Page 27 of Bliss
Callie
Callie sighed as she sat down between Alex’s thighs on the chocolate leather sofa, resting her back against Alex’s warm chest. She just enjoyed the feeling of her legs being framed by Alex’s and her girlfriend’s strong arms wrapped around her middle for a minute. She tilted her head back, puckering her lips, and Alex grinned as she bent and gave her a firm kiss, then sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, releasing it with a little, wet pop. Callie’s body tingled with arousal and joy, but instead of drawing Alex into a make-out session that would probably lead to a bout of incredible sex right there on the couch, she turned forward and opened the book they bought earlier that day from the gorgeous and dreamlike bookstore at the Birchwood Estate.
While Alex held her, and occasionally gave her feathery kisses on her cheek and neck, and combed her fingers through her hair, Callie read the romantic thriller aloud. After Callie had finished reading the Nearly Departed trilogy in the first month of them dating, they picked and read a new book together. They enjoyed reading and discussing the book together so much that this would be the fourth book in two months that they’d read together. They still read other books on their own. But reading together was like going to the movies together. It felt like a date, even if they were sitting on the couch, or in the large soaking bathtub, on the porch, or even in bed.
When Callie turned the page to the second chapter, she held the book up higher so Alex could take over reading, but before she could begin, the doorbell rang.
Callie’s brows furrowed as she looked back at Alex, and asked, “Were you expecting someone today?”
“Nope. It’s probably some religious missionaries or someone soliciting their lawn care services or something. We’ll just ignore them.”
Callie shrugged and turned forward, but again, when Alex tried to start reading, the doorbell rang, followed by loud knocking in an obnoxious melodic pattern.
Alex groaned and shook her head. “I think I know who that is.”
Callie suspected she also knew who it was and giggled as she put a bookmark in the book, then slid forward and swiveled to put her feet on the floor.
They walked to the front door together, and when the person rang the doorbell again, Alex hung her head and shook it side to side.
“If this isn’t Joselynn, and it’s a random stranger, I’m activating Daphne’s attack mode.”
Callie’s head fell back with a laugh, and Alex exhaled hard as she unlocked and opened the door.
Looking as proud and mischievous as two Cheshire cats, Joselynn and Hannah beamed, “Surprise!”
As Joselynn held up a bottle of tequila in one hand and a large bottle of margarita mixer in the other, and Hannah held up two large bags of take-out from Taco Loco, Alex and Callie laughed and shook their heads.
“I know you know what time it is. Today marks three months exactly since you started dating. We’re going to have margaritas and tacos, then rent you a U-Haul.”
Alex and Callie slowly turned to look at each other, then started laughing, and Alex said, “You know we should have expected this.”
“Especially since I gave you fair warning,” Joselynn interjected, as she pushed through them and led the group to the kitchen. “You better not have eaten dinner yet.”
“No, we wanted to read one of our new books for a little bit before we cooked.”
“Aren’t they just the cutest?” Joselynn asked, and Hannah’s smile widened as she nodded.
“The cutest.”
The exchange gave Callie déjà vu from the first time the two had met at the barbeque that didn’t happen until the next night because of Tina’s near-death car accident. While it was cute and exciting, it caused a tinge of paranoia that something would interrupt the evening. But Tina was doing great. Ever since she had the cast removed from her arm last week, she’d become a little more self-reliant and didn’t need her in-home nurse for every little thing anymore. She was scheduled to have the cast removed from her leg next week, and even though she’d likely need some physical therapy to rebuild the strength in her legs, she was well on her way to not needing any help at all. It was unlikely she’d need anything tonight.
While Joselynn mixed up a pitcher of margaritas in the blender, Hannah and Callie unpacked the food, filling the center of the dining room table, and Alex set out plates, napkins, and utensils. Callie kept glancing at Alex, trying to detect even the tiniest bit of frustration or doubt or worry. But she was smiling and looked as happy as a person could be. She knew they’d have to address the elephant in the room sooner or later, but she decided to wait until they were seated and to let Joselynn keep hold of the reins for now.
When they sat down across from each other, Joselynn and Hannah on one side of the table, and Callie and Alex on the other, Joselynn held up her frozen margarita and the rest of them mimicked her.
“Cheers, to Alex and Callie moving in together.”
As they clinked glasses, and sang, “Cheers,” together, Callie glanced at Alex again to gauge her mood, but she was saved from having to wonder any longer.
After taking a sip of her margarita, Alex took Callie’s hand to hold on the table between them, and asked, “How do you feel about this? Do you want to move in with me and Daphne?”
Callie couldn’t help but giggle at Alex including Daphne. She stared into Alex’s beautiful whiskey pools for a few moments, feeling only love and happiness staring back at her, so she nodded, and truthfully answered, “Yeah, I do. I would love to live with you and Daphne.” She grinned, as she teasingly asked, “Do you think we can fit the soaking tub in my apartment?”
Alex’s head fell back with a laugh, then she playfully pushed Callie’s shoulder, and told her, “No, definitely not, so you’ll have to move in here. We’ll go out tomorrow and buy boxes and packing paper and tape.”
“Okay, baby.”
As Callie leaned over and gave Alex a kiss, Joselynn and Hannah erupted in hoots and hollers and lightly stomped their feet on the floor. Alex and Callie laughed against each other’s mouths, then pulled away and shook their heads in amusement at their best friends.
While they drank margaritas, and stuffed themselves with the best tacos in the area, they discussed the logistics of packing up Callie and moving her into Alex’s house.
“Where the hell are you going to put all of your books?” Hannah asked, while craning her neck to look at the fully-stocked bookshelves in the living room.
Callie bit her bottom lip in concern, but Alex smiled, and when she answered, “I think it’s time to convert one of the guest bedrooms into a home library with a comfy reading nook,” Callie squealed as she practically leapt from her chair into Alex’s lap, throwing her arms around her and planting a wet kiss on her mouth.
Alex’s chest bounced with laughter as she slipped her arms around her excited girlfriend and returned her kiss. When she pulled away, her smile spread ear to ear, Callie sighed and caressed Alex’s cheek.
“I love you, Alex.”
“I love you too, Callie. It will probably take some time and maybe a little bit of construction, but this house is going to become our home. When we first started dating, we agreed not to look too far into the future so we wouldn’t be distracted from the present. I think it’s only fair to let you know I’m looking beyond you just moving in here. I envision us getting married and eventually converting another guest bedroom into a nursery. I want to build a life with you, Callie, and I want to raise children with you.” Alex smiled as she brushed a happy tear off Callie’s cheek. “I really love this story we’re writing together, and I can’t wait to experience the next and every following chapter with you, my love, but I promise to not get so anxious that I neglect the one we’re presently experiencing at any given moment. I’m here with you, now, tomorrow, and every day after. Until the stars burn out, and maybe even after the world and galaxy dies, whatever the universe allows, I’m yours, always.”