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“We have to go back upstairs,” I say to Henry, but he’s too busy with his hands up my shirt and his lips attached to my neck to pay me any attention.

We’re at my parent’s again because they’re having a BBQ to celebrate the twins’ birthday. They asked me to come down to the basement to get the platter, and of course, Henry followed, using the excuse that I wouldn’t be tall enough.

With the Falcons still playing and on their way to the Cup, we haven’t had a ton of time alone, but we’ve planned a trip to Holland after the season is over.

“We actually don’t,” Henry says, sucking my earlobe into his mouth.

“I’m starting to think you’re only with me for the sex.”

He removes his hands from my breasts and steps back. “Really?

I fist his T-shirt and pull him back to me. “I’m kidding.”

“Now who wants who for sex?” His fingers slip under my shirt again, and he tugs down the cups of my bra—such a boob man.

My back arches, and my head falls back when he pinches my nipples. “Jeez, Henry, you’re killing me.”

“My favorite thing to do.” His tongue twirls around my earlobe, and his heavy breathing and rock hard bulge grind along my core, taking all sense away from me.

“I’m sure we could manage a quickie, right?” My voice is breathy.

He chuckles, and I whimper when one hand leaves my breast. He flicks the button on my pants. “Always so needy. Tell me, babe, how wet are you for my dick right now?”

When am I not wet for him? I would have thought things in the bedroom would calm down after a few months, but they haven’t. Then again, sex at night with a kid in the room down the hall from yours doesn’t offer the scream your lungs out, take me rough and fuck me hard kind of opportunity. Not that I’m complaining. Henry’s other side, when he’s all sweet and caring is just as much of a turn on. The way his eyes never stray as he enters me, my name slipping from his lips in a whisper. I love slow and languid, but when he whispers dirty things in my ear, that’s my favorite.

“You’re soaked,” he says with awe in his voice. His hand is already under the elastic of my panties and running between my legs.

I’m lost in Henry, which isn’t hard to do until laughter rings out from upstairs.

“Shit, we can’t.” I push at his chest, and he chuckles, his hand not moving.

“Let me give you that glow I love so much,” His lips capture mine while his thumb rubs my clit with small circles. He knows what that gentle touch does to me. He’s playing dirty.

My lower back leans against the pool the table and I want to climb on top of it and have him thrust into me, but we can’t chance it with so many people upstairs.

“We shouldn’t,” I say.

“We most definitely should. After all, this is the same place I told you I liked you how many years ago? Think about it, Jade, can you believe we’re here? If those two kids were watching us right now, what would they say?”

I pant. “Don’t stop, I’m so close.”

“That’s my girl. My sixteen-year-old self would be impressed by how fast I’m getting you off. Probably try to ask me my tricks to get the sixteen-year-old version of you off.”

“Back then, it didn’t take much. Just kissing you, and I was halfway there.”

He laughs. “I do miss our exploration days.” His finger circles my entrance and eases into me.

“Oh shit.” A rush of breath leaves my lungs.

Henry uses his free hand, lifting my T-shirt up and tugging down the cups of my bra before taking one of my nipples into his mouth. That’s all I need to slip over that edge he takes me to every damn time. His sixteen-year-old self would be impressed by his skills, but then again, sixteen-year-old Jade thought sixteen-year-old Henry was skilled then, too.

His mouth pops off my breast and my T-shirt falls, but Henry crashes his lips to mine, sliding his hand out from between my legs. Closing the kiss, he keeps his lips millimeters away from mine. “I fucking love getting you off. It’s my new addiction.”

He slides his fingers into his mouth and sucks on them and I get all hot for him again.

“Yeah, we need to stop doing this.” I push against his chest, and he laughs, allowing me to move him back.

“There’s something about the basement.” He walks to the bathroom, and I hear the faucet come one. He returns a couple of seconds later.

“You need to stop following me down here.” I zip and button my pants and reach up to arrange my breasts back in my bra.

“I’m the one with a hard dick right now.” He adjusts himself then hugs me to him, grabbing the platter on the pool table. “Think your mom and Reed are up for a sleepover with Bodhi tonight?”

I shake my head and give him a chaste kiss. “I’m sure they will, but I have Eloise’s shower tomorrow.”

He groans because it means no lazy morning where we have sex until noon.

I wiggle out of his hold and smack his ass. “Let’s go, Hensley.”

I’m walking up the stairs, Henry behind me when I hear Reed say, “I got her the job.”

My footsteps stop, and I put my finger over Henry’s lips. He opens his mouth and sucks my finger. I complain, but I love that he can’t get enough of me.

“I invited her to my birthday party,” Bodhi says.

Henry’s forehead wrinkles. We knew that one.

“I got her to Chicago in the first place,” my mom says.

“You did need the surgery, and you couldn’t drive,” Reed says as if she didn’t get me here. “But Chelsea or Hannah would have helped.”

“I had to lay on the mom guilt,” she says.

“Hello, I got her to Peeper’s Alley that night for Aubrie’s birthday,” I hear Chelsea chime in.

“They’re all taking responsibility for getting us together?” Henry whispers, and I nod.

Tweetie clears his throat. “You’re all crazy, I took her into the backroom. I’m the one who’s responsible.”

“I pushed him to talk about her,” Conor says.

“I talked him into going for it with Jade,” Rowan says.

“After I won the five-goal challenge!” Conor says. “You put on pads and have Daddy shoot pucks at you. It’s not as easy as I make it look.”

Henry chuckles at Conor’s comeback in my ear. “I am that good,” he says softly.

“I got Daddy to go to Navy Pier,” Bodhi says.

