Page 22 of Blueberry Cake
Surprised, Mikey slowly turned his attention to Queenie. “You are?”
“Ah, the big, bad brother side is coming out,” Allison said, giving her husband a dreamy-eyed stare. Queenie knew that look far too well. “She already had a very adventurous weekend with him.”
“You have?”
Unable to hold his gaze, Queenie studied the silly crackers in her hand like she’d never seen them before. “Yeah.”
“Was he anything less than a perfect gentleman?”
Heat flooded Queenie’s face. “You mean when he wasn’t asking me to spread my legs? Yes. Yes, he was. We went to the zoo.”
Mikey was unfazed by Queenie’s lack of modesty. He crossed his arms, pinning her with a serious look. “But he didn’t do anything you didn’t want?”
If Allison was Queenie’s closest thing to a sister, Mikey was the big brother she’d never had. He always had her back, and was always filled in on the latest gossip. “He is very much into consent.”
Mikey nodded, bending down to kiss his wife again. “I need a shower. Don’t you dare continue that conversationwithout me.”
“I like when he gets all protective,” Allison swooned. “But he’s right: you don’t need to do anything you don’t feel okay with.”
“I know. Boyd was very adamant about that too.”
“If this is getting serious, I want to meet him. I know Mikey might feel better if he knew him too.”
“I’d like that. I don’t see any sense in continuing if he can’t get along with my friends.”
“I’m sure we can plan a barbeque or something whenever you feel ready.”
Allison and Mikey were like her second family. If they didn’t get along with Boyd, he was as good as gone. And God, she didn’t even want tothinkabout him meeting her family. That was a problem for future Queenie.
The next evening, she scanned over her list of date ideas before settling on taking Boyd to Kemah. Boyd picked up the phone after only two rings.
“Queenie,” he hummed, rather out of breath. “What a pleasant surprise.”
“Are you busy? You sound breathless.”
“Just working out. Nothing more important than hearing your voice.”
Her heart fluttered, and she had to remind herself what she’d called about. “I was wondering if you were still free on Sunday?”
“I am.”
“I was hoping we could see the Kemah boardwalk.”
“Not NASA?”
“I thought Kemah sounded like more fun.”
“I’m happy with either, as long as you’re by my side. What time would you like me to pick you up?”
“Kemah opens at noon, so maybe we can have brunch together first?”
“Don’t be so shy, Queenie. Of course I’ll have brunch with you.”
“Well when you put it like that, can’t I just skip the stuffy restaurant and eat at your place?”
He let out one of his gorgeous laughs. “Yes, you can.”
“I’ll drive to you and we can leave from there.”
