Page 70 of The Lucky List
“I’m loving this side of you,” Bella says around a mouthful of cookie.
Both of our heads turn in her direction.
“You totally just forgot I was standing here, didn’t you?”
Shit, I did.
“This playful side really suits you. And I don’t think I’ve seen you this happy since…” She takes another bite of her cookie, intentionally drawing out her words. “Well… in a while. Ever, maybe.”
“Is everything all set for the program?” I ask, shoving the rest of the cookie in my mouth.
Bella shrugs. “Fuck if I know. I have nothing to do with this one, I’m just doing what Amber tells me to do. I got my fill of being in charge after running Santa’s Workshop, and we all know how that ended.”
I groan. “I thought you’d have some inside scoop. Amber better not call another emergency PTO meeting like she did before the Valentine’s party debacle. That three-hour one the other night was bad enough, and I still have a papercut from yesterday,” I say, holding up my ring finger.
Mike grabs my hand and kisses the cut, his lips hovering over my finger as he holds it and looks at me. “Sorry. The boys keep saying that I should kiss your boo-boos, and this is one I can actually kiss.”
A small squeal erupts from Bella, and I turn to her. She holds her hands up in silent apology.
“MO-OM!” Micah yells from upstairs.
“What?” I call back.
“Levi said Mike was here and I want him to tuck us in tonight.”
When I look up at him, he’s beaming, his smile stretching ear to ear. “Can I?”
“Go ahead.” I nod as he kisses my forehead and takes off for the stairs. “But try to keep it to only one fart blessing this time, please.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he calls back.
“Ma’am?” Bella questions, looking at me with furrowed brows. “Oh my God, he checked another item off your list, didn't he? And based on the color of your cheeks, and the way he said ‘ma’am,’ I’m guessing it was role-play or spankings?”
I nod in confirmation as she jumps and claps her hands excitedly. “Oh my gosh, I love this for you. You’re glowing! Spill.”
“It was…” I trail off, suddenly nervous to share more. Normally I’d tell her everything, but something tugs at my heart, telling me to stop. What is happening right now? What does this mean? I’ve already told Bella about a few items we’ve checked off the list. So why does it feel like I’m breaking his trust if I talk about this now?
After what feels like minutes of silence while my thoughts spiral, I look up at Bella and she has a dopey grin on her face.
“Say no more. I know what that face is.”
“What face?” How does she know what I’m feeling when I haven’t even figured it out myself?
“Remember when you kept asking me what was going on with me and Hardy, and I kept deflecting?”
My mind races, struggling to put together the puzzle pieces she’s dropping. “But we’re just friends. This is just—” Just what? I don’t even know what this is anymore, but it definitely feels like more than just hooking up.
“Are you sure about that?” She smiles, walking around thecounter, placing a hand on my arm. “You don’t want to tell me about knocking boots with Mr. March, because his feelings matter to you now. You’re worried about how he’d feel if he knew you talked about it. It’s not just a hookup. And judging by the look on your face, you’re just now realizing that. Shit, sorry. Why am I such an awkward turtle with this stuff?”
I pull her into a hug, catching her off guard. “Thank you.”
She pats my back stiffly. “You’re welcome? What are you thanking me for?”
“For being you. I’m not good at all this emotional stuff. But you are. And you blurt every thought in your head, and it’s fantastic.”
“Even the inappropriate ones?” She laughs against me.
“Especially those. That’s who you are. And I love that about you.” I release her and hold her shoulders as I look in her eyes. “And if you share what I’m about to say with the girls, I will deny it. But I think I needed you to be the one to push me—or that you’d be the only one who’d actually force me to admit what I’ve been thinking for weeks.”
