He did? I didn’t know he told her not to come over tonight.

“I told Max I’d buy him the video game he was talking about. I’m just dropping it off to him.” She waves the game she’s holding in her hand out toward us. “And relax, I’m not staying. I have a date.”

“Send whoever he is my condolences,” Gareth says, and I press my lips together to keep from laughing.

“Whatever.” She glares. “Are my boys inside?”

“Like I said, we have plans. Bring the game by tomorrow, or give it to me and I’ll give it to him.”

“And steal my thunder? No fucking way. He told me you refused to buy it for him.”

“Did he? Did he also tell you that I refused to buy it, because I have to pay for other shit, like food and the roof over his head?”

“God, you’re so fucking dramatic. Whatever. I’ll just bring the game to him tomorrow.” She spins on her heel and stomps to her car.

When she pulls off I turn to face Gareth and rest my hands against his waist and he tips his head down to look at me. “We’ll talk about the bills and stuff when I move in,” I give in hoping to ease some of the anger I can feel coming off him in waves. He closes his arms around me and I tip my head back. “Let’s just go get ready and try to have a good night tonight.”

“Yeah.” He dips his head, touching his mouth to mine briefly before leading me into the house.

When we get inside, Lidia leaves after saying she will be over tomorrow afternoon, and Gareth goes to make sure the boys are getting ready. I go to the bedroom, taking my bag with me, and shower quickly. Gareth comes in to take a shower while I’m curling my hair and leaves before I start my makeup. With my hair finished and my makeup done, I leave the bathroom to get dressed.

Once I put my heels on, I go back into the bathroom to check myself out in the mirror over the sink. Since there isn’t a full-length mirror in the house, I stand on my tiptoes trying to get the whole look. The black simple halter-top jumpsuit is a lot like the dress I wore on Gareth’s and my first date. It doesn’t show a lot of skin, but it’s still sexy in a sophisticated kind of way especially with my makeup and red lipstick.

“Jesus,” Gareth rumbles, and I find him standing in the doorway. I swallow as he walks toward me, devouring me with his eyes. “You look gorgeous.” His arms wrap around my hips and he drags me against him.

“Thank you. You look handsome.” I rest my hands against the smooth navy blue material of his dress shirt and his hands palm my ass.

“I know you said you want to go out with your girls tomorrow, and I’m cool with that, but you should know Mitchell is staying with a friend and Max is going to spend the night with his mom, so the house is ours.”

“I’ll make sure it’s an early night,” I say immediately.

“That’d be good.” He slides his nose across mine then my cheek to my ear, where he nips softly. “I’m still fucking you tonight.” His eyes drop to my feet briefly. “In nothing but those heels and that lipstick.”

“I’m good with that.” I move my hands to his shoulders panting and tingling in a few specific places. I lean deeper into him pressing my tits against his chest watching his eyes darken.

“We should go,” he says but he doesn’t move to let me go instead he lowers his head and kisses me so wet, and so deep that I’m breathless and weak-kneed when he drags his mouth from mine. “Meet you in the living room,” he says gruffly, wiping his hand against his mouth as he leaves. It takes me a minute to get myself together and when I finally do fix my lipstick then leave the bedroom knowing one way or another tonight will end well for me.

_______________

“I just can’t get over how handsome you both are. Aren’t they both so handsome?” Mom looks at my dad, and he gives her a non-committal grunt, which makes Mitchell and Max laugh.

“Mom, can you not freak out my boys with your craziness please?”

“Your boys? Oh, I love that.” She beams, and I fight the need to roll my eyes then feel a hand come to rest against my lower back.

I look over my shoulder at Gareth, and he nods toward the front door of the restaurant. “Our table is ready.”

“Yay. I, for one, am starving,” Mom says dramatically as we move through the crowd to get inside.

“Me too,” Max tells her, and she smiles down at him like he’s her new best friend.

“You are just like your mom,” Mitchell whispers, and I turn and mock glare at him as the hostess signals for us to follow her to the same staircase we went up last time we were here.

“Take that back,” I order.

“No way, it’s true. You’re both nuts,” he keeps whispering, and I hear my dad chuckle and Gareth make a noise like he’s trying not to.

“Just wait. You already said I could come to your next meet, and because of that comment, I’m going to totally embarrass you by screaming and acting a fool every time it’s your turn to run,” I threaten, and he grins then shrugs like he doesn’t care.

“This really is beautiful,” Mom says, looking around when we reach the top of the stairs and are led to a large round table. Just like before, the space is empty except for us, and I wonder if anyone ever really eats up here.

“Good evening. My name is Simon, and I will be your server this evening,” Simon says, coming forward grinning at Gareth the moment we’re seated. I barely cover the giggle that escapes with my napkin. When he walks away after taking our drink orders, Gareth places his hand on my thigh and squeezes, and I look at him.

“Any regrets now?” I ask just loud enough for him to hear.

His eyes stay locked on mine, and I watch a million emotions filter through his gaze before he captures my hand in his and brings it to his lips. “Not even one.”

I hear my dad make a sound and my mom pull in a sharp breath, and when I look at the boys, I notice they look content, happy, and relaxed. It’s right then I know I found the impossible, a real life happily ever after, and I promise myself that I will do everything within my power to take care of it.

Fifteen

Gareth

I STEP INTO the bar December asked me to pick her up from and scan the packed space, spotting Sage standing at the bar. I head his way, and the moment he sees me, he grins. “What’s up, man? You here to pick up December?” he asks, patting my shoulder.

“Yeah.” I do another scan, not seeing her from where I’m standing.

“Back left corner.” He lifts his chin, and I finally see her sitting at a high-top table, laughing along with her sister April. “Do you know my brothers Bax and Talon?”

I force my eyes off December and turn to face both men, noticing they look just like their dad, Nico. It’s something I probably should have realized about Talon when I saw December out at dinner with him, Sage, and Kim if I hadn’t been dealing with the jealousy I was feeling at the time.

“What’s up?” I shake both men’s hands, and then a moment later, Wes, Harlen, and Evan walk in, joining us at the bar, soon followed by Jax and Cobi as well.

“So who’s going to put a stop to that?” Wes asks, lifting his chin toward the table where the girls are seated, and I note a group of men have moved in. One of them is standing way too fucking close to December, smiling down at her like she’s as cute as she fucking is.