Page 133 of Seven Year Itch
Wyatt glowers at me and then looks to Dakota. “Can I take it off now?”
“No! We’re doing a family picture,” Dakota replies with a laugh.
“Wave to the camera, Uncle Calder... We’re live on Instagram!” Everly peals, appearing out of nowhere and shoving her phone in all our faces. Wyatt continues to scowl, and I can’t help but laugh as I glance at the image on her shirt. It’s me with Milkshake in the cat carrier, but my eyes are closed, and I look like I’m mid-sneeze.
“Okay, guys... Milkshake Designs are available now, pop on over to the store to check it out. Link in bio!”
Everly ends the live and reaches up to give me a giant hug. “Your stuff looks amazing, Uncle Calder! I’m so proud of you.” She moves to Dakota and gives her a big squeeze next. “And the T-shirts were a perfect touch. Well done.”
“Why, thank you,” Dakota bows shamelessly.
“I don’t like you two being in cahoots with each other.” I glare as I point between the two of them. “You both have a dark side, and when you combine those forces, scary things can happen.”
Everly laughs, and her gaze drifts down to my hand wrapped around Dakota’s. She gets a starry look in her eyes, so I reach over and ruffle her hair, impeding her view.
“You didn’t bring Milkshake?” Ethan asks, staring up at me. He’s wearing a photo of me with Milkshake in the cat carrier on one of our cat walks.
“Nah, man... they don’t let pets in here. Sorry.”
His lower lip sticks out. “I wanted to walk her.”
“Well, I’m not sure she would have let you walk her anyways.”
“Why not?”
“Because last time you screamed in her ear like a little psycho and she scratched you, remember?” I reply cheerily.
Ethan scratches his head. “Oh yeah, I forgot.” He sighs and turns on his heel to go join his parents who are seated on a couple of my pieces.
I walk over and admire the setup, accepting praise from all of my family. And I have to admit, everything looks really good. The lighting, the staging, the various home furnishing accents the store has tossed on my stuff. It really gives the designs a completed look that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve myself. Maybe this is going to all work out.
Everly sets up a camera on a tripod as she begins arranging all of us for a picture, and I notice that Dakota has opened up her jacket to reveal her own photo of Milkshake. But in this one Fluff’s not with me, she’s with Dakota. I smile big because I took that picture. They were cuddled up on my couch, and I was havinganother smug moment ofI am one lucky motherfucker.And that was before we decided to move in together.
I press a chaste kiss to her temple and turn around to see what’s taking everyone so long to set up for this picture. Oh... Stevie shit her pants. And Trista is currently changing that mess on one of my brand-new tables. Lovely.
“You’re going to get so many more of these lovely family moments now that you’re moving in with me, Ace,” I murmur, ignoring the fit Ethan is throwing about the smell of Stevie’s shit.
“What?” Everly squeals, and I see everyone’s eyes on us, and I glance over to make sure my table isn’t covered in baby shit. “Dakota is moving in with you?”
I turn my attention back to my girlfriend, and she nods with a sheepish smile.
“Finally, more feminine energy on Mount Millie!” Trista lifts her hands up in celebration.
“Fletcher Mountain,” Wyatt gruffs, causing me to laugh.
“Oh God,” Luke drawls hanging his head low. “And another one bites the dust.”
“Oh, don’t look so glum, Uncle Luke,” Everly says with a sly smile. “Something tells me you might just be married before the end of the year.”
Bonus Epilogue
Cat Family
Dakota
A Few Years Later
“I am swimming in pussy,” Calder says as he sits down on the filthy concrete floor of the rescue center that Trista recommended while a swarm of cats climb all over him.