“With my help,” Kyleigh says. “And I took you with me on the Ferris wheel so your Daddy and Jade could be alone.” She must tickle him because he laughs.

“I think it’s safe to say we all had a role. They wouldn’t be down there doing what they’re doing if it wasn’t for all of us,” Conor says.

“What are they doing?” Bodhi asks with confusion in his voice.

My eyes widen at Henry, and he pats my ass to get moving.

“They’re looking for a platter,” Tweetie says, with a clear tone to his voice that it’s code for something else.

When we reach the top of the stairs, all their heads turn toward us.

“Just so you know, Jade and I were already seeing each other before Navy Pier. In secret,” Henry says. “And I think I’m responsible for us being together. I came over here and told her that I wanted to date her.”

“Yeah, and I watched Bodhi for you that night.” Conor lifts his arm and points to the top of his head. “Which is why you thanked me by giving me your condo.”

I chuckle.

Henry secures his arm around my waist.

“Daddy, I gave Jade the invitation. It was me.”

I bend down and Henry squats next to me. “Then we owe you a big thank you,” I say.

I open my arms, and he hugs me tight. “I thought Micha’s mom was going to ruin it. I didn’t give him one and gave it to you instead.”

I pretend I hadn’t figured that out and Henry high fives him.

“Always looking out for me, huh?” he says to Bodhi, who beams because he gave his dad something he really wanted—me.

“The kid always gets the credit,” Tweetie says, and everyone laughs.

It’s safe to say everyone played a part, and it feels good that some of the moves were intentional to put me in proximity to Henry and him to me. Because had someone said we would have ended up here when I first landed back in Chicago, I would have said they were crazy.

Henry kisses my temple and, as always, wraps his arms around me and Bodhi. I’m finally home and with my family. I found myself by returning home. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.

I’m with Eloise behind the doors of the church. Since her father died a couple of years ago, she’s decided to walk down the aisle herself. She’s been quiet all morning except for complaining about the dark circles under her eyes and I’m really worried about her.

“Hey, Jade,” she whispers and waves her hand at me to come closer, away from the other bridesmaids and flower girl.

“What’s up?” I ask, giving her an open expression like if she wants me to call an Uber so we can rush out of here, I’m her girl.

“Conor Nilsen?” she asks. “He plays for the Falcons, right?”

I draw back because Eloise isn’t a sports girl. There’s not one team that she follows or cares to know about. In high school, when I’d drag her to Henry’s games, she spent all the time on her phone or flirting with guys on the bench, never watching the actual game.

“Um… yeah. Why?”

She bites her lip but releases it quickly to avoid ruining her lipstick. “Does Henry know him? I mean, I know they play on the same team and stuff, but…”

“You’ve met him,” I say because she must have if she’s asking me this. But Conor is with us all the time.

“I never met him.” She shakes her head. “I mean, I did, but not with you.”

I look around and lean in closer. “Eloise, why are we talking about Conor Nilsen right before you’re about to walk down the aisle to marry Tristan?”

“I just wondered what kind of guy he was. Like a Henry kind of hockey player or like a real hockey player?” I must look confused, and the music starts up, two ushers opening the doors to the sanctuary. “You know, like a playboy or the settle down type?”

“Eloise,” I say, trying to understand why Conor is coming into conversation again.

“Just answer me, Jade.” She looks ahead of us, and I glance over my shoulder to see if my time is coming.

“He’s a good guy,” I say honestly. I mean Conor seems great. He’s funny and friendly and treats Bodhi like his favorite nephew. “Not really a good dart player, though.”

She huffs and rolls her eyes.

“Jade,” someone whispers my name.

“Playboy or not?” she asks, eyes wide.

God, I have a million questions for her and no time to ask them.

From what I’ve witnessed since being back with Henry, there’s no denying that there hasn’t been a steady girl present but rather a string of girls, so I answer as truthfully as possible. “Playboy.”

“It’s your turn.” The wedding planner touches my shoulder.

“Eloise…”

She shoos me with her hand. “I’ll see you down there.” She smiles, albeit fake.

The wedding planner taps me again, and her voice has more urgency. “Go.”

So, I turn around and walk down the white aisle runner, eyeing Henry sitting in one of the pews with Rowan and Kyleigh on my way down.

Tristan and his buddies whisper and laugh with one another, not paying any attention to the ceremony. I don’t know him well, but the times we’ve gone out with them, I can’t say I’m a fan. He’s self-centered, and I don’t like the way he talks to Eloise sometimes. But she’s chosen him, and I feel like I haven’t had enough interactions to insist my friend don’t marry him. Free will and all that.

The music shifts to the bridal march but Eloise doesn’t come out immediately.

Tristan doesn’t seem to notice, but Henry glances back at me after an uncomfortable amount of time, probably asking me if this wedding is going to happen.

Then Eloise steps into the doorway. Her white Cinderella dress is puffy and beautiful. Her eyes go to Tristan, and maybe everyone else misses it or maybe they see the flicker of disappointment when she realizes that he’s not staring back at her. She smacks on that smile I’ve seen her force too many times during the wedding preparation. I had wanted to corner her at her bachelorette party, but our flight from Holland got delayed. I’m running on fumes all week.

She walks down the aisle, everyone else smiling more than her. She hands me her bouquet, and I whisper, “Are you sure? It’s okay to?—”

She shakes her head and turns away from me. I guess she’s marrying Tristan.

The officiant has everyone sit down and starts the ceremony. When he asks whether anyone objects to this union, I have to force myself not to raise my hand. She’s an adult. She can make this decision for herself.

The doors of the church burst open, and a panting Conor, who looks like he’s had better days, heaves for breath before raising his hand. “I object!”

Clearly while I’ve been in Holland, I missed something.