What?” he says, completely unapologetic. “It wasn’t a lie. Iwascomplicated.Wewere complicated. And you were mine. So he didn’t need to be anywhere near the picture.”
I try to act mad, but he sees right through it. He stands from the table, with his plate in hand, leaning across and giving me a kiss. “I mean, look at us now. It’d be kind of weird having to fit a third plate here at the table for the guy.”
I laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But you love me.” He winks and puts his plate in the sink before coming back to clear the rest of the table.
I do. I really, really do.
CHAPTER 40 - BENNETT
Blossom: are you working tonight?
Me: No.
Blossom: I’m coming over.
Me: I’ll be naked.
Blossom: Incorrigible.
Me: It’s why you love me.
Iwas expecting this call. Cole was working when Savannah showed up, so I knew it was only a matter of when, not if, he told Meadow. And I knew as soon as Meadow knew, she’d tell Blossom.
Either way, I don't care. I’m almost happy she heard it from an outside source.
And now that she's here, in my arms, I’m at peace.
The small fireplace crackles softly. I lovethe smell of a wood fire. Outside, the rain falls, not hard yet, but it’s spring, so it’s never ending.
