Accidental Love (Accidental Hook-Up 1)

“So, she was in your room when she fell asleep outside?” Brinley asked as I nodded. “I was wondering, but it wasn’t that weird. You’ve known her almost your whole life.” She glanced between us. “Is that weird?”

“It is. We weighed the effect it could have on the family and everything and planned to wait awhile before the big reveal. Today changed that.” I explained as she threw her head back and laughed.

“You look happy. You both look happy. Come to think of it, you have for a little while now.” Brinley hugged us together, and we returned it. “I support you, but you need to take care of each other. I love you both.”

We all walked back to the house. I was still holding Celia’s hand and Brin slipped her arm through my free one. We must have made quite the group and Mom watched us as we climbed the stairs. She looked at Brin, me, and then my hand holding Celia’s. Understanding flashed across her face and she covered her mouth. “She would be so happy. She always wanted this.” She walked forward and hugged me first, then Celia. “Is this why you’ve both been happier?”

“Yes. It’s very new, Mom. Something of a continuation from years ago that was still there. We’re trying it and planned to keep it on the down low initially. Things changed.” I smiled at Celia and she gazed back at me. “No pressure, Mom. Let this happen and end up where it is meant to. For now, I am the happiest I’ve ever been, and that’s what matters.”

“No pressure. You two look great together.” She laughed and dabbed at her eyes before she gazed at Celia. “Your mama is seeing this, sweetheart. She is breathing a big sigh of relief because she always knew that Remy would take care of you.”

“Oh, God,” Celia said as she started to cry. I looked around at the teary-eyed women and took a slow breath. I needed my dad right now. I let them fall together in a group hug, knowing from previous experience that this is just how it worked. Eventually, we made our way into the house and figured out dinner together. Dad would be home tomorrow, so we’d celebrate the job-and now this relationship-tomorrow.

After a movie and a lot of catching up with more tears, I took Celia out to my balcony and we sat in the chairs. “Is this happening? Are we out here together and everyone knows?” Celia asked as she sat down.

“It would seem so. I’m just worried about Mom planning a wedding now.” I looked at her with a smile. “I am not ready for that at all. I know this feels right but I want to focus on my new job and settle in. I want you there for all of it though. I want to support you through your journey as well.”

Celia laughed, moving to kiss me. It felt so damn good to just do this now though we weren’t overdoing it by any means. Not in front of them, at least.

We slept out there until the morning and then came into my room to finish sleeping in my bed. I hadn’t asked if it was okay, but Mom seemed open to us pursuing this. I didn’t plan to get crazy in here with Celia if the time wasn’t right, but we were good at being quiet when needed. She’d always laugh and say she felt like we were going to get caught.

CHAPTER NINE

Celia

Waking up with Remy was perfect. Until he got up for the job, we’d rise and go for a run on the beach together. I was feeling great now and planned to keep it up when he worked during the week. We’d have breakfast with whoever was home and do stuff in town. We started going out as a couple with Brin and I knew that girls thought it was fake. The old Remy would never settle down with one person for too long.

They didn’t know the Remy that was so broken when he lost his best friend. They knew the guy that got drunk and slept around to try to avoid his pain but that wasn’t who he was. I saw his sweet side and always had. I always knew how protective he was and still teased him about being a Neanderthal sometimes. I knew how much he loved his family.

When he began working, I hated him leaving in the morning. It still bothered me that there was at least one woman from his past there and more that wanted to be part of his present. Remy was one of the most gorgeous men I’d laid eyes on and couldn’t blame women for taking a second look, if not more. I trusted that he was mine and started looking into a local journalism job for myself. I didn’t need the money. My parents made sure of that before they died. I just wanted to work and explore what I loved doing. Remy was supportive through all of it and his enthusiasm for his job was contagious.