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McMonster: I will be spending it with the love of my life.
CAL
“Back for Good”—Take That
“Doesn’t she look so much better now that her face caught up with the size of her nose?” Dylan cooed, nuzzling her nose against Grav’s cheeks. Grav gave her a bitch, you ain’t no Gisele either look, spinning on her chubby heel and stumbling her way to the open arms of my husband.
Let me say that again for emphasis—my husband. Whom I’d woken up next to every day for the past year, in our gorgeous London apartment. The first thing he’d done when he carried me back to his place after my love-declaration-turned-engagement was give me a tour around our flat. Everything was so classy and decadent. I had turned to face Row and asked, “Can we please christen the floor?” He’d dutifully obliged. Since then, we’d christened the carpets, each bedroom, laundry machine, countertops, cupboard, library, and drawing room. We were faithful like that.
I never ended up returning to the U.S., let alone Staindrop. There was nothing left for me in the States. A week after I’d come to London, I had found myself a recording studio for my podcast, which was now taking off and already had ten thousand subscribers across all platforms. Maybe it wasn’t huge for other people. But for me, it was a win.
Mamushka visited us often. She loved traveling and the plane time was a great excuse to knit more mittens. Her Etsy shop was thriving. She made a great living and enjoyed helping Dylan with Gravity.
As for Dylan, she’d tried encouraging Tucker to get involved with Grav, but he’d seemed grossly disinterested. He was still with Allison, who was awaiting trial for her Staindrop shenanigans while on house arrest. Her reputation was in the same place her personality was—the shitter. Frankly, they deserved each other.
“Don’t listen to your mother.” Row snatched Grav after she tumbled into his arms, tossing her in the air like pizza dough. She almost hit the ceiling. He always gave me so much anxiety when he did that to her, but it made her produce that never-ending toddler giggle that danced across my skin every time I heard it. “You are the most beautiful girl in the world. Only second to Auntie Dot.”
“Grav was always going to be beautiful,” Kieran, who was now good friends with Row, pointed out. We were all sitting at a Christmas table, Zeta, Mom, and Taylor included. “With a mother like Dylan.”
Dylan smiled charitably, taking a slow sip of her wine. She’d been dodging Kieran’s efforts ever since she’d come here three days ago, and it didn’t look like she had any romantic interest in him whatsoever. Guess once the raging hormones had subsided, the idea of entering a passionate affair with one of the most famous soccer players in the world hadn’t held the same shine.
“I do know how to make them.” Zeta beamed proudly.
“That, you do.” Mamushka patted her knee from the seat next to her.
“This is very wholesome.” Taylor drained the dregs of his beer, surveying the place nonchalantly, one hand tucked into his front pocket. “I’m wondering when Row’s forehead vein is going to pop from sugar overload.”
“Soon. Let’s go to the living room to start the gift-opening portion of the night.” Row stood up with Grav tucked under his arm, like she was a football. “I’m ready to give my wife her present.”
What more could he give me that he hadn’t already? I loved our life.
Rhyland made a face. “Please don’t give it to her in front of a full audience. There’s a child here.”
“Shut up,” Row said flatly. “Let’s go.”
“Okay, eager much?” Dylan looked around but slowly rose to her feet. We all ambled to the living room, ignoring our plates and half-full wineglasses in the dining area. The Christmas tree stood tall in front of the window overlooking King’s Road.
“Mine first.” Zeta shoved a gift into Row’s hands as soon as he put Grav down on the carpet. He opened it.
“Nicotine patches? How…useful.”
Row had quit smoking four months ago out of the blue. We had walked hand-in-hand along the Thames on a lazy Saturday stroll and he had seen a couple pushing a stroller and smiling down at the baby. Wordlessly, he’d tossed his pack of smokes into a bin and never bought another one again. He didn’t say a word about it to people, though. He hated it when people fussed over him.
Mamushka made everyone kick-ass mittens.
Dylan got everyone thrift-shop finds that were wonderfully and uniquely suited to their individual personalities.
Kieran got Dylan a whole-ass diamond necklace that looked like it had cost the same as a luxury car. Dylan stared at it for an entire minute before smiling at him. “Thank you, it’ll look great with my finest Walmart frocks.”
Kieran chortled, undeterred. “It’s a statement piece, darling. No need to wear anything but the necklace.”
“Tsk.” Row shook his head. “I see you’re not too attached to your teeth, Carmichael. Dot?” He turned to me.
“Hubs?” I batted my eyelashes at him. I couldn’t wait to give him my gift.
“Follow me for your gift.”
“Thank you.” Rhyland pretended to wipe invisible sweat off his forehead. “From the bottom of my heart. Nobody needs to see that.”
