Rhythm of Us: Book 2 Of The Fated Hearts Series (30 page)

“El, I believe you’re already acquainted with my boyfriend, Ben.”

Ellie knew how much I missed Ben the week that we didn’t speak. I came clean to her one night about everything after I started going to NA meetings. She sat on the guest bed at the Wright’s house and cried with me as I fought so hard to reconcile my mistakes in my past and a chance with Ben as my shiny, promising future.

“Welcome to the family.” Ellie gave Ben a tight squeeze.

Dinner was served and I spent most of the meal telling hilarious stories from my childhood. Ben fit right in and it made me so fucking happy. There were many times that our hands connected beneath the table. It just felt right to have him be there sharing a meal and breathing the same air as my family. I hoped he would join us every Sunday and planned to ask him on the way home.

Awkward silence greeted us once our goodbyes were exchanged and we were back in my car. I figured it was because neither of us were ready for the weekend to be over or wanted to say goodbye, but weren’t sure how to broach the topic of sleeping arrangements for that night. Ben had to work the next day and I couldn’t leave Oliver alone for a second night. He had plenty of food and water, but I promised to take good care of him which included human contact for the little guy. If not, he acted up, which I learned firsthand when Gray left him in my care for a few days while he wooed Chase back after a misunderstanding.

I pulled up in front of Ben’s house but left the car running. Ben looked over at me with an unspoken invitation in his eyes.

“If I go inside with you now I won’t want to leave. I have to get back to spend time with Oliver. He’s probably destroyed their house by now.”

“I can pack a bag and stay over with you. I hate to be presumptuous, but damn I’m not ready to turn loose of you yet.”

“I’d love to have you stay over with us.” Another night in his arms sounded like pure heaven to me. “Are you sure it’s not too much of an inconvenience with having to work?”

“Not at all. I’ll run into my house and pack a few things. I’ll drive separate and can go straight to the office in the morning. Their house is actually closer to work than mine. I’ll get another night with you and can leave for work later. It’s a win-win for me.”

I let us inside Gray and Chase’s home fifteen minutes later. I flicked on the light and found Oliver sitting midway up the staircase. He was giving me the evil “where the fuck have you been”
kitty glare and swishing his tail like he meant serious business. I half expected to find a pile of kitty poop on my bed. Oliver stood up, turned around, and haughtily walked up the steps.

“We better sleep with one eye open tonight,” Ben whispered in my ear. I couldn’t agree with him more.

XAVIER AND I
were invited to celebrate July 4
th
at the Wright’s house. They were hosting their first pool party and barbeque as a married couple. Gray told me that we’d have a great view of the fireworks being set off at a park a few miles from their house. I really liked the idea of holding Xavier in my arms while watching fireworks explode across the night sky. I was starting to turn into a big sap and I loved every minute of it.

The usual suspects were present with a few surprises thrown in. Liam, the cute bartender from Bottoms Up, was there, but without the big hulking Jack Murphy keeping an eye on him. Liam told me that the 4
th
is usually a slow night so Jack closed the bar.

“Jack didn’t feel like coming?” I asked Liam.

“Fireworks and explosions probably aren’t his thing after all of his tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Liam replied solemnly.

“I’m sure you’re right,” I replied sympathetically. “I’m glad you get the holiday off to spend with some friends.”

Liam looked around the growing crowd. “I really don’t know that many people here, but I
am
grateful to be invited.”

Gray told me I could invite Bevan to the party and I did, but I didn’t expect him to show up. It was a welcome surprise when I heard his voice introducing himself to people. I gave him a big hug with a hearty slap to his back. We’d talked several more times since the night of the benefit and had gotten even closer. He was really happy for me that I’d found Xavier, but made me promise not to try and fix him up with anyone.

“Ellie, it’s good to see you again,” he said.
Did his voice drop an octave or two?
“Pregnancy really suits you.” I had forgotten that Ellie met Bevan when he went to her house looking for Xavier the morning after Chase and Gray’s wedding.

“Thanks,” she replied shyly. I took in Ellie’s pink cheeks and Van’s shy smile and my wheels started turning. I stopped myself before I got too carried away, after all, a promise was a promise.

JJ and Miller were both at the party, which I found kind of strange. I would have thought those two tomcats would have been somewhere else, picking up their next conquest instead of attending a family friendly barbecue. Maybe those two were outgrowing all the fucking around like I had. Then I caught JJ and Miller both sizing up Liam like he was a tasty treat. Nope, they were happy just the way they were and that was just fine too, but not with Liam. There was something about the younger guy that brought out big brother type feelings in me. Jack wasn’t here to look out for him, so I did the honors by glaring at JJ and Miller until they looked at me. I shook my head no, plus the look on my face must’ve been enough, because they both threw up their hands in surrender.

It was hard to believe that I was like them not so long ago. I looked over at where Xavier sat next to his sister at a table beneath a large rainbow-colored umbrella. He sensed he was being watched and looked up; our eyes met and held. I wouldn’t trade what I was building with him for a meaningless night of debauchery with a stranger. JJ and Miller could keep their lonely nights, because I knew how right it felt to hold the man you love in your arms.

Love?
Yes, love.

“I no longer want to hear a single snarky comment out of you.” Gray had come over to stand beside me and I didn’t even know it. “No more remarks about lovesick fools or telling me I’m anus whipped. Do you hear me?” Gray’s good-natured admonishment made me smile.

