Long After

  “Good, because there isn’t anything in it anyway. Kids, man. Expensive.”

  I chuckle because as much as I love Emari, I’m glad as hell it’s not me. “When you dropping her off?” I might be able to get Guy over here with me to get his baby time in.

  “Now.”

  “Now?”

  “Two weeks, Chase.”

  “Got it. I’m home. Bring my little angel over and tell Lucy she owes me a plate of cookies.”

  “Dude, I can guarantee she’ll make you a four course meal for doing this.”

  ~*~

  Emari’s sleeping on my chest when Annie calls. I don’t know what Park was talking about with her not sleeping well. That’s pretty much all she’s done since she got here. I saw her eyes for about fifteen minutes while we watched Barney on Netflix, and then she was out like a light. There’s just something about a giant purple dinosaur.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey,” Annie says. “Just checking in.”

  “How was studying after I left?”

  “Extremely boring.”

  “I’m more than willing to help make it more interesting for you anytime you want.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “You better.”

  “Why are you whispering?”

  “Because I have a gorgeous girl sleeping on my chest and I don’t want to wake her.” I smile at the pregnant pause, waiting for her reaction.

  “What?” she asks, her voice low, tone clipped.

  “A very beautiful six-month old. You really believed I’d have another girl on my chest?”

  “No,” she says quickly.

  “Admit it,” I murmur, “you were jealous.”

  “I was not. I don’t get jealous.”

  “You do and you were.”

  She sighs dramatically and I can hear the smile in her voice when she says, “Okay. Maybe a tiny bit.”

  “I knew it.”

  “It doesn’t mean anything,” she adds.

  “Okay.”

  “It doesn’t.”

  “Okay. I totally believe you.”

  “You’re so annoying.”

  “I think the word you’re looking for is sexy. I am so sexy.”

  “And annoying.”

  “As long as we agree I’m sexy,” I reply.

  “Begrudgingly, we do.”

  I carefully fix the small fleece blanket over Emari’s back before I say, “I wish you were here.” Because I do. I always wish I was with her.

  “Why?” God, she says it like she truly can’t understand it and it makes me want to tell her. To make her understand I love her. But I don’t. The opening’s right there, but I don’t take it.

  “Because I’d kiss you.”

  “I wish I was there too.”

  “Then you should be. I’ll come get you when my date leaves.”

  “Okay,” Annie murmurs. “And Chase?”

  “Yeah?”

  She’s quiet for a moment. I wait patiently, knowing it’ll be worth it. When Annie struggles over her words, it’s because it’s coming from the heart—a place she isn’t comfortable revealing.

  “I don’t want any girl to sleep on your chest unless it’s Emari. Or me.”

  Now I’m quiet, stunned she admitted that.

  “Neither do I.”

  43

  Clocks

  Annie

  I’m wearing a maroon dress and matching heels. I’ve kept my make-up minimal for once—mascara and lip gloss only. My hair is down, loose and natural. I’m not sure what shocks me more—that it took me only twenty minutes to get ready, or that I’m willing to go to a wedding like this, where pictures will surely be taken, just because Chase prefers me like this.

  I shake my head at my reflection. She doesn’t look so bad. What I normally would find plain, like her limp hair, now seems to be the feature making her appear more interesting. It’s full and wavy, and completely untamed.

  Her eyes seem brighter, her smile wider. Her cheeks are flushed and she looks…not so bad. Happy even.

  I tear the post-its from my mirror, one at a time, revealing more and more of this girl. The new Annie.

  Chase’s Annie.

  The thought causes the butterflies in my belly to awaken. They flutter round and round, a tornado of emotions in the pit of my stomach.

  I’m Chase’s Annie.

  Because…I love him.

  No. Is that what this is?

  I close my eyes and huff out a dry laugh. That’s exactly what this is. He’s my one. How did he say that before? The one person we connect to on a higher level? That makes us feel safe? That feels like home? He’s always been that person for me. For as long as I can remember.

  Chase is my one.

  I open my eyes, irritated with myself. I think I knew this all along, but I was so scared. I made excuses. Denied it. Tried to get over it.

  I’m not sure you can get over love. Not when it’s real. And now what Chase was trying to explain to me makes sense. Some relationships don’t work because those people aren’t really in love. They may think they are, they may care deeply, but if they aren’t willing to make it work—fight for each other—then maybe it was never real. But when it is, that’s all you need. Because regardless of the life I’ve dreamt of having since I was a little girl, I’d live penniless with Chase in a heartbeat. No, love doesn’t pay the electric bill, but there isn’t anybody I’d rather be in the dark with.

  And Chase, he’s been living in the dark with me for so long. I just didn’t realize it.

  My reflection stares back at me in wonder.

  The man is right. He’s a freaking genius.

  It all comes down to love.

