Thank goodness it wasn’t just a me thing. This entire trip had felt like a daydream. They were all so nice, and I’d be lying if I didn’t want it to happen again.
“Can we hang out again sometime?” I blurted before I could stop myself.Whoops.
“You’re one of us now. You’re going to get sick of us soon enough, and you’ll regret asking that,” Seth teased from my left.
I ducked my head. I wouldn’t. I liked that they wanted to include me. That I was part of something that no one else was. Queer friends who loved themselves and each other. Who boosted one another up when they needed it, took them shopping and just enjoyed one another’s company.
“I doubt that.” I murmured.
“It’s overwhelming at times,” Saint spoke up. “But in all honesty, the WAGs is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I’m not sure I’d be here if I didn’t have them. In North Carolina, I mean. Asher wanted to retire, and we could have gone anywhere, but he left it up to me.”
Holt nodded in agreement. “And they’ll be there for you no matter. Trust me, you’ll act like you hate all the gossip and mothering, but secretly you’ll love it and miss them when you’re not hanging out.”
I met Maverick’s eyes in the rear-view mirror. “Sounds terrible.” I giggled when Ezra sighed loudly next to me. “No, really, I had a good time together. I don’t have a lot of close friends to hang out with anymore.”
“Now you’re one of us, so you’ll never be alone,” Maverick assured me. He pulled his vehicle into the Whitakers’ driveway. “This is okay, right? I figured you wanted to see your boyfriend.” He twisted around to smile at me.
Cole was walking toward the SUV already.
“This is perfect, thank you.”
“Hey,” Cole greeted me when I climbed from the vehicle. He reached for the bag I was holding, but I quickly shoved it behind my back. “Oh, that’s a surprise then.”
Maverick and Ezra giggled together like a couple of mother hens. “That’s for later, but you’re going to love it,” Ezra assured him.
“Is it what I think it is?” Cole’s baby blues burned into me like he could read my mind. Like he knew exactly what I was thinking. About how I couldn’t wait to model the lingerie for him. Let him slip it from my body while our lips were locked together.
I hummed softly. “Maybe.”
“Okay, boo, hug me before we leave.” Ezra held out his arms, and when I stared at him, he wiggled his fingers at me. “It’s what we do here. Hugs are my love language.”
“So is calling him pretty.” Matthias rolled his eyes when Ezra gave him the finger. “That’s not very friendly.”
Saint covered his mouth as he laughed, and Seth snorted. “Ezra loves to be told how beautiful he is. He’s like Tinkerbell when he doesn’t get enough attention.”
“You know what?” Ezra huffed. “This is not give Ezra shit day just because he likes praise. This was us taking out the newbie and showing him how much fun we are. You three are not being very fun right now. Why am I friends with you all again?”
Maverick pushed his way toward his best friend. “Because we love you. We’re not giving you shit; we’re teasing you. There’s a difference. Come on, let’s go back to my place. I’ll make you your favorite for dinner.”
I wrapped my arms around Ezra before he could move. “Thank you. For including me today. I had a good time, and I hope I’ll be invited back.”
“You’re invited to every single thing now, Reed.” Ezra squeezed me tight. “Now go show your boyfriend what you picked out for him. And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Holt didn’t even try to hide his laugh. “Those are your words of wisdom?”
“I hate you all.” Ezra stomped back to the SUV, he was smiling. He couldn’t have been that mad.
I said goodbye to the rest of the WAGs and then turned to smile at Cole. He reached for my hand, and we walked inside the house together.
I STARED AT MYSELFin the bathroom mirror. The panties were perfect. They fit like a glove, and I made a plan in my head to buy more in different colors. I wasn’t normally someone who dressed like this or wore sexy undergarments. But they made me feel desirable. Like I knew that Cole was going to lose his mind when he saw them on me in person. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and opened the door.
“Holy fuck.” Cole’s eyes burned with desire. He made a twirling motion with his finger. “Turn around.”
I did as he told me, scared that he wouldn’t like the way they looked or that I wasn’t enough. Like the thick, muscular guy he had kissed at hockey camp. The one that broke his heart. I tried to smile, to clear my head of my insecurities, but when my vision blurred, I choked out a sob.
“Sorry, I just need a second.”
“What’s wrong?” Cole’s hands were suddenly on my shoulders. He gripped my chin and forced me to look up at him.