“I’m trying really fucking hard not to be jealous of my dog, baby. Maybe you wanna help me out with that by coming to kiss your man?”
My man?
I couldn’t even fathom a man like Cobi a week ago. I would never even have dared to dream up a guy like him, so it’s seriously difficult for me to think about him being mine.
“Babe.” The one word is impatient, causing me to jump in place. I move from the wall and head toward him. As soon as I’m within touching distance, he wraps his hand around my hip and pulls me flush against him. I don’t lean up to kiss him. I don’t have to, because he bends down and captures my mouth in a searing kiss that makes my toes curl and body buzz. When he releases me, his eyes search mine. “No dreams last night?”
“No.” I shake my head, running my hands up his biceps and over his tattoos.
“You still need to keep going. Even if the dreams stop for a time, you need to talk things out.”
“I have an appointment tomorrow.”
He kisses my forehead in approval. “Want some coffee?”
“Yes, please,” I say, and he keeps me attached to him with his arm around my waist as he leads me to the coffee pot and pulls down a cup from the cupboard above. He pours me a cup of coffee then fixes it for me just how I like it.
“Sit with me while I finish up breakfast.” It’s not a request; it’s an order, and I know this when he lifts me up and plants my ass on the cold counter. I sit and sip my coffee while he finishes up the bacon then he uses the bacon grease to fry the eggs. When he pulls out a loaf of bread, I hop down and take it from him, figuring it would be rude if I didn’t even try to help out.
“Do you have to work today?”
“Yep, but not until this evening,” he says, meeting my gaze as I press down the lever on the toaster. “I should be home around the same time I was this morning. I have the weekend off though, so I figured either Saturday or Sunday we could go see Harmony. She called me yesterday asking how you’re doing.”
“How is she?” I ask, feeling like a weight has suddenly settled in the pit of my stomach.
“Good, home now. The media hasn’t stopped trying to contact her, so she’s laying low for the time being.”
“I’m sorry she’s dealing with that,” I say truthfully. I hated even the idea of having to talk to the media and am thankful I never got caught out where I would have to. I feel like an asshole even thinking it, considering what she must be going through, but I’m relieved they let the story having to do with me go and have left me alone.
“Me too, but I’m also relieved that you don’t have to deal with that,” he says, reading my mind.
He comes over to where I’m standing and places a kiss against the side of my head, and I look up at him, asking, “Is she really okay?”
“She’s got our family and her fiancé protecting her, so she’s good. Not sure she’d be that way if she was on her own.”
On her own like me; he doesn’t have to say it, but I know that’s exactly what he means. Up until Cobi came along, the only people I really had in my life were Brie and Kenyon, and that reminder is a depressing one. Maybe it’s time I make some changes. Maybe it’s time I make some friends and get a life that doesn’t revolve around monthly dates with Brie and reality TV shows. “I’d really like to see her this weekend if she’s up to it,” I say, feeling more confident.
“I should probably warn you that my mom and dad will likely be there, so you’d also be meeting them.”
“Your parents?” I know my eyes are wide with horror. I’m sure I look like a deer caught in a set of bright white headlights with a car coming toward it going fifty miles an hour.
“They will love you, Hadley, so get that look off your face, baby.”
“I don’t know how to meet parents. Meeting people is even a new thing for me.” He laughs, tossing his head back. “I’m not actually being funny.”
“I know, babe, but you still are.” He touches his mouth to mine. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll see.”
I’m not as sure as he is. Really, I don’t think he understands what he’s asking me to do. I have never been social. I have always found a way to agree to social gatherings but escape at the last minute without seeming rude. Brie and Kenyon are the only people I spend any real time with, and that’s only because I have known them for years.