“Yes sir.” I aimed for contrite. I really did tease him endlessly about his sappy love affair with Chase, but that was before I knew what it felt like to need someone else in order to breathe.

“Welcome to the club, my friend.” Gray held out his fist and I bumped it. “Say, are you any good at water volleyball or polo?”

“I’ve never tried water polo, but I’m pretty decent at volleyball. Please tell me that you’re not thinking of Wright vs. Wright matches.” I groaned at the possibility. “This is supposed to be relaxing and fun for
all
of us, not just feisty foreplay for you two,” I said with a laugh.

We ended up drawing colored straws out of a paper bag for teams, which would have made it less stressful on everyone if Gray and Chase had both drawn a red or blue straw, but fate was not smiling down upon us that time. Gray drew a red straw and Chase drew blue. Xavier and I both drew a blue straw so I chose to focus on that positive.

I found every opportunity to touch my boyfriend, whether it be a simple touch beneath the water or an all-out kiss and hug after we won a game. Our team ended up winning the best of three matches in volleyball, but lost our asses in water polo. We were like ravenous wolves by the time we climbed out of the pool. Luckily, Lennie and Gram had manned the grill, while Gray’s parents had laid out all the condiments and side dishes.

“Are you done with water sports for the night?” I asked Xavier when we finished eating. He nodded and leaned in for a kiss. “Let’s go put on some dry clothes.”

I snagged our bag on our way through the kitchen with the intention of using the small half bath down the hall to get dressed. The door opened just as we approached it and JJ stepped out, followed by Miller. Both men were straightening their clothes and hair, but it was the surprised looks on their faces that really gave them away.

“I’ll be damned.” I couldn’t let the moment go by without some sort of remark.

“Shut the fuck up,” JJ snarled.

Miller looked embarrassed at being caught and made a hasty retreat without saying a word. JJ watched him walk away and looked like he wanted to say something to him, but held back. I thought back to the night of the charity benefit and the comment JJ made about Miller getting whatever he wanted. I had to wonder if there were more undertones and depth to that seemingly innocent statement.

JJ walked away without another word and Xavier and I just grinned at one another. The bathroom was vacant and the chivalrous guy I had become wanted to make sure Xavier got out of his wet things and into dry clothes. It was the only considerate thing to do. Too bad my chivalry stayed on the other side of the door.

“I have an announcement to make,” Gram said once we returned to the party. Xavier and Chase groaned, but I just smiled. I loved every crazy thing that came out of the woman’s mouth. “Lennie and I are getting married.”

The announcement was met with cheers and applause. Xavier and Chase leaped from their chairs and group hugged her within an inch of her life before they hugged Lennie. Ava and Ellie followed, but at a slower pace due to the precious cargo they carried.

“We haven’t set a date yet,” Gram announced. “I’m still not convinced why we,” she gestured back and forth between Lennie and herself, “need to get married at seventy years old. I resisted for as long as I could, but he threatened to start withholding sex, so I caved.”

There was the Gram I had come to know and love.

“Aggie,” Lennie playfully admonished. “The kids don’t want to hear about our personal relations.”

“As if they’re not all screwing like monkeys every damn chance they get. Don’t think I didn’t notice how long it took for some of you to
change
into dry clothes.”
Guilty!

Van guffawed beside me and I forgot this was his first time around Gram. “She’s really something isn’t she?” I asked Van.

“She’s freaking awesome! Man, Chase and Xavier were lucky to be raised by her,” Van replied in awe.

Gram came to our table after the excitement wore off. She placed her hand over mine, leaned in, and kissed me on the cheek. “I thank God for you daily, Ben.” I looked into her eyes and saw the seriousness that matched the tone of her voice. “I do!” She clearly read the skepticism in my eyes. No one had ever told me that they were thankful to God for me.

I swallowed hard around the lump that formed in my throat. I didn’t quite know how to respond to a statement like that. “Thank you, Gram.” It wasn’t a very savvy response, but it was all I could muster at the time.

“You’re welcome, sugar. You just keep that sparkle in my boy’s eyes and that will be thanks enough. You know, I give Lennie a hard time about the marriage stuff, but it feels really good to belong to someone again.” I saw emotional tears well up in her eyes. “I never thought I’d love again, but look at me now.”

“Congratulations. You’re going to make a beautiful bride.”

“What kind of dress are you going to wear?” Ellie asked.

“Oh, something classy and timeless,” Gram replied.

“Classy and timeless? I miss the wild outfits you used to wear,” Ellie confessed with a pout. “Are you toning it down, because of Lennie?”

“In part,” Gram said softly. “Mostly, I realized that sexiness is a state of mind and not an outfit choice. I feel just as sexy in this sleeveless top and capri pants than if I wore a halter dress. There is no shame in dressing sexy and there is no expiration date on feeling sexy. Lennie has helped me see that I don’t need risqué outfits to be sexy; I just need to feel it inside.” Gram reached over and patted Ellie’s arm. “Don’t worry, baby girl, I’m not toning down my mouth one bit.” Gram winked at us and stood to go find Lennie. “I’ve had a beautiful time, but I am ready to go home. Lennie is all the fireworks I need tonight.”

I commandeered a lounge chair as the night sky turned darker. I sat down and Xavier nestled in between my legs and laid back against my chest. I wrapped my arms around him, forming an X over his chest. Xavier placed his hands around my wrists and sighed in contentment, like he’d wanted to be right there in my arms all day long. I knew just how he felt, because it was exactly what I had been craving too.