Blush for Me

by Kristen Proby

  “God, you’re a pain in the ass.” I pace away from him, then back to him, and shove my hands in my pockets so I don’t strangle him. “Chase and I made a lot of money when we sold the bars.”

  “So?”

  “So I might not have been willing to pay for you to feed your habit, but I’ll happily pay for treatment. Dad, you have to get a handle on this. Do it for Mom.”

  We both look over at Mom, who’s hugging Kat gently. “She’s an amazing woman.”

  “Yes, she is. And she loves you. She doesn’t want to give up on you, Dad. Get some help so you can grow old with her.”

  “I’ll do it. I don’t know how I’ll thank you for it, but I’ll do it.”

  “Just get well. That’s the only thanks I need.”

  He nods, shakes my hand, and then pulls me in for a hug. “I love you, son.”

  “I love you too, Dad.”

  “Well, we should probably get home,” Landon announces, wrapping his arm around Cami’s shoulders, then frowns when he looks over at Addie. “Are you okay, Blondie?”

  “These Braxton Hicks are crazy,” she says, taking a deep breath.

  “Honey, I don’t think it’s fake labor,” Sue says, rubbing Addie’s back. Suddenly Addie looks down to find her pants soaked through.

  “Oh God. That’s my worst nightmare.”

  “What?” Kat asks.

  “My water just broke in public.” She reaches for Jake. “It’s a good thing we’re already at the hospital because I’m going to have this baby today.”

  “Oh my God,” Riley says. “Do you have your hospital bag?”

  “Jake just put it in the car yesterday,” Addie says with a nod. Jake isn’t speaking at all; he just looks shell-shocked.

  “Let’s get you checked in,” Kat says.

  “You need to go home,” Addie replies, voicing my thoughts exactly. “You were freaking kidnapped today. Go get some rest.”

  “Fuck that, you’re having a baby,” Kat says. “I’m fine. Now let’s get you checked in.”

  “Oh God,” Addie says, reaching for Jake’s hand. “This is going to freaking hurt.”

  “Take the drugs,” Cami suggests.

  “What time is it?” Riley asks.

  “You just asked that ten minutes ago,” Mia says, but checks her phone anyway. “It’s noon.”

  “Is she ever going to have that baby?” Riley asks, and yawns. “She’s been in there for seven hours.”

  “I was in labor with Kat for thirty-six hours,” Sue replies with a smile. “The baby will come when it’s ready.”

  “You deserve an award or something,” Cami says, her eyes wide in wonder. “That sounds like agony.”

  “It wasn’t a party,” Sue replies with a laugh. “I think I tried to kill Stu with my bare hands at one point. But then she came, and she was the tiniest, sweetest thing I’d ever seen.”

  “I’m still the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen,” Kat says, winking at her mom. “We should find out how she’s progressing, and if it’s slow, we could take shifts.”

  “That’s not a bad idea,” Landon replies. “We’re all just a phone call away.”

  “I’m not leaving,” Mia says, shaking her head. “You all can go home if you want and I’ll call when there’s news.”

  “I want to be back there with her,” Cami says with a frown. “It’s not right that we’re not there.”

  “She said that only those who were there during conception are allowed to be there for the birth,” Riley replies, rolling her eyes. “I mean, come on. Do you think the doctor was there saying, ‘That’s right, Jake, give it to her.’”

  “Ew,” Cami replies, scowling. “That’s not sexy at all.”

  “Exactly,” Riley says.

  “We have a baby!” Jake exclaims, running into the room. He looks exhausted and sweaty and so damn happy. “She’s amazing. They’re both amazing. Oh my God, I’m a dad.”

  “Is it a girl or a boy?” Mia asks.

  “A girl,” he says with a grin. “I have to get back in there.”

  He turns and runs off, and the girls stare at each other in shock.

  “What about her name? And how much she weighs?” Kat asks me.

  “I’m not back there either,” I remind her.

  “This is why one or all of us should be back there,” Cami says, shaking her head. “He’s too flummoxed to give us information.”

