Page 17 of Until the End (The Lost Letters #3)
Carson
M y heart thumps as I pocket my keys and head into Ginny’s house. I haven’t seen her since our text exchange a few days ago. It’s taken everything I have not to drive over here to talk to her. I want to know if she regrets it or if she wants to forget it ever happened in the first place.
I hope like hell that’s not the case. Everything I’ve dreamed of is at the tips of my fingers—if she means it, and if I don’t screw it up first.
“Anyone home?” I call out. Ginny’s living room is empty, which isn’t a surprise. The girls are never ready when I come to pick them up. If Gia’s here, like I suspect, she’ll have roped Ginny into her perpetual lateness.
“Up here! I need your help,” Ginny yells from the stairs.
Nerves swoop through my gut at the invitation. She wouldn’t… She doesn’t mean…
There’s only one way to find out. I dart up the stairs, where Ginny’s waiting for me in the doorway of her bedroom. An ill-fitting emerald green jumpsuit hangs on her shoulders. Has she lost weight, or does that outfit not fit her?
“You have amazing timing. I need your help.”
Okay, so she doesn’t want me to get her naked. I’m both disappointed and relieved. Until she turns around. The back of the jumpsuit gapes open, making her gleaming bare skin a temptation I have a hard time ignoring.
“Can you zip me up, please?” Ginny pulls her straight blonde hair over her shoulder and looks back at me. Those blue eyes spear me with a knowing gleam, and all I want to do is strip her naked and worship the ground she walks on.
“Temptress,” I grumble at her. Her little giggle tells me everything I need to know.
Stepping close to her, I run the pad of my thumb from her neck down her spine. Turnabout is fair play. Plus, I couldn’t keep my hands off her if I tried.
Goose bumps spread across her golden skin.
I temper the urge to follow the path with my lips, grabbing the zipper of her outfit instead.
The tines snapping together are loud in the silence of Ginny’s room, the moment heavy with desire and want.
We’ve been dancing around each other for so many years now, I’m not sure either of us knows how to take the next step forward.
Ginny turns around, her eyes wide with a myriad of emotions. “Thank you.”
I smile down at her. “Happy to help.” I palm her neck, my thumb tracing the line of her jaw. “You look beautiful, Goose.”
“Thank you.” She scrunches her nose. “Apparently, that’s all I can think of saying.”
I chuckle. “You know your face does most of the talking for you, right?”
She gives me an indignant look.
“See? I don’t even need to hear you say you’re annoyed with me.”
Ginny punches me in the arm, making me laugh. “Shut up. ”
“You ready to go?”
“Yep. Gia probably isn’t, though.”
“What else is new?” I stare down at Ginny, taking advantage of the fact that I don’t have to hide my feelings from her anymore. She knows I want to explore whatever this is between us. There’s freedom in that idea. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Are you?”
“I am now. I’ve been dying to see you since we last talked.”
“Then why didn’t you come over?”
The truth comes out without thought. “I was terrified. Right now, I have hope. The second we do this, the risk multiplies tenfold.”
Ginny reaches up, mirroring my hold on her cheeks. “I’m just as scared, but without the risk, we’ll never have the reward.”
“Are we really doing this, Goose? Do you honestly have feelings for me?”
Ginny’s smile is soft. “Yes, and yes.”
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say those words.”
“I think I’ve got a pretty good idea.”
I lean to press my forehead against hers. Our mouths brush in the barest hint of a kiss.
“Come on, bitches! We’re gonna be late!” Gia’s voice startles us apart.
Ginny’s cheeks flame, and I grin at her. “Come on, gorgeous.” I hold my hand out, and she takes it firmly in hers.
We walk down the hall together, our fingers entwined. Gia’s waiting by the front door. She’s got a sly smile on her face as she takes us in. “’Bout time you two got ready to go. I’ve been waiting here forever.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re a pain in the ass.
” Ginny tries to let go of my hand, but I tighten my hold.
If we’re doing this, she needs to get used to being affectionate in front of our friends.
I’m not about to tongue-fuck her the second we’re in public—though I’m not opposed—but I’m also not going to hide what she means to me.
Outside, I open the passenger door for Ginny. I love putting that soft, affectionate look on her face.
Gia is standing on the driver’s side with her arms crossed. “What about me?”
I open Gia’s door with dramatic flair. “Here you are, my liege.”
“Why, thank you, good sir.” Gia gracefully folds herself into the back seat. Ginny’s sweet giggles entice me into the driver’s seat. My life feels oddly settled right now. I have my best friends at my side and the love of my life willing to give me a shot. What more could I possibly need?
The drive over to Lottie and Gia’s house takes about twenty minutes. Now that the paps have finally dispersed, Ginny’s had way more freedom to move around town. Daren has a team watching over her at all times, but at least she’s not cooped up anymore.
The whole town has come together to keep an eye on Ginny.
Some of us may gossip about each other nonstop, but if an outsider tries to get information on one of us, we close ranks pretty quickly.
We’re loyal to our own, no matter what. The B&Bs in town jacked up their prices while the journalists stayed here, and the restaurants put on a tourist tax just for them.
I have no idea if it was legal, but the town benefited from their vulture-like behavior.
Warm lights welcome us to Lottie’s house. She and Gia technically rent it from Lottie’s parents, but they’ve been living there for so long now that we’ve come to think of it as theirs.
Michael’s black truck is parked outside already. I hope Ryan rode with him. He tends to retreat into his head, and Michael’s the only one who can bring him back out of his shell.
We head into the house empty-handed. I normally bring beer or something with me, but I was too focused on seeing Ginny to stop at the store.
Doesn’t seem like we’ll need it, though.
From the foyer, we can see through their living room and dining room into the kitchen.
Lottie has a huge spread of food and drinks on the counter.
It’s way more than we’ll ever eat, but I have a feeling she was excited we were all getting together at her house.
I walk through the large living space with Gia and Ginny following behind me.
Lottie’s bright smile welcomes us, her whiskey-colored eyes sparkling as usual.
Teddy stands behind her, his gaze tracking every move she makes.
The devotion he gives her is a road map to how men should treat their women.
He gives her everything, and in return, she loves him with her whole being.
Michael and Ryan sit on the stools surrounding the counter. They both have beers in hand while they watch Lottie mess with the plates of food. I have no doubt she shooed them out of the kitchen when they tried to help.
I wrap an arm around Lottie to say hello before giving Teddy a hug, as well. It took him some time to get used to our affection, but he’s learned to embrace it.
“Time to party!” Lottie cheers. She hugs Gia and Ginny at the same time while all three of them giggle together. Teddy has an indulgent look on his face that I imagine is reflected on my own. Michael and Ryan just laugh at them.
I stand next to Michael while the girls whisper to each other.
“It’s good to see the three of them together again,” Michael says, only loud enough for us guys to hear.
“I wasn’t sure we’d ever have the gang back the way it used to be—with a minor addition.” I glance at Teddy. “I’d mentally prepared myself to adjust to new people coming in and our hangouts being very different.”
“It’s still going to be different,” Michael points out. “Gia and Ryan will find partners, and you and Ginny being together will change things, too.”
I notice he doesn’t include himself in that list, but I don’t call him out on it. At least not right now. “Will Ginny and I being together make too many waves?”
Michael shakes his head. “Nah. All that sexual tension will finally dissipate between you two. We might actually get some clean air again.”
I punch him in the arm. “Asshole.”