A Holly Jolly Homecoming by Tracey Devlyn

Author:Tracey Devlyn [Devlyn, Tracey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steele Ridge Publishing

5

Half the gathering was stoned.

Just as he’d suspected. Coen chuckled.

Riley whacked him with the back of her hand.

“It’s not funny, Coen. Someone could have been hurt.”

“How? By saying what’s on their mind?”

“People have been known to get socked in the face when they fail to filter.”

“Some might deserve it.”

Behind her square glasses, Riley’s gray-blue eyes narrowed. “What if one of these folks got into a vehicle accident on their way home?”

“Wasn’t going to happen.”

“When did you become omniscient?”

“I guarantee you that Maggie and every other non-stoned person’s thoughts in this gym were already turning to a substance issue. That many people don’t lose their minds at the same time without some outside influence.”

“The thought never crossed my mind.”

“Have you ever done pot?”

“No, but—”

“Let me clarify—every non-stoned person, who has intimate knowledge of marijuana’s side effects, were already considering the possibility.”

“I suppose you fall into that category.”

“Right smack dab in the middle of it.”

She crossed her arms. “What was Scott thinking?”

“Nothing too deep, I imagine.”

“I’m glad I didn’t eat any of those.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Am too.”

“Admit it. You’d like to lose control.”

“I don’t enjoy apologizing.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Losing control means either you say something stupid or too revealing or you dance on the tabletops or fart in public or flash a cute boy or—” She clamped her lips closed.

“Or what?”

“Nothing. You lose control, do things you normally wouldn’t, embarrass yourself to high heaven, and then apologize for being an idiot.” She tapped her fingers against her folded arm. “So it’s best not to lose control in the first place and avoid all the drama.”

He moved closer until his chest brushed her shoulder. “Tell me about these children you want to have with me?”

Her body convulsed as if he’d slapped her. When she said nothing, he brushed the back of his fingers along her stubborn jaw.

“How many do you think? One?” He shook his head. “No, he would need a sister to terrorize.”

Still, she kept silent.

“Two? Three? Four?”

A reluctant smile pulled at the corner of her mouth.

“I could try to pump out a few more swimmers for five, but I’ll be dried up before six.”

“Stop!” She cupped a hand over his mouth. “My brain isn’t equipped to think about kids right now.”

Disappointment stabbed at his gut. He kissed her palm and gently pried her hand away. “Then you were speaking in generalities.”

“Yes. No.” She huffed out a frustrated breath and fastened her uncompromising gaze on his.

Something inside him retreated. Had he misread her comment about kids? Was she instead about to tell him that she couldn’t handle their long-distance relationship? Is that why she had thanked him for loving her? Was she giving up on them? Him?

Steel plates rolled up his spine and snapped into place, cutting off his retreat. He wouldn’t let her throw them away. He would fight for her as he did for his country. The warrior inside him awakened.

“Whatever you’re about to say, stop,” he said.

“I need to—”

“We’re not breaking up.”

“What?”

“I know this long-distance thing is hard, but it won’t be forever.

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