  “We’re going to leave, now that we know she’s okay,” Sue says to Kat, hugging her close. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

  “Me too, Mama. Thank you.”

  Stu gets a hug in there as well before they leave, hand in hand. Mom and Chase both left after Addie was checked in and we were settled here in the waiting room.

  So we’re left with the five girls, Landon, and me.

  “Should we see if we can go back to see them?” Kat asks. “I’d like to go home to get a few hours of sleep, then come back this afternoon.”

  “I’m sure Addie and Jake need some rest too,” Cami says with a nod. “I’ll ask the nurse.”

  She hurries off to find someone and I drag my fingers down Kat’s cheek. I just can’t stop touching her. “We should go home.”

  “I want to see them first,” she says with a yawn. “But then, yes, let’s go home.”

  “You have to be exhausted.”

  “I’m more delirious now, I think,” she says with a laugh. “I’m past tired. But it’s okay because Addie was up all day and night and had a baby.”

  “I love how you put things into perspective.”

  “She can have visitors, two at a time,” Cami says with a smile. “Kat, you and Mac go first so you can get home.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice,” Kat says with a smile. We head out, walking down the hallway to Addie’s room, and walk in to find her snuggled in her bed, Jake at her side, and the new baby cradled in her arms.

  “Hi,” Addie says with a grin. “I had a baby.”

  “That’s the rumor,” Kat says, tears filling her eyes. “Oh my gosh, Addie.”

  “Right?” She gently brushes her finger over the baby’s cheek. “She’s so little.”

  Kat walks around the bed to hug Jake, then pushes him out of her way. “It’s my turn, dude. You’ve been hogging her all morning.”

  “Well, you know, I’m the dad and all,” Jake replies with a grin.

  “I’m the auntie,” Kat says with a smile. “Oh, can I hold her?”

  “Of course.” Addie passes the baby to Kat. Her face softens and she begins to sway back and forth.

  “Hello, baby. We’ve been very excited to meet you, you know.”

  “What’s her name?” I ask.

  “You didn’t tell them?” Addie asks Jake with a frown.

  “I was running on adrenaline,” he says. “We’re lucky I made it out there to tell them she was born.”

  “Well?” Kat asks.

  “Ella,” Addie says with a smile.

  “As in Fitzgerald?” Kat asks.

  “Of course,” Jake replies. “Her name is Ella Lou Keller. She weighs in at six pounds two ounces, and she’s only eighteen inches long.”

  “You’re a tiny little thing,” Kat whispers to Ella. “Oh, I’m so in love with you. You’re so wonderful.”

  “Look at her toes,” Addie says, unwrapping the bottom of the blanket to show us ten perfectly pink little toes. “They’re so little.”

  “Everything about her is little,” Jake says, then swallows hard. “I don’t want to break her.”

  “You won’t,” Addie says. “Babies are strong, and you’re gentle. She’s going to be just fine.”

  Kat yawns widely, then kisses Ella’s head and passes her back to Addie. “I’m so happy for you both. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” Jake pulls Kat in for a tight hug. “Now you need to go home and get some rest.”

  “That’s the plan.”

  Kat blows a kiss to Addie as we leave the room. “I’ve never bee
n this tired.”

  “Let’s get you home, sweetheart.”

  “It’s crazy,” Kat says as we walk into her condo.

  “What is?”

  “Think of everything that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours. I mean, a lot of shit went down.”

  “Yes, I was there.”

  “But I walk in here, and it’s exactly as I left it, as if nothing happened at all.”

  “Come here.” Unable to wait a minute longer, I pull her to me and hold her tightly. “I haven’t had you to myself yet.”

  “I’m right here,” she replies softly, but then sniffles. “I’m not sad.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m not even scared anymore.”

  “It’s exhaustion, baby.”

  “I’m so happy for Addie.” She wipes her nose and looks up at me. “Maybe I changed my mind. Maybe I do want a baby someday.”

  “You’re allowed to change your mind about that.” I smile and brush a tear off of her cheek.