  The knock on my door pauses my reeling thoughts and I hurry to answer it. I can’t hide the disappointed sigh when I see a smiling Hope on the other side.

  “Good to see you too,” she quips.

  “Sorry.” I shake my head and smile. “I was just hoping you were someone else. Not that I’m not happy to see you.”

  Arching a dark brow, Hope regards me curiously. “What’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?”

  She holds her palm out, making a wide gesture at me. “You look different. You seem excited. And you were hoping for whom, exactly, to be at your door?”

  I bite down on my lip, trying to decide how much I want to tell her. It would be so nice to spill my guts for once and get another female’s thoughts. “How long do we have?”

  “Everyone’s waiting in the car.”

  I nod. “Later then.”

  Her lips pucker into a pout. “Fine. But at least tell me who you wanted to be at your door.”

  I pick up my clutch and double check to verify I have everything I need, grab the card I picked up for Park and Lucy, and slip out the door. “If I tell you, no comments or questions until we can talk later.”

  “Okay,” she says, intrigued, and—uncharacteristic of Hope—excited.

  I turn to her nervously and press my lips together. I’m trying to find the courage to say it, but my mouth isn’t cooperating. She pokes me in my side, her finger jabbing a rib, and I jump.

  “Tell me.”

  I close my eyes so I don’t have to see her reaction as I mutter, “Chase. I was hoping you were Chase.”

  I don’t know what I was expecting—maybe a shocked gasp, or a rant, maybe laughter—but Hope is completely silent. I open my eyes slowly, peering at her. And she’s grinning widely. I smile in response, relieved.

  It feels so good to finally admit. To share this with Hope.

  “And I’m not allowed to comment?”

  “No.”

  “Does Chase know?”

  “Yes.” I make a face. He knows, but he doesn’t understand the extent of my feelings. How incredibly deep they run. That I love him. That I’m in love with him. “Kind of.”

  “Does Guy know?”

  “No,” I answer quickly, my eyes widening. “Don’t tell him. Don??
?t tell anyone yet.”

  She somehow manages to widen her grin. “I know before him? He’s going to be so pissed when he finds out,” she trills.

  “You’re talking about it,” I hiss as we approach the car holding Guy, Mason, and Chase. “We had a deal—later.”

  “Sorry. Done.” She shakes her limbs out like she’s trying to shake off the questions she’s dying to ask. “Just one more thing. I want you to know I’m happy for you. For both of you. And,” she smirks knowingly at me, “I saw this coming for years.” With that, she opens the door, and demands Guy moves to the backseat with her and Mason. He does it, unhappily, but he squeezes his long legs into the back, and I take his abandoned spot.

  She saw this coming for years? I wish she would’ve told me. It could have saved me a lot of time and heartache. Who am I kidding? If she had ever mentioned it, I would have done everything in my power to prove her wrong.

  Turning to look out his back window as he backs out of the parking space, Chase discreetly lays his fingers over top of mine. I fight a smile, my earlier realization sitting on the tip of my tongue.

  I’m in deep.

  With Chase of all people.

  ~*~

  Laughter breaks out throughout the small hall as Park holds up his index finger, cutting off the clergyman, and hops off the steps. He takes his beautiful little girl, clothed in a frilly white dress, from an older woman I assume is probably Lucy’s mom.

  Emari’s been fussing since they began taking their vows, clearly wanting her parents. As soon as his hands are on her, she quiets immediately, smiling sweetly. He holds her snuggly to his chest with one arm as he climbs the steps and once again takes his place beside Lucy.

  Chase chuckles beside me, his finger trailing back and forth against my thigh between us. He leans into me, his mouth close to my ear, taking advantage of the distraction. “You look perfect,” he murmurs. I shiver as his breath caresses my skin.

  “So do you,” I say, returning the compliment. He cleans up well in his black suit. However, this is Chase, so of course he’s wearing his old, black Converse. The look is all Chase—fun and sexy.

  Perfect, like he said.

  “As much as I like your dress, I really can’t wait to get you out of it.” He smirks with wicked amusement.

  My muscles clench, tightening with the promise of what’s to come. We’ve continued to do everything short of making love to each other, but I think I might be ready. It’s getting more and more difficult to abstain from that one act, especially when it’s always on my mind.

  I make sure my lips touch his ear when I whisper, “I’m counting down the clock.”

  He grins. “I’m sure someone’s recording the ceremony. We could sneak out right now.”

  “I don’t reward bad behavior,” I remind him, trying to hide my smile.

  “You really should,” he sighs.

  I keep my eyes on the front of the room, trying my damndest to pay attention. He is so distracting. Not just the way his fingers maintain their torturous caress of my thigh, but his proximity alone. He smells so good and I can feel the warmth coming off his body. It’s driving me crazy.

