Her hands made an exploding motion out in front of her.
Lillith smacked at her. “Nikki! I swear. You are always trying to scare the good ones away with that mouth of yours.”
She turned an apologetic smile on me. “You’ll have to excuse her. This one was never taught that sometimes it’s better to hold your tongue. You have to get used to her. She’s kind of an acquired taste,” she needled a little more, playful admonishment in her words.
Laughter rumbled, and I let my eyes widen conspiratorially when I looked at Nikki. “Oh, there’s nothin’ wrong with speaking truth where it’s due. Unfortunately, all except for that whole speeding car thing was on point.”
Nikki squealed in glee. “Oh . . . I like her. I think I just found my new best friend since Lily Pad over here thinks I’m too much to handle.” The last came with a feigned pout.
Lillith rolled her eyes. “I can handle you just fine. It’s the people around us who I’m worried about. You remember I’m an attorney. I deal with crazies all the time.”
“Pssh. Crazy? Who me?” Nikki waved her off, leaning my direction, clear scheming in her tease. “This one just can’t stand it that I’m the ultimate matchmaker—that I’m responsible for all the orgasms Brody gives her and she doesn’t want to give me any of the credit. They’d still be each other’s worst enemies and sending hate emails if it wasn’t for me.”
A light giggle floated from Rynna. “Watch out, Hope. If you aren’t careful, Nikki here will be taking credit for getting you and Kale together. She definitely thinks she set things in motion for Rex and me.”
Nikki waved her hands at herself. “Um . . . hello . . . I did set you up with Rex. If I hadn’t invited you to Ollie’s bar, you never would have hooked up. And I was there that night when Kale first saw Hope at Olive’s, remember? Of course, I’m responsible. I’m head matchmaker. I just walk through a crowd and all those love-connecting darts start flying out of me, striking whoever I walk by.”
“You do remember I first met Brody at Olive’s?” Lillith pointed out, trying not to laugh. “It has nothing to do with you. The bar is definitely the tie.”
Nikki gasped. “Shut your face, Lily Pad. Stop looking for solutions when the answer is right in front of you. Head matchmaker.” She circled a halo around her head. “Orgasm fairy.”
She slanted a knowing grin my direction. “Tell me the last rings true.”
Oh.
Redness bloomed on my cheeks.
I was pretty sure I needed to introduce Nikki and Jenna. They had to have been separated at birth.
Lillith smacked her again. “I swear, Nikki.”
“What?” she defended, totally innocently before she turned back to me.
Laughing under my breath, I ducked down when I admitted, “It definitely rings true.”
Her mouth popped open, and she leaned in closer to me, eyes wide with excitement. “Lovestruck?”
I let my attention slide to where Kale sat on the deck. Evan had scrambled behind Frankie Leigh up to the porch, and my son was now in front of Kale, communicating something to him that I couldn’t make out, but he was red and flushed and happy.
So content and free.
My spirit thrashed.
That feeling settled over me.
Because it was true.
I was totally and completely . . . lovestruck.
The day played on in a blur of laughter and joy and easiness. Kale and I sat on the grass with his friends as the sun began to sink in the sky, his arm slung around my shoulders while we watched Evan run through the grass, my son’s head tipped back in his silent laughter that I swore I could hear ring through the air.
It was late evening when we said our goodbyes. I accepted all the hugs that were offered and agreed with the girls that we all would hang out together soon.
Joy pressed at my ribs. It was a kind of wholeness that seemed almost foreign where it throbbed within the depths of me.
Kale helped Evan into the backseat of the car and ensured he was buckled before he slid into the driver’s seat.
Immediately, he leaned in and kissed me over the console.
In front of Evan.
It felt like a gentle claiming.
A statement.
A promise.
From the backseat, Evan made that scraping, laughing sound, and Kale and I both peered back at him. He was grinning that earth-shattering smile, his cheeks red with a certain kind of embarrassment that manifested the greatest joy.
“Is it okay if I kiss your mom, little man?”
Evan was quick to write on his pad he had on his lap.
You’re supposed to kiss her if you’re her boyfriend. That’s the rule.
I flushed, and Kale leaned his forehead against mine, his voice a murmur. “Then I guess I’m your boyfriend. The kid says it’s the rule.”