Page 44 of Not So Lazy Boy
His eyes soften, for the first time being able to teach me something from when he was younger. “Of course. Here, you go first.” He tries to hand me the controller, but I put a hand up, pushing it back toward him.
“No, I want to watch. Besides, tomorrow is Saturday. That means no phone. You’ll have all day to show me how to play.”
After Cade mentioned how cell phones make people feel too accessible, I vowed to take at least one day a week to turn my ringer off. It’s been freeing, though Sawyer had a hard time remembering that.
Sawyer and Katrina got married about six months ago and he called on a Saturday after they got back from their honeymoonso he could share their adventures. He called seven times, back-to-back. So many times, I thought it was an emergency, that he or Katrina were hurt, but it just turns out he was excited to talk and set up a time he could bring me and Cade our souvenirs.
Along with some of his friends he made at school, Cade has been hanging out with Sawyer. He meant it when he said he wanted them to be friends and I couldn’t be happier. It was the one thing I wanted with Sawyer and Walt, but that fucker was too intent on being a jealous asshole. But Cade and Sawyer are thick as thieves, going to trivia nights, something Sawyer would drag me to, but knew I hated. Now Sawyer has someone that has as much useless knowledge as he does and they usually win.
My heart and life are so full, I don’t think anything else could make it better.
I have a man in my life that cares about me, a job I love, and friends that are always in my corner.
With a wide grin, he starts the game, the retro graphics popping up on the television. He does a cute shoulder dance beside me and my heart almost bursts out of me.
“I love you, Cade. I love you so much.”
He flashes that brilliant smile at me, love and warmth glowing back at me. “Love you too, Maverick. Who would have thought a witch’s curse would have brought me the best thing that ever happened to me?”
“Maybe Blossom did. She’s a smart one.”
“That she is.” I cuddle up beside him and watch him play Pong, and he tells me the best strategy for the game. And all I can do is be thankful that he was a dumbass in his past life and gave in to peer pressure.
I wish he hadn’t done what he did, almost killing that poor owl, but if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have come to me, so eager to learn about my world and love me through the process.
If it weren’t for Blossom, I never would have found my mate, my mustard yellow, perfect recliner. The most beautiful shifter in the whole wide world.
Who would have thought a piece of furniture would turn out to be the love of my life?
His leather and books and coffee and manly scent drift into my nose and I inhale, my heart beating hard in my chest.
Cade kisses my cheek, pushing out those pheromones to make my head swim. “When we’re done playing,” he says, moving the white bar to bounce the ball before he loses the level, “what do you say I shift and you can relax on my recliner? It’s been a while since I brought you comfort that way. You can kick up my foot rest and reread that hockey book you’re obsessed with.”
I sigh, loving that he knows exactly what I need even when I don’t.
“That sounds like a plan.”
THE END
