The Truth About Love (27 page)
Read The Truth About Love Online
Authors: Emma Nichols
“We’re on display. Let me get moved in and we’ll talk.” He jerked his head toward the road and I discovered that Evan had a gathering of people who were all watching us from the driveway.
Scowling, I moved aside. “Get in here. I’ll help.”
Together we managed to unload his truck in minutes since he didn’t have much. When we were through, we sat together on the couch and cuddled with Kylie.
“This is such a nice house,” Shane began quietly, “but I don’t want to live here anymore.”
Nodding against his shoulder, I understood completely. “I can work anywhere. Still want to go to Florida?”
He sat quietly a moment as he contemplated our options. “We could move to a beach near your mom. We’ve always been really happy on the ocean.”
“Life is better at the beach,” I agreed.
We reclined in companionable silence before he spoke again. “I mean, this place just doesn’t feel the same.”
It was then Lily messaged me.
Lily: What are you doing tonight?
me: No plans yet. You?
Lily: We should go to Monterrey’s.
me: I would love that.
Looking up at Shane, I decided to use the direct approach. “
Do you want to go to Monterrey’s for dinner with Lyle and Lily?”
I tried to make the question sound natural, like it was no big deal, like we still did this all the time. Then I sat back and waited for his response. Not so long ago he had claimed they weren’t friends anymore. Of course, at that same time, he had kicked me out. Things changed. Feelings changed. Shane had changed.
“Sure, why not? We should fix things, right?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Then I happily sent Lily a message to cement our plans.
me: What time?
Lily: 7?
That’s why we were working on getting ready to leave the house with Kylie at six thirty in the evening when out of nowhere, Shane addressed the elephant in the room. “Do they know I’m coming?”
I pursed my lips. “Actually, no.” I waited for him to suddenly object to going, but he didn’t. Somehow, I knew this night was important. We needed it to heal...all of us. We’d never been to dinner with the kids, so that in and of itself was huge. This was a new era for Monterrey’s. When Shane and I first started dating, he wouldn’t let me go there. He would go with Lyle and Lily and their group of friends and I was able to meet up later at the house, but never eat with them at the restaurant. In fact, it wasn’t until we were engaged I was finally invited. Monterrey’s was where we announced our engagement, our pregnancy, and now we’d share our reconciliation.
When we walked in carrying Kylie, they were already set up with a corner booth. Isaac was in his car seat, just happily hanging out. Shane sat across from us next to Lyle and Isaac. I sat in the middle on the other side, Kylie in her high chair on one side, Lily on the other near her baby. At first everyone seemed a bit tense. We turned to food to break the ice.
We ordered our usual, the queso dip and every salsa they made to start. Then after loading up on chips, we ordered our dinners. Through the entire meal, Shane was light, breezy, and fun. After dinner, while we were all hanging out talking at the table, he rose to go to the bathroom. With his absence, Lyle was quick to comment. “It’s old Shane! He’s back!”
I nodded.
“
He’s much better in so many ways.”
Lily shared her opinion. “He’s coherent. I can’t remember the last time we hung out and he seemed...here, if you know what I mean.”
“Oh, I know. It’s a nice change.” I heaved a sigh of relief. Part of me worried they’d be furious I’d tricked them into this dinner.
Lyle leaned back in his seat beaming. “I’m so glad we did this.”
I caught Shane’s eye across the room as he walked back to the table. He looked to calm, so happy and confident. My heart pounded with pride. “Yeah, me too.”
Epilogue
Four weeks later…
“I’ll be back as quick as I can.” Shane promised as he planted a kiss on my lips. “I’m just picking up your mom at the airport. What time will everyone be here for the reception?”
Glancing at the clock on the mantle, I considered his question. “The wedding is at ten in the morning. They should be here by noon. They’re doing pictures first.”
He frowned. “You’re sure we’re not supposed to go to the wedding?”
“I’m still in my bathrobe. Does it look like we’re supposed to go? Besides, it’s on the steps of the courthouse in Kannapolis by a Justice of the Peace, just like she wanted. Then they’re coming here to party with family.” I gestured around the great room, which had been completely transformed when we moved furniture out of the way to make room for dancing. The fireplace was lit and candles were ready to glow about the rooms. A buffet had been set up in our dining room.
