The Designated +1

by Ellie Cahill

  My cheeks got hot and I couldn’t help smiling. “It kind of was.” But my smile faded quickly. “I hope I didn’t screw everything up for you with your family, though.”

  “It’ll work itself out.”

  “I’ll feel really bad if it doesn’t.”

  He stroked his thumb across my cheek. “I’ll make sure it does.”

  We kissed again, just because. And it was a good one, too. The kind of kiss that makes you a little lightheaded but you don’t really mind and you sort of want to lift one foot in the air like in an old movie. The only thing that stopped it was Justine pushing open the door and calling out, “Get a room!” I looked and all the other girls were still there, and they were all smiling, and grabbing each other squeefully.

  “This is getting ridiculous,” Will said.

  “Maybe we should stop sucking face in public.”

  “You wanna get out of here?”

  “Can you do that?” I asked. “Aren’t you still on groomsman duty?”

  “I’m pretty sure shoving the groom into a wall is grounds for early retirement.”

  “Okay, but my keys are inside.”

  “Let’s go.” He took my hand.

  We met the girls at the door, and had to stop for them to exclaim over us. I gave Anna a hug and thanked her for making me confront James.

  “You know I wouldn’t have pictured this,” Maddie said, gesturing between Will and me. “But I’m into it.”

  “Me, too,” Justine agreed. “It works.”

  “Glad you approve,” Will said drily.

  “Guess we’ll all be seeing each other again at another wedding.” Gidget’s grin said she knew she was being naughty.

  “Whoa.” I held up a hand. “Let’s not get too crazy here.”

  “Better get in there and catch that bouquet,” Maddie teased, shooing me toward the ballroom.

  “Ah, no. We’re actually gonna go.”

  They teased us a few more times, but let us go. The ballroom was more sparsely populated than it had been even a short time ago, but there were still enough people and swirling lights that it was easy to make our way to my seat to retrieve my clutch and shawl. On our way out, Will veered to the side to intercept his mom as she cut across the room.

  She took in our locked hands quickly and raised her eyebrows in a quizzical expression that reminded me of Will.

  “We’re gonna go,” he said. “Can you please run interference with Dad?”

  “This better be life or death.”

  “Can you trust me that it’s for the best?”

  “This is your brother’s wedding,” she said. “It’s a once in a lifetime event.”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure about the once-in-a-lifetime part,” Will said. They exchanged a significant look and Mrs. Brady nodded.

  “Okay,” she said, waving her hands in a conjuring motion. “Okay. Hadley got sick, and you had to take her home because…”

  “She’s my girlfriend.”

  Her eyebrows went up higher this time. “Well. I—okay then.”

  “Come on, Hads.” Will pulled me closer and slid an arm around my waist as we walked out of the ballroom.

  I didn’t say anything until we were walking through the parking lot, but I could hardly let him get away with that and not talk about it. “So I’m your girlfriend tonight? Is this like at Trent’s wedding?”

  “No. I was thinking of a more permanent position.”

  “Yeah? Do I get a say?”

  “Not really.”

  “I don’t?” I laughed.

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’re madly in love with me, and you can’t imagine your life without me.”

  “I am?”

  “Definitely.” We’d arrived at my car, and now he leaned against it, pulling me close to kiss me. Those familiar soft lips and the gentle sweep of his tongue made my toes curl. He pulled back, leaning his forehead against mine and trailing his hands over my bare back. “I love you,” he said.

  I hadn’t expected to hear those words from him tonight, or any time in the near future, but now that they were out there, I knew it was true. My heart hammered joyfully against my ribs, and I had no hesitation in answering, “I love you, too.”

  He smiled. “Told you.”

  31

  When In Doubt, A Puppy

  We drove to the Brady house, knowing that no one would be home for hours. It felt a bit high school, but our options were limited, and Will’s RV was already parked in the driveway at his parents’ house so it was inevitable that we’d end up there at some point.

