Page 61 of Yours, Now and Always
He shrugs one shoulder. “I’m looking at sixty years of sex with you. I can go without it for one week.”
My mouth drops open. “Sixty?”
“More, if you’re lucky.”
“You think we’ll still be having sex in our nineties?”
“You think I’ll ever stop wanting you?”
Okay, yes, right...he’s on a roll now, saying all the right things. Which only makes me hate my body more. Why did it choose today,today, to turn against me?
He kisses my temple, then murmurs near my ear, “You’re going to be the hottest old woman anyone’s ever seen. Probably still bossing me around with a color-coded binder and rules I’ll ignore.”
“If you think you’re getting head on our sixtieth anniversary, you’re dreaming. Like full-blown, hallucinating-your-own-fantasy level delusion.”
He chuckles as he brings his hand up to cup the back of my head. Then, his expression turns serious. “You can give me everything, or nothing at all. I’m not going anywhere.”
I almost forget about my bloat and betrayal blood. Because Gage is looking at me like I’m everything he’ll ever need or want.
I’m in the middle of that thought when his phone buzzes. His gaze doesn’t shift, but the look on his face is that of a man whoseearly warning systemjust cockblocked him. Not from sex. Just fromme.
He brushes one last kiss over my lips, then says, “I’ll take the girls downstairs and start breakfast. You take your time.”
I hear our daughters’ excited voices getting closer, and then they’re bursting through our bedroom door, all messy hair and noise and heart. Luna’s practically vibrating, and Sarah’s eyes are shining with happiness.
They rush toward us, rattling off plans and questions and glittery details. And all I can do is watch Gage with them—watch him be the man who makes this feel like home.
It takes all of thirty seconds for me to burst into tears.
How is this my life?
How did I find a man my daughter adores?
How did I become the womanhewants to spend forever with?
Both girls go still, wide-eyed as the tears streak down my cheeks. I open my mouth to explain, but my voice catches.
Before I even need to say a word, Gage steps in. “Who wants pancakes? I brought that syrup you girls love.”
Normally, that’s enough to detour any emotional moment. Not today. Today, our daughters stay close. Eyes on me. Hearts wide open. And that only makes me cry harder.
“Mom—” Sarah starts, her voice filled with concern.
“I’m okay,” I manage, wiping at my face. “I’m just really, really happy. That’s all.”
Luna brightens instantly. “My mom does the same thing.” She looks at Sarah and nods, like she’s cracked some sacred code. “I think it’s a mom thing. We should put it in our book.”
“Your book?” Gage asks, shifting seamlessly into distraction mode.
Luna grins. “We’re writing a book!”
“What’s it about?”
Within seconds, the energy shifts. They start rattling off character names and plotlines about magical horses and unicorns and something calledThe Sparkle Kingdom.
Gage’s eyes meet mine over their heads. The look of pure love I see there takes my breath away. And surrounded by noise, wild joy, and unfiltered devotion, I know one thing for sure: I don’t care what the universe throws at me today. I already have everything that matters.
CHAPTER 21
