“Ceiling. You won’t see it.”
I hear her move around our bedroom. “How’s work?”
“Done. I’m almost home.”
“Good. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
When we hang up, Little Ricky mimics me, “Miss you, too.”
I slap the back of his headrest, which makes him chuckle.
Finally, he steers the SUV up the driveway, and when we get out, I tell him, “Be ready at six.”
“Got it.”
While he heads to his apartment, I stalk toward the front door that opens, and when I see my smiling wife, my heart fills with overpowering love for her.
“Hi.”
I don’t reply but just hook my arm around her, lifting her off her feet. Laurie grabs hold of my shoulders, and I don’t even bother shutting the door as I carry her to our bedroom.
“I missed you,” I say as I head up the stairs.
“I missed you more.”
I shake my head. “Impossible.”
Stopping beside our bed, I gently set her down, with the intention of jumping in the shower, but Laurie presses her mouth to mine.
I grip the sides of her head and kiss her with all the desire that’s been building inside of me the past several days.
Dr. Milazzo said as long as we’re careful, intimacy is fine after ten days.
I tear my mouth from hers before I lose every ounce of control, then mutter, “It’s going to be the longest four days of my fucking life, waiting until I can make love to you again.”
“Yep.” With flushed cheeks, she walks to where the dress is hanging. “Let’s get ready. I don’t want to be late.”
“How are things between you, Nina, and Yuki?”
“So good!” The smile spreading over her face is stunning. “They’ve been like two mother hens, checking on me every day. Nina sent me the cutest video of her daughter. Wanna see?”
“Sure.” For Laurie, I’d watch all the damn videos in the world.
She hurries to the bedside table and picks up her phone, and when she rushes to me, I mutter, “Slow down,mia piccola farfalla.Stop with the sudden movements, it’s making me nervous. The last thing I want is that fucking artery ripping open.”
Opening her phone, she finds the video and presses play.
It shows Georgi in the kitchen, peeling shells from a boiled egg, before sitting down beside Simi.
“Thank you, Daddy,” the little girl says, making surprise ripple over my friend’s face. “I like my eggs… ahh… a lot.”
I’ve never seen the man cry, but it looks like he’s really close to fucking tears as he presses a kiss to her head. “You’re welcome,malkata mi printsesa. Your English is getting so good.” I watch as he swallows hard on the lump in his throat, and his voice is hoarse when he says, “Daddy’s proud of you.”
Christ.
The video stops, then Laurie grins up at me. “Aww, that one got you in the feels, didn’t it?”