  In one way, it felt right. This is where we’d run into each other after those years apart. We both had keys. I had to check on Estelle and Getty anyway. All signs, if you believed in that sort of thing, pointed to here.

  The bichons were thrilled to see us as always. I let them out and Will gave them a late dinner, which they were pleased with. And while they were still eating, Will took my hand and led me to his bedroom.

  It wasn’t the frozen-in-time shrine to his youth that I saw in a lot of my client’s houses. It looked more like a guest room except for a crowded bookshelf and a few framed pictures of Will in younger years. I went closer to look at his high school football portrait. He was smooth-faced, and his wiry, stretched-out body bordered on gangly, even with his pads on. I remembered that face.

  Will stepped up behind me, resting his hands on my hips, and his chin on the top of my head. “Don’t look at him,” he said. “That guy wouldn’t know what to do with you.”

  I smiled. “Hey, I know that guy. He wasn’t so bad.”

  “Trust me, he couldn’t make a girl come with an instructional video and all her parts labeled.”

  “Aww, poor guy,” I laughed as I spoke. “Past Will would be very proud of Present Will.”

  “What about Past Hadley?” he asked. “Would she be proud of Present Hadley?”

  “I hope so.” I turned in his arms and rested my hands on his chest. “She’d be super jealous of Present Hadley’s boobs.”

  “As she should be. They’re good ones.”

  “And Present Hadley would definitely like to suggest that Past Hadley take another look at Past Will.”

  He shook his head, mouthing the word no slowly. “That guy would ruin Present Will’s chances with Present Hadley.”

  I thought about myself as a self-conscious 18 year-old. I would have died of embarrassment the minute I cut my forehead. I would have stood by with ants still crawling on me, insisting I was fine even as they bit and stung me, rather than take off a single article of clothing in front of a boy. I would never have slapped James Brady across the face. Past Hadley had a lot of growing up to do. “You’re probably right.”

  Will ran his hands up and down my bare back, slowly, thoughtfully as he spoke. “HB, I’d be lying if I said I’ve always secretly loved you, but there was never a time I didn’t like you. I mean as a person. And once I saw you again, it didn’t take me long to figure out that I could very easily love you.”

  I gave him the side eye. “You have a weird way of showing a person you like them.”

  “And you give as good as you get. That’s part of why I like you.”

  “Plus you fear my wicked bitch slap.”

  He laughed, and leaned down to kiss me. I was wearing heels, and still I had to rise on my toes to even try to get close to him. I liked that he was so big. I liked the effort we had to put in to kissing each other.

  I slid my hands under his suit jacket and pushed up, sweeping it off his shoulders. It fell in a heap at his feet, and I began to work at the tie knotted at his throat. He let me loosen it, but then pulled it over his head before I could get it all the way undone. He came back to me immediately, cupping my face to pull me close for another kiss, as if the moment we’d lost contact he’d been cut off from his air supply. But after I let him get his fill for a little longer, I broke away to figure out what was stopping me from unbuttoning his shirt.

 
He traced the strap of my dress from one shoulder, along the plunging neckline and up to the other shoulder. “This dress… I’m surprised the church didn’t burn down.”

  I giggled. “I did question if it was appropriate.” Finally, the tiny button under his collar came loose.

  “Fuck appropriate, you look amazing.”

  “You don’t have to say stuff like that,” I said. “You’ve already got me.”

  He looked wounded. “But you do.”

  The other buttons on his shirt gave easily, and I made quick work of getting him stripped to the waist. I pressed my lips to the hollow just under his collarbone, right beside the impressive swell of his traps. He flattened his palms on my back, nearly covering all of the exposed skin.

  “The zipper is on the side,” I said.

  He found it, and soon lifted the Eat Your Heart Out dress over my head. It joined his jacket and shirt on the floor.

  He made an exaggerated face of surprise. “You’re naked under here!”

  “Not quite.” But I wasn’t able to wear a bra with that dress, so pretty close.

