Page 103 of My Husband Problem

Dammit. I need a pep talk. Should I call Miles quick? Or maybe Andi. Andi is confident, strong, and kickass. She gives great pep talks.

The step I’m standing on squeaks as I shift my weight, and Declan turns to face me from where he is standing in front of the couch.

I’m shocked to see him holding Oscar.

“Have you made friends?” I ask.

He strokes his hand over the cat's head, looking from him to me. “He was sleeping on you, and when I sat down at the end of the couch, he came over and climbed up on my shoulder.”

I smile and continue down the steps. This is going to be fine. Probably.

I cross the room to them and reach out to stroke the cat’s head. “Such a good boy,” I tell him.

“It was cuddling him that made me fall asleep. On you.”

I look up at Declan with a smile. “Averygood boy.”

I think he’s going to say something, but instead he leans over so that Oscar can jump the short distance to the couch.

Okay, here we go. My heart rate picks up.

I didn’t know what to wear. He said comfortable clothes. I don’t really have lingerie. I haven’t had a need for that, so I did the next best thing, and I put on his shirt. The one I always wear to bed. I did pull on panties too, though, for a moment I debated.

His eyes are hot as they travel over me.

“Here,” he says, reaching for the blanket on the back of the couch. He wraps it around my shoulders and tucks it in snugly just above my breasts. It’s long enough that it covers me from shoulders to ankles.

“Declan, what?—”

But he takes my hand and starts tugging me toward the kitchen.

Not only am I trying to set a sexy mood here, but it’s June. I only use the blanket when I have the air conditioning cranked up, and I only crank up the air conditioning when I want to snuggle up with the blanket on the couch and watch a movie.

“Are we going?—”

My question about whether we’re going to sit on the back patio is answered a moment later.

We step out onto the patio, and I see that the twinkle lights are glowing along with the candles on the low table at my cozy end of the patio. There is soft music playing, and a tray of snacks is set out on the table, including my favorites: apple slices with fluffy caramel dip, caramel corn, pretzels, which also go well with the caramel dip, and some nuts and cheese.

I didn’t realize Declan knew all of my favorite snacks.

But that is not the most surprising thing on the patio.

No,thatis the fact that my three best friends are sitting there, propped up on the cushions around that table, grinning at me.

Andi laughs. “I haven’t seen anybody that shocked to see me since I crashed my mother-in-law’s birthday party.”

I am shocked. But right on the heels of that, I feel a rush of affection.

For my husband.

He’s trying to make me comfortable. He’s showing that he wants to support me. He’s taking this slow.

“Um, hi, girls.”

I’m also a little disappointed to see them.

I love them. This is very sweet and supportive. Declan knows I had a big, stressful day, and yes, this patio, these people, and this food always make me feel better.