young women want a wedding, you know? He said there was no way in hell he could ever have a big wedding because he’d be too embarrassed that your groomsmen would be bigger than his.”
I chuckled, remembering him telling me that too on the beach the night before we tied the knot. Brenden was larger than life, but only about an inch taller than I was. Hudson and Cal towered over him.
“He did spring it on me, but I was fine with it.”
“Now forgive me for being nosy, but tell me about what’s going on with you. Married? Kids?”
“Nope. None of that yet. But I do have a boyfriend, even if he put me on a time-out to take care of my shit.”
“Men,” she snickered. “Well, I hope he treats you well and he doesn’t keep you on restriction too long. But, honey, it’s probably making him crazier than it is you. They can be such tough guys on the outside and big old babies on the inside. So listen, I’ll talk to Allen and we’ll stop in on Saturday to see ya.”
And they did.
Surprisingly, it was good to hug Brenden’s mom and dad. They even took one of his older bikes. Allen said it was one of his firsts and he’d always wanted it. Other than that, all his fishing gear, and a few small items, they left me with the rest. His mom said whatever pictures and keepsakes I didn’t want she’d take from the house to go through with the girls when they were back for the holidays.
I spent most of that week racking my brain about the place Hudson said would take stuff on consignment, so Sunday night it was the perfect excuse to send him a text.
Me: Hey, knucklehead.
Only about a minute passed before he replied.
Hudson: You rang.
Me: I need the name of that bike shop you mentioned that’s close by. I can’t remember.
Helpful as ever, he shot a link to my phone with all their contact info and directions to the shop in Roswell.
Me: Thanks.
Hudson: You doing okay, babe?
How could one silly nickname always give me so much hope?
And for the sake of talking the talk, I was done hiding things from him. Besides, he’d asked.
Me: I’m getting there. Still missing you like crazy.
My phone rang immediately.
“Hi,” I said and curled into the pillow he used on the other side of the bed.
“I miss you too.” There was something about the tone of his voice that was utterly comforting, and even if we weren’t together like either of us wanted at the moment, hearing him made me feel so much better. “I had a conversation with a little birdie,” he said.
“Oh, yeah? What did they say?”
“Told me you talked to your family about everything.”
I knew it would get back to him quickly, but hell, I’d only been home from Mom and Dad’s for a few hours. Cal had come alone since Vanessa was not feeling great, and even if it’d sucked and most of us had cried and I felt like I’d been through an emotional washing machine, it also felt freeing to have it all out there.
“Is your little birdie a geeky dude who wears dress pants on the weekends?”
“No, it was the geek’s dad.”
My father? David Lawson? I’d be reminding Daddio that loose lips sink ships the next time I saw him. On the other hand, I’d dropped a bomb on them, and they knew that Hudson had found out too. You could say I was on an honesty-is-the-best-policy journey as of late.
“Yeah, well, if all of you gossiping Gertrudes were planning some kind of intervention, you can shit-can it. I’m sort of kicking ass in the get-right-with-the-Lord department lately.”
He chuckled and it made my skin tingle. “I’m proud of you, Lex.”
I felt a sting in my eyes, but I wasn’t having it. This was a good moment, and damn it, we deserved one.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m proud of me too. Whatever. So does this time-out include phone sex or what?” I had my doubts, but there was no harm in trying.
He sighed. “No. But that won’t keep me from dreaming about being inside you all night. At least, it hasn’t so far.”
“Fine. If you’re going to be stingy with your big cock, while you’ve got your rolodex open, do you have the contact information for a good gigolo on my side of town?”
“No. You still belong to me. So shut up and go to sleep.”
I exhaled and pulled the pillow closer. “You’re