Page 74 of The Blessing

“Is that what I am? ‘Yours’?” I ask, unable to keep the huge smile off my face.

“Of course. And I’m yours.”

“You’ve been mine all along,” I tease her, before holding her hand over the center console.

The next few days are long and tedious. I’ve never been so eager to get back to Evergreen. As soon as we arrive home at our apartment, I practically kiss the ground. I’m so thankful we made it back safely and tonight I can sleep in my own bed. We don’t bother unpacking our suitcases and merely changed into our pajamas. I order take-out so we can veg out in front of the television and relax after a long, hard drive home. I have to go back to work bright and early tomorrow morning. I wish I could just take another personal day and spend the day in bed with my beautiful girlfriend. Too bad I’m an adult with responsibilities.

Ronnie spends the night at my place and makes love to me before I pass out shortly before midnight. I wake-up before my alarm clock goes off. I groan before sliding out of bed, careful not to wake her. I jump into a hot shower with the hopes that it’ll wake me up. To my surprise, I hear the bathroom door open and close and I turn to look just in time to watch my girl strip out of her pajamas through the clear shower curtain. I’m already smiling at what she has planned before she joins me under the hot water. She doesn’t say anything, merely kisses me and drops to her knees before me. Now, I’m fully awake. I gasp as her lips wrap around my cock and brace myself against the slippery shower wall as she sucks me off. As soon as she rolls my balls around in her hand, I come. She swallows every bit before standing up to hold me.

“I love you, baby,” she says simply before kissing my shoulder.

“God, I love you, too, Ronnie. So much.” I pull back, wanting to do something to please her despite my exhaustion. “Now, it’s your turn.”

“No, baby. Don’t worry about that. This morning was about you. Besides, you’ve got to be at work soon and I don’t want to make you late.” She kisses my cheek before slipping out of the shower. “Get ready and I’ll make you some breakfast and coffee.”

“Fuck, I love you, baby.”

“I know you do,” she utters coyly before leaving the bathroom.

I roll up to work, whistling a merry fucking tune. Something which I’ve never done in my entire existence. Jaxson gives me a knowing grin as soon as he sees me and pats me firmly on the back as I walk by.

“You look like a man that’s just had an amazing lay this morning,” he says, fucking with me.

I roll my eyes and punch his shoulder. “No, man, it’s not that.” I laugh and continue, “Well, it is that, but it’s also so much more than that.”

Jaxson gives me an expectant look and takes a chug of his water.

I feel embarrassed about bringing this shit up at work because I don’t like getting all mushy with these guys. Besides I rarely talk about my feelings. In spite of myself, I’m so fucking happy I can’t contain it. With a shit-eating grin, I tell him, “My girl and I exchanged ‘I love yous.’ ”

Jaxson’s face lights up like a fucking Christmas tree and he slaps me jovially on the back again as he says, “That’s amazing, man! I knew Ronnie loved you. I mean, I figured she must with the way you talk about her all of the time.”

I laugh, unable to wipe the smirk off my face. “I know I do, man. I just can’t help bringing her up all of the time.” All I do is think about her, so it’d make sense if all I do is talk about her, as well.

“You and Ronnie should come out with me and my girlfriend sometime,” Jaxson suggests.

I’ve never met his girlfriend, but he talks about her a hell of a lot, as well. Maybe she could become a good friend to Ronnie? “That’d be awesome, man. It would be nice hanging out with another couple.”

He promises to make plans soon before he heads back to work. The day goes by quickly. I spend most of my time thinking about how good it will feel to get home to Ronnie and Grey. After spending every second with them over these past few days, it’s odd being on my own—even if it’s just for ten hours.

I call Ronnie before leaving work, just needing to hear her voice because I can’t wait another twenty minutes until I arrive home. “How’s your day been, babe?” She sighs, and I know she’s spent, too. Watching a baby all day can be more exhausting than working under the hot sun.

“It’s been fine. Grey’s been really active today,” she says with a tired laugh.

“Aw, sweetheart. Let me grab something to eat on the way home. I don’t want you to have to worry about dinner tonight.”

“As long as it’s no trouble for you...” Ronnie trails off. Although, she obviously doesn’t want to admit it, I know she needs a break. She works from home while taking care of Grey. I know how difficult that must be.

“It’s no trouble,” I assure her, as I make my way to my truck. “I’ll just stop by a sandwich shop and pick something up.”

“Sounds good.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “I love you.”

This is the first time she’s said it over the phone. It causes my breath to catch in my throat. With a giant grin, I respond, “I love you, too, baby. I’ll be home soon.”

“Drive safely.”

I end up at a nearby deli, which is packed with the five o’clock crowd. To occupy my time while I’m waiting in line I swipe through pictures of Ronnie and Grey on my phone. As I’m deciding what to order in my head, I see a face I recognize. It’s the older, beautiful woman from the supermarket; she’s waiting for her order at the pick-up counter. I can’t help but watch her. It’s not because of an attraction I have for her or any shit like that. I’m too invested in my girl to think about anyone else in that way. I stare at her because I’m trying to fucking place her. Why the fuck does she seem so familiar?

I continue to observe her, hoping she doesn’t notice me. Her auburn hair has been freshly cut and styled, and her slim figure is dressed in—what looks to be—a very expensive outfit. She doesn’t look much different than the other women in town, yet, there is something about her that stands out to me.

“Sir?”

My eyes dart to the counter, where a teenager standing behind the cash register is giving me a confused look. Feeling fucking embarrassed for gawking at a stranger for so long, I step forward and quickly place my order. As I grab my ticket and move down to the pick-up counter, I feel compelled to talk to this woman. I don’t know what’s possessing me, but I manage to hold myself back and keep my mouth shut. The woman’s order is up, which consists of two large coffees to go. She grabs them while quickly thanking the barista before heading out. My eyes follow her as she leaves.

She’s greeted by a man as soon as she exits the deli. A man I know all too fucking well. My mind is reeling, and I’m paralyzed with shock. He greets her warmly—too warmly—as if she’s an old friend. He doesn’t see me because if he did notice me, I can’t imagine what the fuck he’d say. What could he say? It’s obvious there’s something going on between them. He laughs at something this woman says. I watch in shock as they walk away, hand in hand, until they’re out of my sight.

“Sir?” A different teen asks, holding up my order.

I hand her my ticket and take my food, feeling completely numb as I leave the deli. What the hell did I just witness? And why the fuck did it make me feel so sick? I’ve got a bad fucking feeling about this.