Page 89 of Wine & Dine

“I love when you take what you want from me,” he says, pinning me with his stare. His mouth seeks mine, and I return the kiss with equal fervor, drinking in what he says, letting it fill me to the brim with happiness. I pull back slowly, tugging his lower lip with mine before releasing him. Shifting as if to move off him, he grips my hips to hold me a second longer. “You’re my somebody, Dolores. My. Somebody.”

“I love you,” I tell him, and we kiss another moment, pouring into that kiss all the words, the fears, and the hope.

I won’t leave you, I tell him with my lips on his.

I won’t hurt you, he assures me.

We pull back, breathless once again. With a final peck, I slip off his lap and tighten my robe around my waist.

“Let’s find some breakfast,” I suggest. “I’ll take care of that later,” I tease as I point at the hard-on I’ve left him with. Garrett swats my backside as he stands to adjust himself and then follows me into the kitchen where we find Denton perched against the new island awaiting a countertop. His gaze is lowered as his arms cross over his chest, and his fingers draw over his lips.

“Denton,” I say in the way of greeting. He doesn’t look at me. His eyes leap to Garrett’s.

“We need some ground rules,” he states, keeping his focus over my shoulder to Garrett, who wraps an arm around my waist and tugs me back to him like a shield against my brother. “No sex in the common areas.”

Garrett chuckles. “Roommate rules? Leave a sock on the door or something?” My brother shudders, uncrossing his arms and resting his hands on the uncovered top of the cabinets. He turns his head away from us.

“I was in a band for years. Too many close quarters. I’m too old for this shit.” Mati enters the room, glancing among all of us. With clenched teeth, Denton repeats, “No common areas.”

“I see the pot is calling the kettle black,” she teases, walking up to him and slipping her arms around his waist. She tips up on her toes and presses a kiss just under his jaw. It’s sweet, and the first time I’ve seen them truly affectionate with one another. My brother softens under her touch. She turns to face me, keeping her body against his. “It’s only temporary.”

“What is?” I ask, my eyes drifting to Denton. Now what isn’t he telling me?

“We’d like to build a place of our own. On the property, if we can, but away from the main house a bit. We all need some space,” Mati says, shifting her eyes from Garrett and me to Denton.

“When did you decide this?”

“We’ve been discussing it for a bit. Denton wanted to get Magnolia set up first. Fix this place for her. With you home, things are shifting, and rightfully so,” Mati emphasizes, squeezing Denton who remains silent while she speaks. “You’ve always taken care of Magnolia, and we aren’t giving the responsibility back to you. Fixing the house is for both of you…and I guess Garrett now too.” Garrett’s arms tighten around me.

“I want a place that doesn’t hold so many memories. I want new memories,” Denton adds, finally wrapping his arms around Mati to secure her to him. I understand. Mati sold the home she lived in with her husband for twenty-something years. Denton’s only known Magnolia’s as a place of refuge from our father. If he wants to build a new life here, he’s going to need to start with a place of his own.

“Dolores?” Garrett deflects to me, kissing the top of my head. He’s asking me to answer instead of speaking for me, and I appreciate the subtle context of his kiss. He’s right behind me in any decision I make. For us.

“It sounds okay to me.”

“So for the time being, it appears we’re roommates,” Mati confirms. “I didn’t go away to college, so what’s the sock thing?”

“It’s when you hang a sock on the door because you’re having sex in the room and don’t want to be disturbed,” Garrett clarifies.

“Warning your roommate that he might need bleach to clear his eyes of the vision of him doing something with…” Denton’s voice drifts. He still can’t look at me, and it makes me wonder how long he was listening to Garrett, me, and the creaking chair. Did he walk in on us, too? Oh, God.

“Anyway…” Mati draws out, and then we hear the tapping of Magnolia’s cane. Her room is off the kitchen, keeping her safely on one level. Under her arm is a pile of something, cloth-like somethings, in a swirl of black and white. Magnolia dumps the pile on the kitchen floor and turns back for her room.

“Are those…?” I begin.

“Sweet Jesus,” Mati mutters.

“Socks?” Denton croaks, his voice rising on the word, but Garrett laughs—a deep belly laugh. He stands behind me, in that way he has, surrounding me with his presence. His head lowers to mine, rolling against it as he continues to chuckle, and everything clicks into place. With Garrett at my back and the sound of his laughter—his happiness—in my ear, I know everything is all going to be okay.

I was his somebody, and he was mine.