Our Happily Ever After (Bold As Love 5)

“Mm?”

“You've got to stop that.” He grabs my hand that's swirling circles on his stomach. I didn't even notice that I was doing it. “What's worrying you? I know I've been weird lately, but I still noticed.” He voice is husky as he's trying to stay awake.

To talk.

To me.

“I love you,” I mumble, scooting upwards to nuzzle into his neck while he runs a free finger lightly over my arm.

“Sweetness,” he begins again becoming more alert, but I stop him.

“Love, I'm fine. I've missed you is all,” I say honestly, my lips brushing his warm neck.

“I'm sorry,” he sounds defeated.

“Jake, love, don't feel bad. I understand. You're stressed. It's fine.”

“It's not okay.” He hooks a finger underneath my chin to force me to meet his hooded yet strong gaze that seems to hold some other emotion I can't place. His thumb glides back and forth across my bottom lip. “You shouldn't ever feel as if you're alone, especially when I haven't left. You shouldn't feel as if I don't love or want you. I do love and want you. Always. I guess I haven't exactly been your best future husband, huh?”

I can't help but smile at him calling himself my future husband. I want him to understand that I'm aware of how he's felt this past month or so and that I'm here for him too.

“Love, my soon to be husband.” I grin at his smile. “It's okay. Just talk to me, please? I can't stand for you to close me out. You're my stability, remember?”

“I remember. Won't happen again, promise. Get some sleep, Sweetness.” He leans his head forward, moving his thumb aside to kiss me sweetly. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

I lay my head on his shoulder and fall asleep as Jake's breathing lulls me away. Faintly, I realize we never talked about what the problem is.

* * *

With the morning off, Jake sleeps in. I shower and leave for work before he even stirs. My smile seems stuck on my face as I recall last night's turn of events. Yeah, it's mostly because we slept together. We did talk a little too, so I'm happy about that. I just wish we could have settled things better. We didn't discuss much of anything, but things feel better between us.

“Girl, you finally got laid, didn't you?” Kristi asks as soon as I'm in the office.

“Shut up.” I laugh.

“Oh lord,” Helen calls from the other room. “She's laughing. She definitely got laid.”

“Give it a rest before Dr. Z gets here.” Dr. Z is short for the head dentist's real last name. It's long and complicated and no one ever calls her anything but Dr. Z. My comment works because Dr. Z hates any sort of conversation that isn't work related.

“Don't worry,” Helen says walking into the back office with us. “We'll get it out of you sooner or later,” she smirks. “Everything's better though, right?” she asks seriously.

I simply nod because it's then that Dr. Z comes in.

“Good morning, ladies,” she says curtly.

“Morning,” we answer in unison. She shrugs out of her coat and hangs it on the hook before leaving us. We work the day away without any problems. Helen and I were so lucky. She became my first friend here in Chicago and hasn't left my side since. She's a single mother of a four year old girl, Sophie. I still can't believe that we work together. I love her to death, and I'm so happy that I was able to find a best friend again. Until we became friends, I didn't realize how good it was to have someone to go to besides Jake. Someone to talk to when Jake isn't home or when I've had a rough month like these last two.

Kristi is the receptionist here and she's brutally honest all the time. Working for Dr. Z is a task for her because she's always wanting to speak her mind, but she can't really do that here. We're good friends as well. All of us are, actually. They were thrilled when I asked them to be in the wedding. Helen cried when I asked if Sophie would like to be the flower girl.

Oh, Sophie.

I love that little girl. Not only is she adorable, but she's so sweet and polite. I don't think I've ever seen her throw a tantrum. Helen has done a fabulous job raising her so far. When the time comes, I hope I can be half the mother she is.

Tonight, the three of us are going out to dinner. Drake's having a friend's parents drop him off at the apartment. I never thought sweet, well-behaved Drake would catch an attitude like he has. Jake doesn't see it most of the time because Drake takes it out on me. Sometimes, I wonder what the hell I did to him. Probably nothing. It's just something he's going through, right? He's a teenager after all. If he doesn't lose the attitude soon though, Jake's going to have to talk to him. You would think that by now I would feel comfortable disciplining Drake, but I still rather leave that to Jake.

“Tell us all the juicy details,” Kristi says once we've sat down at the table.

“I've known her longer than you have and she has yet to tell me anything about how that man is in bed. Believe me, I've asked,” Helen tells her.

I laugh because she has. Kristi and Helen are both fans of Jake, and they always want to know about our sex life. I think they want to know because he's a hockey player, and neither of them have ever been with a hockey player. They believe that fact alone makes the sex even hotter, but I won't tell them anything. “Y'all act like girls asking their older sister what sex is like.”

“It's been a while for some of us,” Helen says bitterly. “Let's get away from that depressing topic since Emily isn't going to share. Isn't it time to pick a date and place for the wedding?”

“Please tell me that you're having a destination wedding,” Kristi adds. She's been wanting to go on vacation for a while, and she's going to use my wedding as an excuse to do so.

“July 22nd at the Outer Banks.”

Kristi squeals and I laugh at her. She's twenty-one, two years younger than me. Well, almost. I haven't turned twenty-three just yet.

“It's going to be beautiful,” Helen comments with a smile.

“A beach wedding,” Kristi sighs.

“Besides that, having our wedding party, and making the guest list, we have nothing planned. I emailed the planner during lunch so we'll see what she says is next.”

“We need to go dress shopping soon,” Kristi grins.