God, but I missed my woman. And she was my woman again.
Not Anderson’s, mine.
“I feel like I’m eighteen all over again.” I pounded my fist against my chest. “I was showin’ no signs of slowin’ down, and bless her, she was tryin’ her hardest to keep up with me. The last round I could have sworn she rolled her eyes when me hands went to her arse.”
“Maybe that’s why she told you to cover Frenchie’s watch,” Texas shouted with laughter. “To get a break from you and your cock for a few hours.”
I tipped my head back and guffawed, and so did everyone else.
“She knows what to expect when I get home tonight, so she’d better enjoy the next few hours of peace.”
My friends shouted their encouragement as AJ and I left the gym so we could shower. I finished before him, dressed and headed into the kitchen. He followed not long after, complaining about being hungry.
“There’s pasta or somethin’ in the fridge,” I said, eating the portion I’d scooped out for myself. “I think Stitch’s wife made it, it’s fuckin’ amazin’.”
“Yes!” AJ all but danced on the spot. “That woman knows how to cook. If she wasn’t Stitch’s wife, she’d at least be my baby’s mum by now.”
I snorted. “If Stitch heard ye talkin’ like that, he’d kill ye.”
“What’d he say about my wife?”
AJ froze and looked at me when Stitch’s voice filled the room. He was like a ghost – he appeared and disappeared at will. I looked from AJ to him and grinned. “He said if your missus wasn’t your wife she’d be his baby’s mum because he loves her cookin’ so much.”
“Rat!” AJ hissed. “You’re a fuckin’ rat.”
I sniggered as he turned and smiled at Stitch. “He’s a barefaced liar, and I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, Stitch. You shouldn’t pay him any attention.”
I continued to eat my pasta as Stitch advanced on AJ, who actually began to scream as he dodged to the left and fled the room. For someone who hated fighting, he always let his mouth get him into trouble.
“Fuck you, Irish . . . I’m still starving!” I heard him say.
Stitch grinned. “She is a good cook though, huh?”
With my mouth full I bobbed my head, and my friend left the room, thoroughly amused.
I checked my phone as I ate and sent Noah a text when I saw she hadn’t messaged me yet.
Are you still sleeping, green eyes? It’ll be great for my ego if you are.
My phone buzzed within seconds.
I’m awake, but you’ll be happy to know . . . I can practically feel you with each step I take.
Amused, and very much filled with pride, I tapped a text out on the screen.
Stroking my ego will get you everywhere with me.
I washed my dirty plate and fork before placing them on the drying rack. I checked my phone when I was done, and grinned when I read Noah’s reply.
I’d rather stroke something else . . . text me later, I’m researching flower shops to see if anyone is hiring. When I get my boot off in a few weeks I should be ready to get back working. No harm in looking. Wish me luck.
As long as she was just looking and not planning to march off to a job tomorrow, I was happy for her. I knew how eager she was to have some semblance of normality back in her life.
Good luck, I replied. Love you.
Her reply was instant.
Love you too.
“Why’re you staring at your phone with that creepy smile?”
I looked up. “Stitch let ye live, I see.”
“No thanks to you.” AJ glared, rubbing his stomach. “Move away from the fridge. I took a solid to the gut to get some of that fucking pasta and I’m having a big plate.”
I stepped away and gestured for him to have at the fridge.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
I hopped up on to the counter and watched AJ move about the room.
“What question?”
“Why were you smiling at your phone like a creep?”
I snorted. “I was textin’ Noah.”
“Sexting?”
“No, perv.” I grinned at his frown. “Just regular textin’. I told her I loved her and she said she loved me too. I’m still gettin’ used to hearin’ it again. Makes me feel all special and shit.”
AJ didn’t tease me; he surprised me by nodding.
“I’m happy for you, brother,” he said. “You and Noah deserve the best.”
“Thanks, man.” I patted his shoulder he passed me by to heat his food up in the microwave. “How are things with Dani?”
“I told her to move in with me and she said okay,” he answered. “She was sleeping over at my place five nights a week before we even made things official. It makes sense just to move all her crap in.”
He said this so casually that I thought I’d misheard him.