“I hope you’re all hungry,” Willow calls over her shoulder as she wheels herself around the room and finishes setting the table.
“What can we do to help?” Clara offers.
“Nothing at all. Just tell Zach what drinks you’d like.”
Zach stands by the open refrigerator. “We have sodas, wine, and beer.”
“I’ll have a glass of wine.” Clara starts to reach for my hand but quickly retreats.
I fight a curse, wanting desperately to finally be able to hold her hand in front of others. Instead of throwing a fit, I ask for a soda.
“Baby, I’ll have a wine too, please,” Willow says. “And the table is set. Grab some plates, and let’s eat.” She claps, then wheels herself to meet us by the counter.
We huddle around the food like we haven’t eaten in days as we chatter about Jacob’s good grades and how excited he is for basketball practice to start.
Our voices fill the kitchen.
The smell of a home-cooked meal surrounds us.
We each take our seats, Clara next to me, Willow and Zach on the other side, and Jacob sits at the head of the table.
I bow to him from my seat. “Your majesty.”
He nods back, a smile tugging at his mouth. “Thank you, Squire.”
“Willow, you’ve outdone yourself.” Clara hums. “This meatloaf is delicious. What did you add? A mustard paste of some sort?”
“I did. Good catch.”
I watch Clara, beaming. “Clara’s an amazing cook herself. I taught her, of course.”
The table scoffs in unison like I just told them I found a pile of gold in my backyard.
“The only thing you could teach her is how to burn toast.” Willow rolls her eyes.
Clara giggles into her napkin.
Jacob speaks up. “You burned my toast yesterday morning.”
My smile slowly falls when Willow tilts her head in confusion, likely wondering why I was at their house early enough for breakfast. She hardly ever misses a thing.
Zach continues like nothing’s going on. “Don’t let Willow fool you, though. I was a major help with this dinner.”
Willow side-eyes him. “Because you cooked some vegetables in a skillet? Bravo, Gordon Ramsey.” Her eyes twinkle as she leans over to hug him with appreciation.
Dinner continues like this until we’re all moaning, stuffed to the hilt.
“Jacob”—my sister wheels herself back to the table from putting away the dishes—“you’ll never guess what Zach bought and needs help with.”
Jacob shrugs, waiting for an answer.
“A Lego set. Want to play?”
“Yeah.” He turns to Clara and me, and I love that I’m included in such a simple request. “Can I?”
“Of course, sweetie.”
“But come back soon because we have dessert too.”
“Awesome.” He runs to the other room, following Zach to the city of Legos.
Even though Jacob knows about Clara and me, we still wait until he’s out of earshot to talk about it openly with my sister.
I glance at Clara, then Willow. “There’s something we want to share before you hear it from anyone else in town. Chatty Cathy has really taken her gossip to another level.”
Clara leans in, her hand resting on mine. “Did you hear her at Hooligan’s? Advertising Rory’s new girlfriend?”
“Ah, yes. The girlfriend with pink hair who’s far too young for him.”
We both chuckle, almost forgetting that Willow is here.
I clear my throat and turn my attention to her. Her focus is on Clara’s hand on mine.
I exhale, pulling Clara closer. “That’s right. We are officially together. No ifs, ands, or buts.”
“Oh my God,” she whispers, then covers her mouth. “Oh my God,” she says again but louder. “Tell me everything, but hang on. Zach, come in here.”
“What’s going on?” Zach races toward us. “Willow, what’s wrong?”
“No, no.” She wipes under her eyes. “They’re happy tears for these two.”
I wrap my arm around Clara, my hand shaking like I’m touching her breast in front of my sister.
I’m nervous that this is all true.
But when Clara threads her fingers through mine, a glimmer in her eye, it’s all the convincing I need.
“Well, it all started when Clara here saw how cut my abs are. Couldn’t keep her hands off me after that.”
Willow and Zach both laugh when Clara smacks my stomach. “And you couldn’t resist my bad mom jokes.”
I brush my nose against hers. “That’s right. You’re too cute for your own good.”
I place a kiss on her lips, relieved to finally be out there.
My sister squeals, and about the same time, Jacob enters the kitchen.
He shields his eyes. “Gross. Dax is kissing Mom again.”
We all laugh, and Clara and I bring him in for a group hug. He dropped the “Uncle” from my name when we told him we’re together, and it makes me smile every time. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.
Over my shoulder, I peer at Willow with a wink, communicating the elation I feel.
For the first time in my life, with my arms wrapped around Jacob and Clara, I can look my sister in the eye and truthfully tell her I’m happy.
I’m home.
Thirty-Two
Clara
Dax kisses me.
It’s the same as the rest of his kisses—hungry, hot, yet tender.
But this is different.
After telling Willow about us a couple weeks ago, Dax has been lighter. His kisses have become less rushed and more savoring. Like he’s tasting fine wine, breathing it in, letting it enhance his experience.
We don’t have to hide anymore.
We’re alone tonight, so we indulge. Jacob is spending the night with my dad. It wasn’t planned, but Jacob was so tired from their early morning of fishing, which then lasted most of the day, he decided to stay the night.
Which means Dax is all mine tonight.
I follow his lead, running my hands up his shirt, over the strong ridges of his stomach, until I pull the material over his head. His hair is messy and sticks out in every direction.
He looks too good.
Too adorable and sexy at the same time.
I bite my lip. “Put your white coat on.”
“Oh yeah?” He quirks his eyebrow.
I nod, then step back to admire his abs.
He turns and retrieves his coat, and
