“For our date.” I licked my lips. “I’d been super nervous, and it was just easier to blame everything on your messiness than look at myself in the mirror and realize that maybe I was part of the problem, that my need to keep everything in little straight lines was an issue.”
Her eyes softened. “Maybe we should just be thankful we figured it out sooner rather than later?”
“Mmm.” I pulled her into my arms. “Agreed.”
I kissed her forehead, the feeling so normal and natural that warmth spread through my chest.
We walked by the large bed. It felt wrong to get rid of it, but it felt weird sleeping with Colby in it knowing I’d probably be getting her naked where they… yeah, we weren’t going there.
I followed Colby into my bedroom and turned off the lights once she got under the covers. “Sleep tight.” I started to leave.
“Wait, where are you going?” She shot up out of bed.
I laughed. “Kidding, I just wanted to see your face.”
A pillow came flying at me.
I caught it midair and then slowly joined her, pressing a heated kiss to her neck right below her ear. She let out a little moan and reached for me.
I sighed in contentment. “I really want sex right now, but…”
“You’re exhausted,” she finished for me, and then she yawned. “Me too.”
“All the sex tomorrow,” I promised, marveling at how we sounded like a legit married couple as I pulled her into my arms and then drew the covers over us.
Everything was falling into place.
Things felt perfect.
So why did I fall asleep with a feeling of dread and then have nightmares of something happening to the kids or Colby?
I was in a shit mood when I woke up the next day to see a calendar invite for a meeting this morning with Heather’s dad. She’d set up the meeting, even after I’d told her I didn’t need to discuss her father’s job offer—even after she’d put in her two weeks. What was her angle? Something felt wrong, and I was afraid to say something to Colby; the last thing I needed was to freak her out after everything had been going so well. Besides, I only had a few more days of dealing with Heather.
I clenched my teeth and gulped down my coffee, ignoring my burned throat. It was supposed to be Colby’s day to go in and get some work done, but that clearly wasn’t happening, and I hoped she wouldn’t get frustrated that she couldn’t work until later tonight.
“Morning!” she said from the bottom of the stairs with Viera following close behind, Bugsy in one hand and Stu in hot pursuit, meowing.
Colby was wearing a large black sweatshirt and white leggings that looked amazing on her, her face was makeup-free, and her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail.
She looked really pretty, but then her smile fell when she saw my expression. “Oh no, did something happen?”
“No, not really,” I sighed. “I need to go into work today. Heather made the appointment with her dad after all, and he’s coming to my office. Unless I want to burn a bridge with one of the most powerful families in town…”
Colby deflated a bit. “You need to go. But no more fruit baskets!”
I slowly made my way over to her and set my cup on the counter, then took her hand in mine, linking our fingers. “No more fruit.”
She scowled as I pulled her in for a hug, then kissed her forehead. “Trust me.”
“You know I do.” She smiled. “Just hurry home to us.”
“I know how to handle her, all right? And tomorrow you can go to the office and work on your next blog post. I’m really looking forward to the Swedish meatball recipe.”
Her head whipped up. “The only way you’d know that is if you follow my blog or Instagram.”
I smiled. “Weird…”
“You followed me?” Her eyes filled with tears.