Page 93 of A Lifetime of Afters
His eyes searched my face. “You’d do anything, wouldn’t you?”
“For you, yes.”
“I love you, sweetheart.” A sense of urgency flashed in his eyes. “I’ll meet you at my parents’ anniversary dinner at Ayana’s tomorrow night.” He brushed the backs of his fingers over the dark mark on my cheek, his face tightening with concern. “This is the last time.”
“Last time for what?”
He smiled and wagged his eyebrows. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
I furrowed my brows. “You’re going to be the one to get punished.”
Laughing, he bowed his head to mine. “I’m counting on it.”
Chapter Thirty-four - Checklist
I stuffed another pillow behind my back and made myself more comfortable on Harley’s bed. “We need this after yesterday,” I stated.
“Definitely.” Harley sat at her make-up table and applied her third coat of mascara. She leaned back from the mirror to admire her eyelashes and held her hands out. “I love mascara. I mean,” she tilted her head from side to side, “look at those eyelashes! If those don’t catch me a good man, nothing can.”
“I think you’re overlooking your best asset,” I teased. “Where is that red dress you wore to the Christmas party?”
She twisted her mouth to the side. “The one that makes me look like a cherry?”
I sat up straight on her bed and pointed at her. “Don’t say that! He’s gone and for good reasons, those comments included. Don’t bring him back by speaking for him. The man is a royal ass.”
“He is,” she sighed, then stood up to look at her posterior in the mirror. “And I do have a nice ass.”
“You do,” I agreed. “It’s all that kickboxing. Is your mom excited for tonight? How many years is this for them?”
“Forty! Isn’t that incredible?”
“It’s the stuff of dreams,” I answered honestly.
“Are you looking forward to tonight?” She asked.
I picked an imaginary fluff off her comforter. “I just want him to come home. I’m worried, I guess, that he might not want me the way he did… I don’t know what he’s going to say about the baby. That worries me a bit.” I huffed out a laugh. “A lot.”
Harley sat down beside me and took my hand in hers. “Listen. I spoke to him this afternoon. He fully plans on taking you home with him tonight. I’m under strict instructions to make sure you have clothes for tomorrow, and I’m sleeping with the psycho cyclops tonight.” She smiled cheekily. “He worried Bruce would be lonely without you.”
I laughed and then the tears came. “Oh my gosh, these hormones!”
“Nah,” Harley denied. “It’s the bromance between your man and your cat that’s got you tearing up.”
I shouldn’t have worried. Harley and I were last to arrive at the restaurant, and Hawk met us at the door.
He took my hand but spoke to his sister. “I was beginning to worry about you two. Everything okay?”
Harley saluted him smartly. “All good. She’s got clean knickers and a new toothbrush in her purse. She’s ready for whatever debauchery you have planned for her.”
Hawk grinned at her.
I watched as the realization hit her that she was talking about her brother. “Oh, ew,” she mewled. Covering her ears, she made a beeline to the table, Hawk’s laughter ringing behind her.
Dipping his knees, he caught my eyes. “Hi, my beautiful girl.”
I smiled. “Hi.”
“You ready for your night of debauchery?”
