Chapter 33: Olive
I don’t know how long we lay there in a haze, but the gentle stroking of fingertips over my ribs starts to tickle. I want to squirm away, but my body is limp and sated. I can put up with a little tickling.
Until I can’t. “Stop,” I whine. “That tickles and you’re about two seconds from getting kicked.” Brooks chuckles but stops the tickling fingers. Rolling over onto my stomach so I can see his face better, I ask, “What are you doing on Christmas Eve?”
“Whatever you want me to do,” Brooks replies with a cocky grin and an arched eyebrow.
“Be my date for Chelsea’s wedding?” A couple hours ago I was terrified to ask him, afraid he wouldn’t want to come with me. But now? Easy fucking peasy.
He gives me a sweet smile, his eyes doing that sexy crinkle thing that makes my heart speed up. “Yeah, I’d love that,” he replies before pulling me on top of him and tucking the blanket around us. “On one condition.” I peek up at him through my lashes, waiting for the cost. “You keep the DJ from playing any Bon Jovi songs.”
I let out an evil cackle. “No promises. Sally lives for Bon Jovi.”
“Are your bridesmaid friends going to be drinking and wooing again?”
“Sally and the Boston twins will absolutely be woo-girls. Me, not so much. But I am really looking forward to the reception. Plus I’m in charge of the cake so you know dessert is going to be on point.”
“I’ve never been a fan of wedding cake but--”
I gasp, interrupting any “but” Brooks can come up with. “How can you not be a fan of wedding cake? That’s sacrilege! Blasphemy!” I try to push off Brooks’ chest but end up getting distracted by his big stupid muscles and let him pull me back down to kiss him with a disgruntled huff. I’m weak.
“As I was saying, I’ve never been a fan of wedding cake but I love everything you make so I’m excited to be there with you and eat your… cake.”
“God, you’re so dirty. I kind of love it.”
“Oh you more than ‘kind of’ love it, baby girl.” He peppers kisses down my jaw and neck, making me giggle. He’s right. I really freaking love it. I’ll take dirty talk over flowers and chocolate any day.
“What else can I expect at this wedding, besides the best wedding cake ever?”
“Open bar, music, dancing. All the good stuff. Oh. Um… this just occurred to me, but my family is going to be there. Like all of them.”
Brooks just smiles bigger. “All of them? Even your Grandma?”
“Yup. Even Gran. And I guarantee you’ll get to hear at least two good swears out of her.”
“I can’t wait.” Brooks kisses me again before smacking my ass and making me yelp. “Oh god! Are you ok? Did I hurt you?” He panics and tries to look over my shoulder at my bare butt, but I’m laughing so hard that he can’t get a good look.
“I’m fine,” I get out between fits. “You just surprised me, that’s all.” He growls and holds me tighter.
“Do you have popcorn?” I ask. “I’d love some popcorn.”
Brooks gives me a kiss and rolls me off him. “Of course, I have popcorn. Who doesn’t have popcorn?”
“I don’t know. Some people don’t like popcorn. Satanists, probably.”
Brooks laughs and shakes his head at me like I’m adorable as he heads to the closet and disappears. He returns a minute later wearing a pair of low slung gray jersey sleeper pants. I’m trying to contain my drooling when he tosses me a matching pair and a soft white t-shirt.
I bring them to my nose and sniff them shamelessly because I love the way they smell like him. He leans down and kisses me silly before snatching two pillows and the blanket from his bed.
“Get dressed. I’m going to make you some popcorn.”
“Can I snoop through your bathroom?” I call out as I watch his sexy as hell butt walk away.
“Knock yourself out, Sugar,” he calls back as he leaves the bedroom.
Grinning to myself, I jump up and put on the clothes. I have to roll up the bottoms and tighten the drawstring up a ridiculous amount but I love it. I’ve never been so comfy.
Brooks’ bathroom is insane. I may never go home again after seeing his tub. If I had to guess, I’d say it is big enough to hold three full-grown adults. And then there is the massive walk-in shower with two overhead shower heads. Yup. I am never going to make Brooks shower at my apartment again.
By the time I’ve cleaned myself up and poked through Brooks’ toiletries, smelling everything, I can hear the microwave beeping and the scent of buttery popcorn is wafting through the open door.
Following my nose, I find Brooks on the couch with his blanket, hot popcorn waiting for me on the coffee table. He lifts up one side of the blanket for me to snuggle in next to him.