“They’re pretty fuckin’ good, though.” Ford chuckles. “C’mon inside, you can have full access to the kitchen, I never use it anyway.”
“You don’t?” I ask.
Ford takes a step, then stops, looking back over his shoulder at me. “Don’t cook, honey. I grill and I microwave.”
I don’t say anything else, I don’t know what to say, but what I do know is that all of that changes right now. I’m not a fantastic chef or anything, but what I am is someone who can at least make a few simple things, and I plan on doing so for him in the very near future.
It doesn’t take us long to unload all of Damion’s things or to put him up in one of the guest rooms. Ford informed me that he changed the sheets this morning, so he has fresh sheets and towels.
“This house needs updating,” Damion whispers after Ford leaves us alone to get back to work before the dinner this evening.
“I know,” I agree.
“Like a lot of work,” he mumbles.
“He hasn’t touched it since his parents died. Everything is exactly the way I remember it. And to be honest, I don’t think his mother did much to it after his grandmother passed.”
“God, so it’s like three generations behind. Do you think he’ll let you renovate?”
I shrug a shoulder, unsure of how Ford feels about this old house. It was his grandparents’, built for their family and passed down since. The man who runs this ranch, lives in this house with his family.
“I hope he does, because it needs some serious work and it’s too gorgeous to be in such disrepair.”
“I agree.” I nod.
We spend the rest of the morning and afternoon exploring the ranch. I show Damion all of my childhood memories on this property. We go to the pond, to the shade trees where Ford and I picnicked more times than I can count.
Then I show him the tiny house. The one Ford remodeled for us, one that I didn’t know existed.
“Oh man, he’ll so let you remodel the farmhouse,” Damion whispers.
Looking over to him, I laugh. “He will, won’t he?”
“He totally will.”
FORD
As my friends start to arrive, I can’t help but well up with pride at the fact that I’m finally having a dinner here, and I won’t be alone, a third wheel, so to speak. I know that everyone was just here the other day, but this feels so much bigger than it was then.
“Ford,” Tulip whispers.
Wrapping my arms around her, I whisper against her ear. “Thanks for helping.”
The only person that I’ve thanked so far, is Channing, but I know that Exeter and Tulip had a hand in it all, too. Without them, last night wouldn’t have happened and this morning, Stephanie moving to the property, it wouldn’t have been possible either.
“You deserve your happily ever after, Ford, and we all know that Stephanie is that for you.”
“Thanks,” I choke before I clear my throat. Taking a step back, I dip my chin, looking down at her growing belly. “You about ready?”
She smiles, placing her hand on her stomach. “This baby is going to be huge. The doctor thinks they may have to induce me early.”
My eyes widen and I shake my head. “It’s not time yet,” I mutter, knowing that she has at least one full month left, if not longer.
“Probably in two weeks,” she sighs.
“You know what it is yet?”
Tulip’s teeth sink into her bottom lip as she shakes her head. “Still not finding out until the day. I want a surprise, a big one.”
Grinning, I reach out and touch her belly. The girl is nothing but baby, the rest of her doesn’t look a bit different. I jump back at the sensation of the baby moving inside of her.
“Holy shit,” I shout.
Tulip giggles, the sound of her laughter floats around me and it must cause some kind of stir because everyone gathers around us. Stephanie sidles up next to me. Lifting my arm, I slide it around her shoulders and tuck her close to my side as she slips her arms around my middle.
“What happened?” Exeter asks, holding her wriggling baby.
“The baby moved, he freaked the hell out.” Tulip laughs.
The men chuckle, but it’s Rylan who speaks. “Weirdest shit ever, right?” he asks.
“Completely,” I agree.
“Also fucking magical,” he adds.
I don’t have anything to add to that. It is magical, it’s just not my fucking magic, but hopefully soon I’ll experience it all with Stephanie.
“C’mon, let’s interrogate Stephanie and Damion in the kitchen while we get everything ready,” Tulip says, laughing softly.
Dipping my chin, I look down into Stephanie’s eyes, unsure of what that means, but knowing that she’ll be just fine. We haven’t seen much of one another today and I’m kind of regretting throwing this right about now, when all I want to do is sink inside of her warm body.
Touching my mouth to hers, her breath catches before she breaks the kiss then takes a step back. My lips curve up into a grin at the sight of her pink tinted cheeks.
“I got plenty of ribs, let’s get the grill going,” I call out to the guys.
“Can I put Brooks down in your room, Ford? She’s on the edge of monster,” Channing calls out from behind me.
Turning to look over my shoulder, I smile at the little girl who has her head laying down on Channing’s shoulder and is already sucking her thumb. “Yeah, you can,” I nod.
She smiles, then turns and swiftly walks away. “You got my fishin’ stuff?” a little voice asks me down at my knees.
Turning around, I shift my gaze to Reese. His eyes are full of excitement and hope. “I do, buddy. It’s all ready to go, but probably after dinner just like last weekend, yeah?”
“Okay,” he says with a shrug.
“You wanna go and check that dirt pile I brought in? It looks way too perfect sittin’ over there,” I say, jerking my chin toward a pile of dirt that I had dropped off. I don’t need any extra dirt right now, but I knew he was coming over and tonight would be a long, probably boring, night for him.
“You do too fuckin’ much,” Rylan grunts.
Laughing, I watch as he climbs the dirt pile, sits on his butt, then slides down. I’m sure Channing will hate him getting so dirty, if she wants, she can hose him off in my shower, but all kids no matter, if they’re boys or girls, should always have a big dirt pile to play in a time or two.
Walking around to the back porch, we all watch him for a few minutes, enjoying the way his laughter fills the otherwise quiet air.
I put some toy cars, tractors, and trucks up there for him to use, they were mine and my cousins when we were kids and they’ve been through hell and back so I know he can’t hurt them.
Then, I start the grill, aware of the men that are watching me and waiting for answers, all but Rylan, because I told him everything last night. Inhaling a deep breath, I start to tell them about everything that happened between me and Stephanie that led to this moment.
Chapter Thirty-Three
FORD
Sending Damion off feels final. Really, really final. We wave as he walks through TSA. I slide my arm around Stephanie’s shoulders and bring her in close.