  “I know that I haven’t said it before, and I feel dumb because I wanted to say it a thousand times, but I was scared and I thought I had all the time in the world. I love you, Mac.”

  I scoop her up into my arms and carry her to the bedroom, laying her gently on the bed, then covering her body with mine. I cup her cheek and kiss her softly, sweeping my lips over hers, nudging her nose, as my heart soars with her sweet words.

  “You’re the best part of my life, Katrina,” I whisper against her lips. “You taught me something, from the very beginning.”

  I brush a piece of hair off her cheek and smile down at her, enjoying the way her brown eyes shine.

  “Just because you’re breathing doesn’t mean you’re alive. You’ve made me feel alive. It’s like I took the first full, deep breath of my life the minute you sat in that seat on that plane, Kat. You consume me in ways that are both exciting and terrifying because as I learned yesterday, if I were to lose you, it would kill me.”

  “You’re not going to lose me,” she whispers.

  “I love you, but even those words seem too simple to describe how I feel about you. It’s an ache, right here in my chest, but it’s an ache that you don’t want to end. I look at you, and I’m calm. I hold you and I’m complete.

  “Loving you, Kat, is like coming home, and it’s better than any other feeling I’ve ever had.”

  A tear escapes the corner of her eye, falling into her hairline.

  “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she whispers. “And you calm me too. You make me feel safe and so fucking happy. I can be me with you. Being vulnerable is so out of my comfort zone, but it’s easy with you.”

  I kiss her lips, softly at first, then building into a kiss as passionate as we’ve ever shared. Our hands and arms work fast to shed our clothes, and when we’re naked, I cover her once more and rest my cock in her soft folds, cradle her head in my hands, and kiss her until we’re both breathless.

  “Mac?”

  “Yes, my love.”

  “I need you to make love to me.” She bites my lower lip and circles her hips, making my eyes cross.

  “That’s my plan.” I kiss her chin, then nibble my way down her neck to her collarbones and lick my way to her nipple.

  “Oh, I love it when you do that,” she breathes. “You are really very good with your mouth.”

  “I’m just getting started.”

  Her body comes alive beneath me, that blush I love spreading over her chest and into her cheeks. She spreads her legs, opening herself up to me in the most gorgeous way, and I’m going to explore every inch of her until she’s writhing and shouting my name.

  Her stomach quivers as I gently bite and kiss my way down to her center. She’s already wet, making me harder than I was before, and I didn’t think that was possible. I settle in between her legs and drag my finger over her smooth pink lips, protruding clit, then back down to her slick opening.

  She reaches down and sinks her fingers into my hair, gripping tightly as I wreak havoc on her pussy, making her moan and writhe deliciously.

  “You’re so fucking sexy,” I growl. She bites her lip and tips her head back, holding on to the pillow with her free hand while I push two fingers inside her and curl them, rubbing her most sensitive spot.

  “Jesus,” she moans, then comes spectacularly, grinding herself against my hand. I kiss my way up her body, protect us both, and slip effortlessly inside of her, making us both sigh.

  “You feel so fucking good.” I rest my forehead on hers and begin to move in and out, at a leisurely, lazy pace. I’m in no hurry to reach the finish line. I just want to love her.

  “I had no idea sex could feel this amazing,” she says.

  “This is making love, Kat,” I reply. “I’m not fucking you, we’re not having sex, we’re making love.”

  “That’s what it is,” she says with the sweetest smile. “I guess I didn’t recognize it because I’ve never done it before.”

  “Ah, baby.” I drag my knuckles down her cheek. “Thank you.”

  “For?”

  “Being you. Being mine.” I kiss down her cheek to her neck. “For loving me.”

  “Loving you is what calms me in the storm, Mac. It’s the safest thing I’ve ever done.”

  “You’re amazing.”

  She grins and circles her hips, that satisfied, cocky grin on her gorgeous face. “Thanks for noticing.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Six Weeks Later

  ~Kat~

  “We should have done this weeks ago,” Cami says as she sips her sample of wine.