Wrapping his arms around me, Shane murmured, “You’ve done an amazing job.”
I sighed in relief. “You think so? I just want this to be perfect for her.”
“Well, surprising her by flying your mother in for the reception was a nice start.” He teased me. “Everything else should be a bonus.” He checked the time on his phone then growled. “I wasn’t going to do this now, but I really want to.”
Before I could question what he meant, he disappeared down the hall. “I have no idea what he’s doing. Do you?” I asked Kylie as she gnawed on a bagel in her booster seat. She merely blinked at me.
Suddenly, Shane was by my side once more. “This is for you.” The box was wrapped in wedding paper.
“Are you sure it isn’t for Brynn and Allen? We’ve been getting a lot of packages for them.” I reminded him.
“Yeah. I bought it. I’m sure.” He laughed. “Open it already.” He waved the package under my nose.
Shrugging, I tried to hide my excitement. Shane never gave random gifts. In the past, he barely gave gifts for genuine occasions. Slowly I pulled off the blue ribbon and placed it on Kylie’s head. She giggled in delight. Then I carefully peeled back the paper.
“You’re killing me!” He grumbled.
Laughing, I pulled the box out and set it on the counter before I opened the top. Inside, I pushed back tissue paper and found a pottery bowl. The way it glimmered, I inhaled sharply. “Is this what I think it is?” As I lifted it out, my eyes glistened with tears.
“Aw, babe!” He took the bowl from my hands and wrapped me in a warm hug. “Don’t cry. I thought you’d be happy. It’s that Japanese pottery you liked in Myrtle Beach. It made me think of us. More beautiful for having been broken and all.”
“I am happy!” I insisted as I sniffled. Then I reached into my bathrobe pocket. “I wasn’t going to do this now, but I want to.” Slowly, I pulled out the EPT stick. There was no denying the results.
“Pregnant?” He squeezed me tight. “Really?”
“Yup. Must’ve happened when we first reconciled.” I shrugged.
“So now what do we do?” He looked ready to panic.
I walked into his arms and pressed my head against his chest. “Now we celebrate Brynn and Allen’s wedding. Now we treat every day like the happily ever after we’ve always wanted. Now you go pick up my mom.” After hugging him once more, I smiled up at him. “I love you.”
“Love you more.” Shane leaned down to kiss me.
I rolled my eyes. “Love’s not a competition, babe.”
“No, it’s not.” The way he gazed at me had my tummy rolling with butterflies, or it could’ve been morning sickness. “Let me tell you about love.” He reached for a paper he had on the counter. “My toast.” He explained. “I’ll try it out on you.” He cleared his throat dramatically for effect. “Today, we’re gathered here to celebrate love. Two people have vowed to spend their lives together. It’s a reckless endeavor, fraught with challenges. Love will be tested. Through time and experience it will evolve into something which often looks nothing like the relationship that began long ago. See, the truth about love is that it’s messy, challenging, exhilarating, exhausting, and scary. Still, love finds a way because real love never ends. Our wish for you, this day and always, is a never ending kind of love.”
“To Brynn and Allen!” I added.
Shane held me close and bent to kiss me. When he was millimeters from my lips, he murmured, “To us.” His lips brushed mine and sent shivers of excitement down my spine. I knew where this could go, especially with me in a bathrobe.
Pulling back slightly, my eyes sparkling, I urged, “Now go get my mother.”
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Sin at Sea (The Sinful Series, 1)
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about emma nichols
What made her decide to be an erotica author?
Simple.
How else was she going to parlay her two favorite past times into a career?
Emma is single and loving it. Like her first character, Alysin, Sin for short, she doesn't believe in settling or in settling down. She loves to indulge in her passions whenever the mood strikes and enjoys keeping all of life's cliché moments spicy.
Known for her sense of humor, Emma surrounds herself with friends whose antics often become the source of book fodder. Her ideal situation would be to explore the Caribbean while writing. She pursues that dream daily.
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