Then she hugs me.
The next knock on the door has me really fucking nervous.
When David opens it and Bella is standing there, I see her smile fall.
“Something we can help you with?”
“Wrong room,” she says then turns around and walks away.
Mara steps back and wipes her eyes. “Will she ever get a fucking clue?”
When I don’t say anything, Mara looks up.
“Oh, hell no. Please do not tell me you’re fucking—”
“Oh, go fuck yourself, Mayhem. Fuck him, and fuck this show you’re ruining, too. I quit.” Then she storms down the hall.
I smile, and Mara’s eyes widen as she shakes her head back and forth. “That’s a hard no.”
“That’s something I never thought I deserved, Mara. And I really need to go after her, so if we’re done here …”
“Go, you idiot,” she groans. “Go get Sally Sunshine.”
I walk toward the hall as Mara yells after me, “And hey, don’t fuck up the fact she just quit. Her being gone is going to be a dream come true.”
“She goes, I’m going.” I head out the door.
Twenty-Three
That’s a wrap
Bella
Bang, bang, bang.
“Bella, open the door.”
I don’t say anything; I just peel off my dress, kick off my heels, and crawl into the bed I should’ve never gotten out of because everything sucks today, even gummy bears, and I love gummy bears.
Bang, bang, bang.
“Don’t be such a pussy. Let him in.”
I jump out of bed and rush to the door, fling it open and see her back. “You have something to say, Scare-vira, come say it to my face!”
She turns around.
“Honey, you’re the least of my issues.”
“You have no idea what I’m made of.” I start to walk toward her when one big, stupid arm wraps around my waist and carries me into my room.
“Sweets, we don’t act like that.” He drops me onto the bed.
I sit up and push him. “Go back to your room. Go be with them.”
He pulls off his shirt. “I’m fucking drained. I’m going to bed. You’re coming with me. Big spoon, little spoon style.”
“Like I want you in my bed, you giant asshole.”
He reaches out and grabs me as I try to walk past him.
“I’m not playing, Tags. I’m done. I won’t deal with—” He kisses me, and I finish my sentence against his stupid, pillow-soft lips. “—you.”
He squats down. “She signed the papers. She’s got some issues.”
I laugh. “Really?”
“Mental health shit, Bella. She isn’t gonna try to take my girl. Everything I set out to accomplish here is done.”
I feel my bottom lip push out.
“And sweets, I am so fucking tired, and I know you must be, too, so can we sleep?”
“Why was she in your room?”
“To give me the papers, Bella. And you’re pissing me off, because I know you know how I feel about you. Tomorrow is a month; one month ago, I had the moon and was ready to set the world on fire so she never knew it could be dark. But then the sun came into that shop, and I didn’t wanna burn it down anymore, just light it up. No fighting, no second-guessing my intentions, no fucking gummies, because you’re a pain in the ass and, sweets, no more pushing her buttons. I know she does it to you, babe, but please, for Luna, just ignore it.”
I step back, walk around him, and climb up onto the bed.
When I feel him slide under the covers then wrap his arms around me to drag me back against him, I finally let out a breath.
“You better now?” he whispers against the back of my head.
“I think I’m still fucked up.”
He laughs. “Tomorrow’s a new day.”
“It is. And now that she knows, you can eat breakfast with the family.”
“Sounds like fun.” He rolls me onto my back. “Hey, Bella?”
My pulse accelerates, and I hold my breath as I wait for him to say three words, three words that I’ve heard but never from the right man.
He kisses my nose. “I really like you a lot.”
“Stating for the record that is the first time you’ve let me down in bed.” I roll back to my side, and he laughs against my shoulder. “But tomorrow’s a new day, he says.”
He chuckles. “Tomorrow’s a new day.”
I hear feet shuffling before I open my eyes. When I inhale, I smell him, but I also smell Dad’s cologne.
I roll to my side and open my eyes. Looking beside me, I see he’s gone.
I sit up and look at Dad. “What did you do with him?”
“Good morning, Little Bella; how are you feeling?” Dad sits on the end of the bed. “High?”
I scoot off the bed and see Carly coming out of the bathroom.
“You’re awake.” She hugs me. “Your boyfriend called and asked if he could take us to breakfast.”
“So, he is alive.” I scowl at Dad.
He scowls back. “For now.”
Carly sighs. “Jase, you are a forty-year-old man, not a twelve-year-old boy.”
“I’m all man, baby. You remember last night? I was a man … all night long.”
“Oh my God, do not do this to me.” I cover my ears.
“You fell asleep after one go.”
He raises his eyebrows. “You sure about, that baby?”
Carly smirks then looks back at me. “Your father thinks if he talks about sex in front of you, it’ll make you not want to have it.”
“Well, I didn’t have it last night, so—”
He jumps up. “Okay, fine! Go get ready, for fuck’s sake.”
Walking into the restaurant, I see him freshly showered, arms bulging and veiny. Clearly, he’s been to the gym this morning. For someone who hates to work out, I am definitely becoming a fan of the daily grind.
I smile as my steps quicken, walking toward him.
He stands up and holds out his hand as I get closer. Then he pulls me in and gives me a hug, kissing my cheek. “Welcome to our new day, Bella.”
“Looks like a whole lot of fun.”
He cups my cheeks and tilts my head back, looking in one eye then the next. “Thank God they’re back. They were starting to remind me of my ex—”
I slap him in his rock-hard abs, knowing it doesn’t hurt him one bit, but he plays it off like it does.
“Ouch, sweets. That hurt”—he grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles—“your hand.” Then he steps back when I playfully swing again.
Laughing, he pulls out a chair. “Have a seat.”
I step to sit, and Dad does instead.
“Thanks, cupcake.”
Tags smiles and shoves Dad’s chair in. “No problem, Daddy.”
Carly and I smirk at each other.
He pulls out the chair next to Dad’s. “Carly, have a seat.”
“What a gentleman.” She smiles, sits next to Dad, and then looks up. “Remember to keep doing things like pulling out chairs when you’ve been married as long as the old man and I have.”