  “You may kiss the bride,” the clergyman declares loudly. Park leans in, pressing his lips to Lucy’s, and applause erupts. I follow with unexpected tears in my eyes.

  I feel Chase’s gaze on me. I look at him sideways and he bumps his shoulder gently into mine, grinning. I press my lips together and blink the moisture away.

  Park steps back, and taking a cue from everyone else, Emari claps happily in his arms, causing her parents to laugh.

  They did it.

  They’re a family. A perfectly imperfect little family.

  44

  Moonshine

  Chase

  Annie leans forward, standing on the tips of her toes to capture my lips as soon as we step in the door. And I let it happen. I welcome it. I’ve been thinking about this exact moment all night. She tastes sweet, like the soft, fruity tang of the champagne we were all sipping on.

  I angle her head, deepening the kiss. A sound emanates from her throat and my body responds to the noise naturally, echoing it as if we’re having a conversation. And we are, in a way, communicating. Every touch that she reacts to, every moan, every gasp, encourages me to do it again. To take it a little farther. I’m telling her how much she means to me. How much I want her. How much I care.

  “Chase,” she sighs, her voice so low and slow with desire, I swear I feel it in every inch of my body. Her fingers work at the buttons of my dress shirt. Her hands are shaking, so I close mine over top of them, bringing them up to my mouth. I place a lingering kiss into each smooth palm before I drop them to remove my shirt.

  Annie’s eyes trail over my chest, pausing on my stomach before she finds my face again. I can’t help but grin at her. I know she likes what she sees, her gaze devouring me with a ravenous hunger. One I hope to satisfy tonight.

  When she looks at me like this, my whole body reacts immediately, every muscle contracting and rippling with a ferocious craving. An aching.

  I want her so badly.

  I need her.

  I step forward, reaching unhurriedly behind her. I sweep her long, unruly hair to the side, enjoying the soft strands as they move through my fingers. Unzipping her dress slowly is agonizing, but I want her to know exactly what I’m doing. Where I’m going. And give her time to change her mind if she needs to.

  I want her to know I’m not like the other guys she’s been with. I won’t be pissed if she needs to stop. I can wait longer. I want her, but I want her enough to wait.

  The zipper hits the end of the seam and she lets it fall from her arms, down to her hips where she wiggles the rest of the way out of it. I just watch, mesmerized by her body’s graceful movements, until the red material hits the floor.

  I swear she gets sexier with each passing day. And not just sexier. More beautiful—inside and out. Annie’s emerging from her shell, becoming more confident. More open. For me.

  I touch my fingers hesitantly to her face, letting my thumb caress her cheek. “You are so…” I trail off because I can’t say pretty. Pretty isn’t big enough. Beautiful fits, but sounds so cliché.

  She’s staring up at me with wide blue eyes, waiting. On me.

  “Perfect,” I say, smiling. She laughs softly as her hand cups around my wrist. The humor fades quickly as I incline until our lips are once again touching and I’m claiming her mouth. As her tongue brushes mine, I slide my hands up her back. I unclasp her bra, pausing before I slip it off her shoulders, and then ever so slowly down her arms.

  I see her hands twitch as I release the material from my grasp. I think she’s fighting the urge to cover herself, her cheeks heating.

  I’m not sure I’ll ever understand how someone like Annie can cling to such a distorted view of herself. Will she ever know how incredible she is? Will she ever be able to see it?

  “You’re perfect,” I reassure her.

  She closes her eyes, her body trembling as she takes a deep breath. When she looks at me again, I see resolution in her eyes. I have no idea what it means because the girl will always be somewhat of a mystery to me, but I don’t ask. I don’t say a word. I just watch as she tugs the belt from the loops and unfastens my pants.

  I scoop her up and swing her onto my bed. Taking just a moment, I gaze down at her. Soak up every inch of her lying naked on top of my sheets.

  She begins to remove her panties. A little, silky thing that shouldn’t be considered underwear, but that looks sexy as hell on her body. I slide out of my boxers, and remove a condom from my nightstand, my eyes meeting hers as I roll it on. I crawl over her, stopping one last time, making sure this is what she wants.

  That I’m what she wants. Because this isn’t just sex. Not for me.

  She pulls me into her and I freeze.

  “Annie…” I can’t manage more than that. I’ve waited so long for this and there are no words for how incredible she feel
s wrapped around me. My heart feels whole suddenly. I never realized anything had been missing until this moment. I want to plunge deeper, but I hold myself still, enjoying her warmth, and memorizing every detail.

  “Shh,” she whispers. Her fingers work into my hair and she guides me closer. She bites at my lip. I groan as I begin to move. She’s so wet and I don’t know how long I’ll last. Her breaths come quicker. Her hips move with mine. She grips my shoulder, her nails sinking into the skin there.