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She pops her shoulders playfully. “I want when he’s eighteen tonotbe interrogated in his girlfriend’s home after he brought her such a pretty corsage and has been nothing but a gentleman all night.”
“You think I’m being unreasonable?” I ask.
“I think you love your girls very much.” She scrunches her nose. “And yes. Very unreasonable. But you’re justified. I know it’s hard to watch them grow up. But this is a big moment for Claire and Charlie.”
“Prom?” I ask, skeptically.
“This is where young women learn how men should treat them. These boys have called you ‘sir’ all night. They chose to sit through a very uncomfortable dinner with their dates’ family instead of pre-gaming with Burnett’s and Red Bull at some house party. And by the way, the swim class thing? Charlie isn’t a strong swimmer. She was getting harassed for constantly causing her team to lose the relay races. Mitchell’s a captain on the team. He’ll probably end up in the Olympics one day. He asked for Charlie to join his relay team instead because he can easily even the playing field and make up for her lost time.He’s protecting her. It reminds me of something you would do.”
I wrap my hand around the small of her back, pulling her in close. My lips brush against the top of her sweet-smelling hair. Ever since Spencer got pregnant, she complains that her shampoo reeks. It’s hormones. She still smells like strawberry pie. The smell that makes me feel like I’m home.
“Okay. If I want the girls to have a good experience tonight, what should I do?”
“Don’t go to their prom,” Spencer explains simply. “Give them space and an opportunity to make good choices.”
“Okay.”
“Curfew at midnight,” Spencer continues.
“I can do that.”
“And if they choose to swim… I mean, who, outside of Dex, has spare wet suits lying around?”
I bark out a dry laugh. “All right, all right. Just promise me you’ll never leave me. I think you’re the only reason I don’t make an ass out of myself daily.”
She nuzzles deeper into my embrace. “Thank you.I’m so glad to be getting some credit finally.”
Leaning away, I hook my finger underneath her chin. “So just you and me tonight, huh?” I show her a salacious grin. “What ever shall we do?”
Spencer shrugs, her eyes glinting with mischief. “I don’t know, Grandpa. So many possibilities. Want to go sit on the porch and yell at kids to stay off our lawn? Or maybe we hit up Golden Corral and complain that we missed the early-bird special and now the brisket is far too dry, and there wasn’t enough cobbler to go around.Oooh, I’ve got it. Let’s go to the post office and bitch about the never-ending rising costs of stamps.”
“Mean, woman. You’re just mean.”
We both burst into raspy chuckles that echo in the kitchen. “I’m sorry, my love,” Spencer says quietly. “How can I make it up to you?”
I nod over my shoulder to the fridge. “That churro cheesecake is a fantastic start. But if you’re really sorry…” I trace my fingertips lightly over the curve of her ass. “It’s been a while.”
She backpedals once. “I know. I just feel…off. I mean, I’m only twelve weeks pregnant,” she says, grabbing underneath her arms and squeezing where it’s soft. “I already know I’m going to gain a lot of weight. My mom did too with Charlie. Genetics, I suppose.”
I step forward, closing the space she introduced. “You are so beautiful. Now more so than ever.”
She places her hand against my chest. “I’m serious, Nathan. I’m struggling with this.”
I want to tell her she has nothing to worry about, but I don’t want to negate her feelings. “How can I help?”
“I don’t think you can. I just don’t feel sexy. And while we’re on the subject, I don’t know what kind of fucked-up sorcery this is, but how come when wives get pregnant and extra jiggly, their husbands tighten up even more?” She runs her hands down my torso. “See? You almost have an eight-pack all the sudden. How is that fair?”
“I have an idea that might help, but I need you to trust me.Really trust me.”
Her gaze flicks upward to lock on mine. “I trust you with my whole heart.”
“Then let’s eat this cheesecake, get these kids out the door, and then later tonight, when I get you naked and alone, I want to record you.”
She looks at me like I just suggested we go commit some felonies for fun. “You are unhinged.”
“Just your face, baby. I want you to see what I see when I look at you. When I’m making you feel good, when you’re happy, and satisfied, it’s beauty like I can’t explain. You’re always gorgeous, Spencer. But when you’re with me,all mine, it’s something I can’t describe.” I kiss her forehead, then each cheek, before I rake my lips down her neck, feeling the warmth of her delicate skin. “I will always want you. And the days you’re feeling insecure, tell me. I know it’s hard to share this stuff, but be honest with me. Whenever you forget who you are and how I see you, I’ll always be here to remind you.”
“Thank you. It’s not hard to share with you. You make it easy.” She half-smiles, a glint of flirtation in her eyes. “So, sexyselfies are really your kink, aren’t they? Thank goodness I had the good sense to lock you down with one of those four years ago.”
A rumble erupts from my chest, breaking free as playful laughter. “Only with you, pumpkin. All I want is you.”
She weaves her fingers in mine, the large, pink diamond ring on her left hand pressing hard against my knuckle. “No need to pine too hard. You’ve got me, Nathan. Forever.”
The End