from deep in his chest. His body vibrated against mine as tremor after tremor quaked through me.
When my body finally recovered from my bone-shattering release, I found myself cocooned in Holden’s arms.
“I love you,” he whispered as he gently kissed the back of my neck and held me tightly. I’d never felt more satisfied, more peaceful, more seen, or more loved.
“Do you want to go to bed?” I asked, worried that this position might not be comfortable for him.
“In a minute,” he whispered as he snuggled against me, tightening his arm around me. “I just don’t want to let you go yet.”
That was fine by me. I’d happily stay in his arms forever.
Chapter 31
Olivia
“Worry and stress don’t stop bad things from happening. They just stop ya from enjoying the good.”
~ Maggie Calhoun
A penis pen was thrust in my face as my sister slurred, “Promise that you’re going to come right back!”
“I promise. I’m just going to go home and get Channing.”
“Woohoo!” Molly shouted. “Liv’s bringing Channing Tatum to the party!”
“I’m going to have Channing Tatum at my bachelorette sleepover!” Maisy lifted her hands and the entire room cheered.
It was strange being stone cold sober in a house filled with drunk people. Maisy had decided that instead of going out to the city for her bachelorette party she wanted to have an old-fashioned sleepover. So after the rehearsal dinner, which was more dinner and less rehearsal since the only people actually in the wedding party were Holden and me, she’d had all the girls come to her house for an adult slumber party, which meant there was booze.
I’d decided not to partake tonight because in my experience things always came up last minute on wedding days and I felt, as the maid of honor, that I should be at my sharpest tomorrow.
To be honest, it wasn’t some great sacrifice. I didn’t feel like I was missing out at all. I’d sort of been riding high the past week. I was floating on cloud nine. Holden and I were officially a couple. And the entire town knew. We were Facebook official, at least on my account. Holden didn’t have a Facebook account. We weren’t technically living together, but each night we would decide which side of the duplex we wanted to stay in. And yesterday, I’d given him keys to my place.
“Can you get more chips?” Harmony Briggs-Reed—who would, fingers crossed, one day be my sister-in-law since she was married to Hudson Reed—shouted out to me as I walked out the door.
“She can’t.” Molly pointed her penis pen at Harmony. “No stores are open.”
Even drunk my twin was reasonable.
“I think I have some I can bring from home,” I called out.
“Yay!” Harmony celebrated. “Bring chips and Channing Tatum!”
“Chips and Channing Tatum!” A few of the women began to chant.
“Chips and Channing Tatum!” Some others joined in.
“Chips and Channing Tatum!” By the time I closed the door all twenty of them were chanting.
I chuckled as I walked down the front path and checked my phone. Holden had texted me about fifteen minutes ago saying that things were winding down at the poker bachelor party and he was going to head home. I was checking to see if he’d texted again, but he hadn’t.
My trip home to grab Channing was not arbitrary. I hoped to see Holden and maybe fit in a quickie before I headed back with Channing. He’d offered to keep Channing tonight, but there was no way that I was going to deprive my dog of a night filled with twenty admirers. He was going to be in hog heaven. Holden thought I’d already picked him and my overnight bag up, but I was waiting until I knew he was home, to surprise him. I could do things like that now, surprise my boyfriend.
Since the condo was only two blocks away, and my car was trapped behind four other vehicles, I decided to walk home. It was a beautiful night. The velvety dark sky was sprinkled with bright shining stars. The crickets were chirping. And I don’t think I’d ever felt happier.
As I walked down the block, it hit me that right now, in this moment, my life was perfect. I had everything I’d ever wanted. I mean, yes, I did want to marry Holden one day and have his babies. But I was sure that would come. We’d already talked about it.
We’d talked about a lot of stuff this past week. I’d told him how in high school I would