Shea kissed my cheek and headed down the hall to the guest room.
It was time to go check on my man. We’d been interrupted at a very poignant moment, and I wanted to pick up where we left off.
“Beau, darling,” I called, padding down the hall and through the open door of my room. Beau was sitting cross-legged on the bed, a small blanket in his hands. He looked up at me and smiled, though it was a little too sad for my liking.
“What’s that?” I crawled onto the bed and wrapped myself around him from behind, propping my chin on his shoulder and linking my hands across his stomach.
“It’s a blankie my mom made for me when I was little. I was thinking…” He trailed off and sighed.
I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You were thinking what?”
“That I might get rid of it.”
“Ah. And why’s that?”
Beau sighed. “Because I don’t think she ever loved either of us at any point. I kept it because I felt like it was the only evidence that maybe, for just a little while, shehadloved me. But I’m not so sure anymore. How could anything she did or said be likened to love? She’s the reason Shea wanted to…todie. I didn’t know he was in so much pain that he wanted to… I neverknew. And I was so mad at him for so long, and…” His voice was rough and low, and I wished I could take all his pain away. My poor, precious baby; he’d only just found out today? I guess I always assumed that Shea had told him, but Christ.
I kissed his neck and said, “I know, sugar. It’s not your fault. There was no way for you to know if he didn’t tell you. But that was a long time ago. He’s in a good place now—literally and figuratively. I promise.” I unlinked my fingers and stroked a firm hand up and down his chest. “So you want to get rid of that? Do you wanna burn it? Shred it? Take it to the dump? I’ll help you, baby.”
Beau leaned back against me. “I think I’d like to donate it. It’s got my name on it, but maybe another Beau will find it.”
“Okay. Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“Hey Lea?”
“Mm?”
“Did you really not kiss anyone before me?”
I chuckled softly. “Is there anything Judydidn’ttell you? Ugh. Yes, I really didn’t kiss anyone before you. Well, not for ten years, at least. It felt too…intimate. I guess I must really like you or something.”
Beau smacked my hand so gently it was more like a caress. “Shut up.”
“Yeah, I think I, like, might evenloveyou,” I said with feigned incredulity.
Beau whipped around and pinned me to the bed with a soft growl that made my full heart pound and all the blood in mybody rush to my dick. He dragged my wrists over my head and lowered himself until his lips were on mine. “Say it again.”
His rough whisper sent delicious shivers down my spine, and I arched into him. “I love you, Beau.”
He took my lips with groan, giving me all the sweetness he could offer.
It was a lot, and still, it would never be enough.
“Your chicken poppers, Ri,”I announced, sliding the hot plate in front of my hungry, hungry hippo of a friend. Someone had to feed all those muscles.
“Hell yes! Thanks, Lea.” He dug right in.
The bar was jam-packed—it was Saturday night—and all my favorite people were here. Especially mymostfavorite person.
I gave heart eyes to Beau, who was a few seats down talking with Shea. As if he could feel my gaze, he glanced over at me. The smile that stretched across his face made my heart flutter. I couldn’t believe this beautiful boy was all mine, but I wasn’t about to question it too much. I felt settled now that I’d been able to share my feelings and give myself to him completely.
And oh, the perks to being with Beau were endless. He was going to let me count his freckles later, and I planned on doing a very, very thorough tally. With my tongue.
I blew Beau a kiss, making him blush, and reluctantly turned back to Riley. “You’re quite welcome. Although my generosity does come with a price,” I told him with a sly smile.
“What?” he mumbled around a mouth full of chicken.
I held two fingers up. “Two hugs a day for a whole week straight.”