Slowly and torturously, Mike began to enter me fully, and I placed my palms against his chest, digging my nails in. The second he was fully seated inside me, he released that deep growl of his, and I gave him the moment I knew he needed before he started to move. “You’re my heaven, Mad.”
Relaxing forward, I pressed my lips to his and pulled back just enough to stare into his eyes. “I love you, Mikey.” He smiled when I called him that. “So much that it hurts.”
He cupped my face in his hands, kissed me with complete conviction, and when I shift my body to his, Mike began to move, and together we got lost in the love we’d created.
***
“Two bedrooms.” He pointed to the apartment on the bulletin board. We stood just outside the Bullet, a cute little breakfast cafe near my place, looking over the board where people had stopped to place ads. There were help wanted signs, all the way up to lost animals. But in the mix were two places for rent, both apartments.
“It says it has a small yard so we could get a dog.”
“A dog?”
“Yes.” I looked back over my shoulder, and he smiled. “A dog could be a learning experience before we have our first child.” I focused on the poster and tried not to show my surprise that I knew was written all over my face.
“Far-off children, babe. Don’t worry.”
“You were so worried.” When he chuckled, I too laughed.
“Okay, hun, a little shocked, but definitely not worried.”
We stood there talking about the two apartment options a little longer while we waited for our table. I showed interest; I did. But in all honesty, it didn’t feel right, and I knew it had nothing to do with Mike.
“Mad, what’s wrong?” I saw the concern and panic in his eyes. “Do you not want this?”
“It’s not that.” His smile had faded, and that was the last thing I wanted. Him feeling as though I was second-guessing our choice to move in together broke my heart. “What would you think about us finding a place together back home?”
“In Brooklet?” He eyed me skeptically.
“Yeah.”
“It’s not that far of a commute.” Again, he paused, looking my face over, weighing it out in his eyes, I guessed. “Is that what you want?”
“I’ve thought about often, a lot more here lately. I miss being home, miss seeing everybody as often as I can.”
“Then we’ll move home.” It had not gone unnoticed the way both of us referred to Brooklet as home. It was little place in the world, the one we’d built so many memories in. Some good, some not so good, but it didn’t matter; it was the place that held our hearts and always would.
It was the place that one day I wanted to build a family in. I wanted my kids to be as close to the people I loved the most; I wanted them to have that same sense of security that I did, ever since that big group of crazy accepted me as one of their own.
Chapter Thirty-One
Mike
“Your mom was on the phone with mine for over an hour last night.” Rhett grabbed the bucket I’d placed on the tailgate of my truck and placed it on the ground. Turning back, he waited for the next. “They’ve already decided that they’ll be throwing you all a house- or apartment-warming party.” He chuckled, and I ignored him.
It wasn’t that long ago they threw that bastard a housewarming party and a baby shower. One thing about this group was they loved to celebrate. First tooth, party, first A on a spelling test, boom, party. Thing was I wasn’t even joking.
“So, this thing with Maddison,” Rhett added, placing the third bucket of feed onto the ground at his feet. “It’s good?”
I nodded and then looked up to find him grinning like a freak. I tried to control my own, but it was impossible. Just thinking of Maddison made my excitement shoot through the roof, but talking about her, fuck, I was elated.
“I don’t think I have ever seen you smile quite this much,” Rhett taunted me, but I didn’t care. He was right; I was happier than I had ever been before. Maddison brought that out in me, and if being teased made him feel good, so be it. Lord knew I’d given him enough shit over the years.
“You boys almost done?” Gramps exited the barn and walked over to the truck with that damn dog of his following close behind. Bones was always his shadow. “I got a shit that needs shoveled in the stalls.”
“He’ll do it,” Rhett and I said simultaneously as we pointed to the opposite person. Gramps stared at us, shaking his head before turning to walk away.
“Since the both of you are so damned eager, you can share the task.”
“I’ve got work in a few hours, so it looks like you’re on your own.”
“Fucker,” Rhett whispered to me under his breath, and I laughed.
I didn’t have work, but Rhett didn’t need to know that. Maddison was meeting me in town because she’d set up a few viewings of small houses around town. We’d decided we wanted a yard, not huge, but large enough to host our own family gatherings. We also wanted two bedrooms, not for kids but space.
Renting was our best option for now until we’d decided if we’d want to build something new or find ourselves a project home that we’d refinish together.
The thrill of starting this venture with her was a constant in
