Page 14 of All for You

“But Charlie…if you could just see her when she looks at us. It’s not jealousy. She’s too sweet and soft to be jealous. It’s…almost sad and, damn it, I just can’t stand to see someone as sweet as Milly being sad.”

“I know, sweets. That’s one of the reasons I love you so much.”

“And you said that Jag needs someone. Someone to be there for him like I am for you. HE’s sad too damn it.”

I understand what he is trying to tell me. Maybe his best friend and my best friend won’t like one another. Jag’s already told Charlie not to try to set him up with any of my friends. But he’s never been around someone like Milly. She’s too sweet. She needs someone tall and strong to take on the world for her and Jag is perfect.

“Are you telling me this because he backed out again?” I prepare myself and try to tell myself not to be sad if he can’t come.

“No, love. He’s going to come.”

I jump up and down and clap my hands. It’s going to be perfect.

“So’s the rookie.”

“Really?” I think about all the people we’ve invited this week. “I think I might have just the person for him.”

“Now, Rani. I’m letting you play matchmaker with our best friends, isn’t that enough?”

I try to picture my redheaded friend with the detective they call the Rookie. I’ve only met him once or twice but I think…no I'm certain Rumer will be perfect.

“Rani...”

I huff but don’t stop thinking that maybe there will be three couples instead of two to come out of this weekend.

“We have to find you a hobby, my love.”

“Well…um, you know, it’s funny you say that. I was thinking…maybe I would start getting ready for…after the wedding.”

I chance a glance at him to find out if I can get a handle on what he might be thinking. I’m met with a big, warm smile. “You want to start having babies and you’ve stopped taking your birth control.”

“Oh my God! How did you know?”

“Detective, baby, detective.”

“You’re a damn good one too.” I smooth his shirt down and then look back up to meet his eyes. “What do you think about that?”

“I wish you would wait. You know that.” My heart sinks. “But you also know that I can never deny you and it’s your body that’s going to carry our babies. If you want to start - if you think it’s the right time - then I’m all on board.”

I give him a big smile before launching myself at him.

“As long…” he meets my eyes, “ as you are healthy and nothing will hurt you.”

“Of course.”

“Then we should probably start practicing now. Don’t you think?”

My heart starts beating faster and my body throbs with the future promise of pleasure and passion. How can I not want this for my best friend? How can I not want her to find what I have found for myself? Love. Passion. A soulmate that completes me - that needs me - as much as I need him. I realize not everyone gets this happiness and God knows, I don’t take it for granted for a minute. I just want my friend to have some of that happiness. Everyone should know the feeling of love and acceptance that Charlie gives me - the feeling of warm nights and safe dreams.

As Charlie takes me in his arms and heads for the stairs so we can make love in our bed…in our house…I can’t help but want to share with my best friend what it feels like to be loved by a man that would give her the world…and make her his. A man that is willing to give everything…all for just you.

Epilogue I

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Charlie

About a Year Later

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