  “I was pregnant weeks ago,” Addie reminds her with a grin. “I would have had a major meltdown if you guys had gone on a wine tour without me.”

  “We aren’t mean,” I reply, and take a bite of Brie cheese with salami and a water cracker. “This salami is delicious.”

  “That’s what she said.” Riley giggle-snorts at her joke. “Seriously, Mac, this is fun.”

  Mac is taking us on a special wine tour today. It’s just us five girls and him, and I’ll admit it’s kind of fun to be able to flirt with the tour guide.

  “Do a lot of people hit on you during the tour?” Cami asks him. “Because I find that the drunker I get, the more likely I am to flirt, and you’re hot, so . . .”

  “Sometimes,” Mac admits, making me scowl. “But I laugh it off and send them on their way.”

  “I’ll punch them,” I announce. “Bitches hitting on my man.”

  “Bitches hit on my man all the time,” Addie reminds me. “It’s a compliment that your man is hot.”

  “If they touch him, they die.”

  “Aww, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me,” Mac says with a laugh. “Don’t worry, love, no one touches me.”

  “That’s right,” I reply with a nod.

  “I have some news,” Cami says with a grin. “But it has to stay between us.”

  “Who else do we talk to?” Mia asks. “I only talk to you guys, so that’s not an issue.”

  “Still. What happens on the wine tour stays on the wine tour.” Cami points at Mac. “Got it?”

  “I hear nothing,” Mac replies.

  “Okay, Landon and I are going to start trying to get pregnant again.”

  “That’s so great!” I exclaim, and we raise our glasses in salute.

  “Ella is so sweet, and I’m feeling healthy again, so we’re going to give it a whirl. But there’s no pressure. I’m not going to take my temperature forty times a day or anything crazy.”

  “Yet,” Riley says with a smile. “I’m happy for you, friend. Let’s get you properly liquored up so you can have sloppy drunk sex when you get home.”

  “I love that plan,” Cami says, clapping her hands. “Bring on the liquor.”

  “This is a wine tour,” Mac reminds her with a smile.

  “Bring on the wine,” she says happily. “Hey Mac, how’s your dad?”

  “He’s good
, thanks,” Mac replies. “He just got out of treatment, and so far, things are great. Mom’s thinking about moving back in with him in a couple weeks.”

  “I’m so happy that all worked out for the best,” Riley says. “Good for him for getting help.”

  “Kat being put in harm’s way was the last straw, for him and for us,” Mac says.

  “Something good came out of something horrible,” Mia says, in the matter-of-fact way that only Mia says things.

  “So what happens next?” Riley asks.

  “With what?” I ask in return.

  All four of my best friends roll their eyes.

  “With you,” Cami says.

  “Well, we’re happy with things as they are,” I reply, looking up into Mac’s smiling face. “As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter the pace. It’s the journey, not the destination.”

  “That’s way too deep this far into a wine tour,” Addie says, shaking her head. “I’m not even sure I understand what you just said.”

  “I’m happy,” I reply with a laugh. “I’m happy with the way things are.”

  “Perfect.” Mia holds up her glass. “I’m empty, Mr. Wonderful.”

  “We can’t have that.” Mac chooses a new wine and pours us each a sample. As the girls swirl and smell it, he leans down to whisper in my ear. “This is the best journey of my life.”

  I grin up at him and pucker my lips, inviting him in for a kiss, which he doesn’t turn down.

  “We’re just getting started.”

  Epilogue

  ~Kat~

  “Where is Riley?” Cami asks, and braces her head in her hands, leaning on my bar. We’re gathered together for a meeting, but Riley’s late.

  “Are you hungover from yesterday?” Addie asks with a satisfied smile.

  “Mac got me so drunk,” Cami says with a groan.

  “But did it work?” I ask. “Did you have sloppy drunk sex?”

  “Oh yeah.” She peeks through her hands and flashes me a satisfied smile. “We had a lot of fun. He does this thing—”

  “Oh my God, stop talking,” Mia says, holding up her hands and shaking her head violently. “I do not need to hear about my brother’s sexploits.”