  “Close enough.” He lifted me suddenly, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, so he could carry me to the bed. As though we’d rehearsed it, we melted onto the bed together, our bare skin coming together in pulse-racing warmth.

  There was a bit of a ridiculous struggle to get his pants off with me on top of him, and I finally had to scramble to the side. He went for his pants, while I set about taking my shoes off.

  “You could keep those on,” he said with an eyebrow wiggle.

  “Another time,” I promised. I didn’t want to be distracted by kink.

  Finally he was back, on top of me now. I tilted my pelvis up to meet his and set about the serious task of kissing him and touching every part of his exposed skin. He was warm and smooth and strong and soft, and tasted like I imagined sex-flavored ice cream would taste. He responded in kind, with kisses and gentle sucking on my neck and the slow rock of his hips to spur me on. I felt undeniably sexy whenever I was with him.

  I began a slow orbit with my hips in perfect counter-point to his rocking rhythm. It was no surprise we worked this way; it was an echo of the way we work together out of bed, too.

  He sank his teeth into my shoulder, gently, and with a sigh, raising goosebumps down my arms. I liked the way he sometimes did that. Like his hands weren’t enough to grab on with, and he wanted to taste me.

  “Let me see you,” he said. Gripping my shoulders, he rolled us over then drew one of my knees up. My poor, frilly lace panties would never be the same; I had soaked them through.

  The new position had my clit pressed tightly against Will’s impressive erection as we continued our languorous rotations. I was already starting to sweat all over, and I didn’t care. His hands roamed over my lace-covered ass and up my torso. As his palms drew closer to my breasts, I stilled my hips, waiting.

  He outlined the underside of each breast with his fingertips and my nipples tightened. My breathing went ragged, like I was an extra in a zombie movie, but I was too busy concentrating on feeling every inch of my skin to care. His fingertips finally graze my nipples and I moaned.

  Somehow, he already had me addicted to his teasing ways. Being with Will was like a drug. My hips began moving again of their own accord and I knew that I was bound for O-town on the express train. He drew me down for a kiss, and I groaned into his mouth.

  A pleasure akin to pain in its intensity gathered into a hot ball in my belly. I went feral, digging my nails into his shoulders while he teased my nipples and our hips ground together like millstones. That express train was going to jump the tracks any second.

  “Oh God!” I gasped “I’m gonna—oh God!”

  Suddenly he lifted my hips away from his with firm hands. I was hovering at the brink, gasping for air and feeling the first twinge of orgasm pinching deep down in my abdomen.

  “No! What are—what are you doing?” I tried to wiggle out of his grasp, desperate to reestablish contact. My arms were pins and needles; I needed to take a deep breath but I couldn’t. “Please!”

  In a flash, he had me on the mattress beside him and went to work stripping off my soaked panties. His thumb grazed my clit and I jolted like I’d been struck by lightning.

  “God, damn it, Will!” I was going to hyperventilate if he doesn't finish what he started.

  He slid off his boxer-briefs, slid on a condom, and then he was kneeling between my parted thighs, staring at me with wild eyes. “I love it when you curse me out, sweet girl.”

  “Then fucking take me, you cocky bastard,” I growled.

  He grinned at me, edging closer. I felt his erection poised just outside my entrance. I arched my back, clawing the sheets.

  “Now!” The word was a guttural howl.

  The first thrust was all I needed to see stars. I let out a wordless cry that made the bichons bark from out in the hall. When I finally had my wits about me again, all I could hear was Will.

  “Oh Jesus, Hadley… Jesus Christ you feel good.”

  I drew my knees up to let him thrust deeper. His breath sounded almost like sobbing. It was a sound I’d already learned to associate with him reaching ecstasy. I ran my hands over his heaving chest, feeling his pounding heart. I locked my ankles behind him and pulled him tightly against my thighs.

