Until Sage (Until Him 2)

“Kimmy, will you help me color my picture?” she asks, and I look down at her and smile. She looks adorable wearing the poufy blue dress I got her from the Disney Store that is the exact replica of Cinderella’s from the movie.

“Of course I will,” I agree quietly, letting go of Sage’s hand as she climbs into my lap. Pulling her coloring book and crayons over, I rest my chin on her shoulder, and for a few minutes, I get lost in coloring a picture of a butterfly flying through a garden of flowers. I didn’t even know how much the thoughtless action would help loosen me up, but by the time we’re ready to order dinner, I’m relaxed and feeling much better.

“So Ellie was telling us that you girls are meeting with a banker to see if they approved you for your loan,” Lilly says, and I swallow the bite of food I have in my mouth and take a sip of water before I answer her.

“We are. The bank has already completed the basic approval forms, and that all came out okay. So hopefully we will have some good news to share,” I reply, looking at Ellie, who is grinning from ear-to-ear.

“I know it’s in the bag.” She shrugs, and I laugh.

“Have you girls thought of a name yet?” Sophie asks.

I look at her and shake my head while Ellie answers. “We’re still looking for a name. We want something fun and original, but I think we’re waiting to see what happens so we don’t jinx ourselves.”

“That’s smart,” November says, and then she mutters, “What about Mayson’s Hair Salon?”

I don’t frown even though I want to.

“Except Kim’s not a Mayson,” April says helpfully.

“Yet. She’s not a Mayson yet,” Sophie whispers.

“Here, here.” November clinks her glass to Sophie’s then Lilly’s and Liz’s.

My face gets hot, and I feel Sage’s hand squeeze my knee. He wasn’t lying. One minute, things are normal, and the next minute, not so much.

“I think you women need to slow down on the drinking,” December says, rolling her eyes at her mom.

“Well, I know none of my girls are going to get married anytime soon, so I need to get in on the wedding planning somewhere. I was pretty good at it.” November’s eyes widen and sparkle. “Maybe I’ll open my own business. November Weddings,” she muses, and I wonder how much exactly she’s had to drink.

“Babe, you’re not doing that, and stop trying to marry off my girls,” Asher grouches, and the men at the table chuckle while his wife glares at him.

“If I marry Kim, I’m just letting everyone here know that I’m taking her to the courthouse or to Vegas,” Sage says.

I frown at him. “Pardon?”

“I’m not suffering through a wedding or wearing a tux.”

“First of all, we have a long way to go before any of that happens. But when I get married, I will have a wedding. Whatever man I marry will wear a tux, and I’ll be wearing a dress and holding flowers.”

“You’re not fucking marrying anyone else,” he growls, squeezing my thigh. “And there will be no wedding. The dress and flowers are cool. You can have both those things in Vegas.”

“I’m not getting married in Vegas,” I snap, and then I look at Ash. “No offense.”

“None taken. I don’t even remember my wedding.” She grins, and I return the expression, shaking my head.

“Vegas or the courthouse. Those are your options.”

“Lord, he’s as bad as you are,” I hear Sophie say, and I look at the end of the table, where she is sitting next to Nico. He’s smiling at Sage with what can only be described as a proud fatherly smile on his face.

“This argument is pointless,” I mumble, ducking my head hoping if we stop talking about it now, my stomach that has filled with stupid butterflies at the idea of marrying Sage will calm the hell down.

Thank God, after that, the subject of mine and Sage’s imaginary wedding is dropped and everyone starts talking about Talon and Bax. Both Sage’s brothers have been living between Montana and Alaska for work, but in the next few months, they are moving home, so they’re looking for land. While everyone is talking about that, I continue coloring with my favorite girl until dinner is over and it’s time to leave the restaurant.

Getting in Sage’s car an hour later, I’m more exhausted than I realized. So exhausted that I fall asleep with my head on Sage’s shoulder and don’t even remember him taking me home to my apartment, stripping me out of my clothes, or putting me into my bed before joining me there.

Hearing a buzzing sound, my eyes open and I see nothing but the hard male chest my cheek is pressed against. I blink, moving my hand that is lying across Sage’s abs, and tip my head back to look at his sleeping face then frown when the buzzing that woke me up starts again. Debating how to get out of bed without waking him, I study him then let out a breath when his leg that is between mine cocks at the knee and his thigh moves deeper between mine.