Forever Us (Always and Forever 4)

Ben and the boys enter from the booth as Trey finishes up on the computer. I still have almost two hours before I meet Lana, and I’m starved.

“Wish we could, but I need to get back,” Ben passes, and since he drove up with the boys, they all pass too.

“Sounds good. We’ll work on piecing these together, and then we will send you the EPs so you can pass off on them.” Trey stands first, and we say our goodbyes.

“All right, fucker, looks like it’s me and you today.” I pat his back.

“Yeah, why don’t we call the girls and see if they want to meet us?”

“Four best friends or something like that?” I joke. We used to hang out all the time, inseparable at best, and now we barely have time to spend as couples—let alone as a group.

Trey nods and calls Shayla, getting them to agree to lunch, and within minutes, the two of us are in a small sandwich shop halfway between both our buildings. Since we get there first, we wait in the semi-long line, browsing the menu in silence.

“So, you and Lana seem to be doing way better. Therapy working?” Trey breaks the silence as the line moves a little.

“Yeah, Dr. Moore has been amazing. Thanks for the referral.”

“She is. I still see her every once in a while.”

“Oh yeah. How is everything with the whole court case?” Gwen was arrested after she attacked Shayla, and they are gearing up for a court date here soon.

“We go to trial next week. I don’t want Shay going, but she wants to testify, and I swear I don’t know if I can handle seeing her talk about that night, all while Gwen sits across the room.” I watch his jaw tick and his eyes dilate while he talks, and I feel it. She’s my sister; the attack fucked me up too.

“I want to be there. Give me a date when you have it, and I’ll m

ake sure I’m there, bro.”

“Thanks, man. But you know I don’t want to talk about that now. How are things with Lana? What’s new? She went back to work, and Shayla said they had a good night out the other night. I imagine that’s a good thing.”

“No, really, we are doing great. She’s been open in therapy. She’s been a lot more relaxed around Prince, and yeah, her going back to work and leaving Prince with Kathy is a big step. I know it’s only two days a week, she said, but that is a start.”

“That’s great, man. Congrats. I’m happy for you two. If anyone deserves a fucking break, it’s the two of you.”

I nod and a smile comes to my face. “You know she and I are trying for baby number two?”

“What? Brother, no way! That’s awesome. Dang, Prince ain’t even one and you’re back at it. Poor Lana, she’s never gonna be left alone.”

“Not for the rest of her damn life,” I state proudly.

With that, she comes walking in off the street like a beacon of light. Almost like she’s in slow motion, the wind blows her hair and she looks around the café for me. When she spots me, her dimpled smile shows and she heads in my direction.

Weaving through the small crowd of people, Shayla and Lana get to us, and I wrap Lana in my arms and give her one fucking sweet kiss. Like cotton candy in the summer, it’s sweet with her taste and a little sticky from her gloss. Fuck, I’m a lucky man. Bending down, our lips part, and she wipes away the small amount of shine she left on my lips and whispers an intimate hello.

“Hey, my queen.” We stay in an embrace for a few more seconds before we part and I all but pull my little brat into my arms.

“Shay! I miss you, shithead. Come here.” Bear hugging her head, she giggles and buries her face in my chest as I pepper the top of her burgundy hair with kisses.

“I miss you too, you big goon. How was the studio today?” she asks, but I don’t let up on her. I keep her in my embrace for a few moments longer, swaying her back and forth.

“Mine. Give her back.” Trey grabs her hips and pulls her from me, bringing her back flush against his front.

“Remember she was mine first,” I yank his chain, just to rile him up.

“Fuck off, and baby, it was great.”

Lana finds her natural place in my side, her arms wrapping lazily around my lean hips.

“How was Ben? Too bad we couldn’t see him. That little cutie is my favorite,” Lana adds, and I growl, reaching down to full on cup her ass in a giant squeeze, zero fucks given that we’re in a restaurant. “I’m teasing, caveman! We’re in public!” she hollers.