simple thing can bring her so much joy. But it shows me that I’ve made the right choice in trusting her. In loving her. I don’t even want to think about how much time I wasted worrying about all the wrong things. Time that we could have been together.
The best thing that ever happened to me was right there all along.
“I love you, Jo.”
Her face crumples slightly and then she’s in my arms. “I thought you were just saying that in the heat of the moment.”
“I said it because I mean it. I love you.”
There’s a hiccup. Then a soft sob. “Say it again, please.”
I laugh and bury my face in her hair. “I love you, sweetheart. I’ll say it a thousand times from now on so you’ll never forget.”
When she raises her head, her eyes are shiny with tears. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget this moment.”
Overcome, I lift her in my arms and spin her around until she’s giggling. I wish I’d thought to do this in a more romantic setting but either way, I’m pretty sure I’ll never forget it either.
After a long leisurely shower, we dry off sharing Jo’s towel. I wrap it around my waist loosely while Jo just scampers across the hall, naked.
“I’ll definitely be buying us our own place,” I mutter.
Josie grins at me and raises her camera. She takes several pictures before I realize what she’s doing.
“Will you say it again?”
For a moment, I’m not sure what she means. She waits patiently though until I figure it out.
“I love you, Josephine Harlow.”
She snaps a picture of me just like that, naked save for the towel around my waist and the love in my eyes.
“I love you too, Zack Marshall.”
†
The next morning, I wake up disoriented and uncomfortable. Even though I loved having Josie wrapped around me last night, I’m not used to sleeping in someone else’s bed. Her mattress is firmer than mine and she’s a bit of a cover hog. This is going to take some adjustment.
Then I realize the reason I woke up was because I felt someone’s eyes on me. Isabelle is standing right next to the bed sipping nonchalantly from her coffee mug.
And I’m stark naked.
“Can I help you?” I grab the sheet and yank it over me. The action wakes Josie, who sits straight up, her hair flying around her head. She’s just as naked as I am.
“What is it? What’s happening?” she mumbles.
I hold the sheet over her as well. “We have company.”
When she sees Isabelle standing next to the bed, she clutches the sheet to her chest. “Izzie! What are you doing? I’m naked! And Zack is naked!”
“I noticed,” Isabelle drawls. “I knocked but no one answered.”
“That doesn’t mean come in!” Josie points out.
Izzie makes a face. “I wouldn’t have but you’ve got company downstairs. Very insistent company.”
“Why would anyone be here now?” Jo glances at the clock on her dresser. “It’s not even ten o’clock in the morning.”
“You’re the early riser,” Isabelle points out. “Gabe knows you rarely sleep in. I’ll go tell him you’re coming down.”
“Gabe’s here?” We ask in unison but Isabelle is already walking away.
Josie’s eyes meet mine. “What are we going to do?”
“Get dressed.” I throw back the sheet and put on the clothes I wore last night.
Josie pulls on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. She winds her hair around her hand into a bun. “I feel like this looks kind of bad even though I shouldn’t feel that way at all.”
I don’t say anything. I have a feeling it’s about to be really bad but I’m hoping that I can get Gabe to neutral territory before he goes nuclear. His issue is with me not with Josie. Not really, anyway.
She opens her bedroom door and then jumps back. Gabe and Sasha are in the hallway.
“There you are! Since when do you sleep in?” I hear Gabe say before pulling Josie into a hug. “And what’s up with Izzie? She was being really weird.”
Then he notices me standing behind her.
“Zack, what are you–“
His eyes slide over to Josie, taking in the wild hair and the slight stubble burn on her neck. I know he doesn’t miss a single detail. Sasha holds out her arms to me for a hug. I accept it gratefully.
“We came by to tell you guys some great news. We’re engaged!” She holds out her left hand to display a massive diamond ring.
Josie hugs her and they do the squealing thing women do when