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“In a week,” York replied as if he had his answer locked and loaded.

I stopped eyeing the checkerboard and admired his handsome face. “I liked you immediately, you know? When your guys were stinking up our clubhouse, I was so repelled by the very sight of them. Even shampoo model Ojai horrified me. Meanwhile, you were a glowing chunk of gold within a pile of poop.”

York chuckled. “In another life, you’d be a poet.”

I gasped when he swiped the rest of my checkers. “I’m not good at this game.”

“Practice makes perfect. I played a lot in the Marines when we were waiting around for our next assignment.”

As he reset the board for another game, I admired how his bangs fell into his -brown eyes. I could almost see his younger, goody-two-shoes side.

“Do you ever regret joining the Marines instead of attending college like your parents wanted?”

“No. I rarely suffer from regrets. Like with us. I could have given a voice to my feelings last year. I knew you were special once I saw you. I was crazy about you once I got a taste. I held back out of fear of losing what I had. Do I regret keeping my mouth shut?”

“Of course not,” I answered, winking at him. “You rarely suffer from regrets.”

York grinned at my response. “Things could have been different earlier, but I can’t be sure they would have been better. There’s no reason to wonder, either. I don’t own a time machine and can’t redo my choices. I plan to enjoy what we have now.”

“Is that why you were so chill spending two weeks in Little Memphis?”

“Sure. Once I found you that night, I hated leaving you. If I need to move to Little Memphis in the short term or even the long term,” he said, holding my gaze, “I will do it.”

“There’s no place for you in Little Memphis,” I admitted as the sad reality hit me again. “Men don’t live at the Sorority House. We make exceptions for parents visiting or, like in your case. Unlike Lula, I don’t have a home in Little Memphis for you to share with me. In Rawlins, I live in a house with the Tooker kids. But here in Baton Rouge, you have a house perfect for us to start a life together.”

York stopped eyeing the checkers and studied me. “Why do you look sad?”

“I miss being me,” I said and gestured for him to sit closer. “I had gotten used to feeling different back in Little Memphis. Today, though, I find myself cranky over how I can’t crawl in the grass with the girls, chase my mom, or take the dogs for a walk. Hell, I can’t even ride your dick from an upright position.”

“I like having more control in bed.”

Though York smirked at my annoyed expression, I didn’t take the bait.

“Even though I will probably bitch and moan a lot for the next few days, never forget that I love you and want to live here with you. No one is making this decision for me. I rarely suffer from regrets, either.”

York moved closer and whispered, “One thing I regretted was not kissing you before you left in the helicopter. Life is easier with the feel of your lips on mine.”

Having beaten me enough at checkers, York decided we should spend our alone time kissing. We made out on the couch, stopping only to say goodbye to people as they moseyed out the front door.

Eventually, we were alone with my parents, who decided to fool around in their room. With the family room to ourselves, I enjoyed York’s touch and imagined our future together.

YORK

Goldie crashed minutes after my cock left her body. She had been in a good mood after everyone left and we could take our kissing to the bedroom. Despite her smiles, I noticed her growing anxiety over the house’s security.

After she was asleep, I slipped out of bed to double-check the security. Yarrow was asleep on the couch while Blackjack sat out back with the dogs. Joining him on the patio, I asked if he needed anything.

“I’m planning to lock down the house,” I explained. “We’ll need to put in the code before opening the back door for the dogs tonight.”

Seeming tired, Blackjack nodded. “You’ve got a nice home. I just wish it were closer to Rawlins.”

“It’s only a few hours.”

“Yeah, but I’ve been a few hours away from home for weeks. I don’t sleep the same when away from Rawlins.”

Blackjack had been a calming presence back in Little Memphis. His mood today wasn’t what I expected. He seemed overly bothered and almost sullen.

“I suspect in a few days Goldie will be settled enough here for you and Yarrow to head home.”