  Gazing up at him, still blissed out on my own pleasure, I thought about how close I’d come to walking away from him. From us. It would have been so stupid. I couldn’t believe how blind I’d been to the truth.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  He threw his head back and gave three hard thrusts. I very nearly followed him into another orgasm but it was too much for me and we collapsed together, panting.

  He was heavier in the aftermath, and made no effort to support himself, and I didn't care. There were worse ways to go than this. But of course, he came to life, leaving wet kisses on my neck as he hauled his head up to look at me.

  "Hi.”

  "Hi yourself," I smiled.

  “I told you…” he panted, “you were in love with me.”

  “If you’re going to be smug about it every time, I’ll never say it again.”

  “Then I’ll never be smug about it again.”

  I gave him a doubtful look. “That was too easy.”

  “I like hearing you say it.”

  That made me smile. “You going soft in your old age, Brady?”

  “Not a good thing to say to a man in this position.” He gave me a lazy hip thrust.

  “Right. Sorry.” I giggled and his eyes rolled back in his head as my inner muscles squeezed him with every syllable of laughter.

  “I should take care of this.” He managed a somewhat dignified dismount and disappeared into the bathroom. Estelle and Getty took advantage of his unlatched door to push their way inside and jump up on to the bed with me.

  “Hey guys.” I sat up to scratch their heads, feeling very awkward to be naked in front of the dogs. Not that they cared, or that they knew the difference between my regular clothes and the sheet I clutched in front of my chest now.

  When Will returned, he took one look at the dogs and snapped, “Out!”

  They obeyed without a fuss, their furry white butts disappearing through the door just in time to avoid having their tails caught as Will closed it.

  He came back to bed and arranged me into a spooning position, threading our fingers together and tucking our joined hands beneath my chin.

  “How long do you think we have until your parents get home?” I asked.

  “They’ll stay to the end. Probably a couple hours at least.”

  “I’ll go soon, then. Before they get here,” I said.

  He didn’t object. As content as the two of us were with our situation right now, there was still the matter of James and how this was all going to play out within the Brady family in the long run.

  “You could always spend the night in the RV with me,” he suggested.

/>   I made a face he couldn’t see. “I really need to get my own place.”

  “Why haven’t you moved out?” he asked. “You talk about it all the time.”

  “I know I complain a lot, but it’s not actually horrible living with my mom. And I’ve been able to save a ton of money. I’d like to buy a house. And paying rent will just make that take longer.”

  “You can get a house for pretty cheap if you’re willing to do a little work on the place.”

  “You mean with my amazing sledge hammer skills?” I giggled.

  He pinched my side, making me jump. “You know you might just know someone who’d be able to help you out with that.”

  “Oh yeah? Who?”

  “You’re cute, Hads, really.”

  I twisted in his embrace until we were face-to-face. “Would you really?”

  “Of course I would.”

  The thought of a cute little fixer upper had never crossed my mind before. I had zero skills in that area. But he was right, I could afford something like that soon. Very soon. Maybe even now if the price was right.

  “That would—I’d—would you really?”

  He laughed. “Yes.”

  I kissed him, hard. “Then yes! Please! Let’s do that.”

  He let me kiss him again, excited, rough kisses that were closer to the Kiss Cam variety. “God damn, Hadley. If you’re this excited about the idea, I’m gonna need a helmet when we look at houses.”

  I grinned. “Imagine what I’d be like if you gave me a puppy.”

  Will smiled. “First let me get you a house, then I’ll get you a puppy.”

  “Let’s get two. So they can play together.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Maybe three.” I amended.

  “What are we going to do with three dogs?”

  “Love them? Rub their bellies? Talk about how lucky we are to have three dogs?” I held up three fingers in front of his nose.

  “How about we start with one?”

  “Okay. One.” I knew I was lying, but he could find that out later. “We’ll need a fenced-in yard.”

  “Of course we do.”

  Somewhere along the way, the conversation had shifted to ‘we.’ It should have been too soon. Too much. But the happy fluttering in my stomach and the sparkle in his eye said that for us, ‘we’ was just right.