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A few hours later, I’d fixed two sinks and been chipping away at the broken tiles in the unfinished bathroom when Has knocked on the doorframe.
“I’m going to place an order for food. Any preferences? I’ll buy, you fly?”
“Yeah, whatever you guys want. You know I eat everything,” I said.
“So I’ve heard,” Has laughed, smiling like a dickhead.
“New rule, Iz,” I looked him in the eye as I yelled for her, wherever she was. “No telling Has about our sex life!”
He chuckled on his way down the hallway.
My phone vibrated my whole ass cheek. Believe it or not, that cold chick from New Year’s Eve saw the photo of Louisa and me on the club’s Instagram and had the whole comment section working together to track me down. She left my coat at Eilidh’s a couple of days ago, and my phone was in the pocket.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to the size of this thing on my person.
Ortiz
What time tonight?
Me
For….?
Ortiz
Nothing
I twisted my back in a stretch.
Me
Was I supposed to watch CJ tonight?
Ortiz
No I texted the wrong person
Okay, fucker. He’d been cagey about when we were going to hang out before I left, but that wasn’t unusual for Marines. I think deployments hit harder for the guys left behind, if I’m being honest. Still, it was getting late in the day, and Louisa and I planned to spend tomorrow with my mom and sisters. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to Christian.
I swept up the tile chips and mortar dust and put my tools away.
An hour later, I’d picked up the absolutely massive Thai order Has placed and pulled into the rear access to their house with it buckled into my passenger seat. I pulled the bags out and noticed the noise coming from inside. People talking.
The windows glowed, and I caught the familiar cadence of my mother’s voice, followed quickly by Eilidh’s. I told those bastards I didn’t want a big goodbye thing, but warmth filled me head-to-toe anyway as I took the stairs, letting Christian open the door for me and kiss my head while my hands were too full to fight back.
“He’s here!” Louisa squeaked from the living room. The sounds of stumbling and cursing under breath were unmistakable. Christian grinned at me mouthing, She tried.
I spoke louder than usual. “What are you doing here? Dropping off that set of camis that feels like pajamas?” Wink, wink.
Christian leaned right into the ruse. “Yeah bro, I couldn’t let you sneak off without ‘em. They’re in the other room.”
The light was off, and he flicked his finger like he wanted to make sure I flipped on the lights when I went in. I felt around on the wall, not yet familiar enough with Louisa’s house to know where the switch was. When I found it, I flicked the switch, but nothing happened.
“Shit,” Louisa muttered before she caught herself.
“Surprise!!” said the room. I couldn’t see anyone in the dark, but as they all started speaking at once, I figured out quickly who was there. Arms wrapped around my middle and I smelled Louisa’s shampoo. The label says ‘watermelon’ but it just smells like my girl to me. I squeezed her tight, grinning.
That’s it, Liam. Do ye feel it?
