by B. Cranford
She’s here.
And she doesn’t seem mad anymore? He didn’t know what had happened but the rush of relief that hit him when he saw her, and then the overwhelming happiness he’d felt when she’d so sweetly kissed his hand, had been acute.
He wasn’t a praying man, but he’d mentally sent a quick shout-out to whoever was up above looking out for him.
“This girl looks ready for a little playtime then a nap, I think.” Karen took Kennedy from Austin’s arms as he stepped out of the laundry room, Odie trailing behind. “You two go, go.” She turned with the baby, making her way back to where Finn was sitting quietly with a box of markers and a superhero coloring book.
Another gift that Odie had bought for him.
Another reason to love her.
He turned to his girl, and held out a hand, which she took without hesitation. It was clear they were fine, but they still needed to talk. He still needed her to know he really was sorry. That he really was going to be better.
He let her take the lead, and followed her down the hall into his bedroom, closing the door behind them. Opening his mouth to speak, he was surprised when she took the words right out of his mouth.
Not while she was kissing him, sadly.
“I’m sorry, Austin.” She tugged on his hand and he stepped closer. Her other hand came to rest over his heart, and he wondered if she could feel it thundering.
She must be able to. He’d be shocked if her mom couldn’t hear it in the other room, it was so loud and forceful.
“You are?” he asked, puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
“I wasn’t wrong—”
He interrupted because nope, she wasn’t. “No, I know. You were really right. So right. The rightest.”
“Stop talking.” She shook her head in amusement. “I wasn’t wrong, being hurt and angry about you forgetting. But I handled it wrong, and for that, I’m sorry.”
She stood silent while he took that in and when he rested his hand over hers on his chest, she nodded, encouraging him to say what he needed to say, too.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Odie. Seriously, I knew I’d messed up and I knew right away, and I wanted to come after you but I was naked and oh, God, I thought it’d be months again before you talked to me.” Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could hear himself turning into rambling Ashton—his sister’s ability to cram every word in the English language, and then some, into a sentence unparalleled. “And I couldn’t stand it, I was so fucking scared I’d done something that you couldn’t forgive me for and yeah, okay, the socks were a lot and kind of hurt but not really, I was just surprised, but I don’t need to forgive you, because you were right, and I was wrong, and I’m sorry and I swear, I will be better, I’ll find a way to be better.”
“Are you done?” she asked, her face lit up in happiness and amusement. “Because I have a gift for you.”
“You do?” His interest was piqued. He loved presents. “Gimme.”
She rolled her eyes but took a step back, letting go of his hand and sliding her other from beneath his on his chest. Reaching into the bag he hadn’t noticed her carrying, she pulled out a small, round gift. “I bought it a while back, to give to you for your birthday, but I thought this might be a little better. Neville,” she added, smirking at the nickname she’d jokingly bestowed on him before he’d practically poisoned her dad.
He narrowed his eyes at her but took the present eagerly. “If this is what I think this is . . .” Tearing off the plain brown paper and string, he stared down at the clear glass ball, etched with swirl-like markings and ringed by a gold band. Inside, a reddish kind of paint gave the ball a smoky appearance, and right away, Austin knew what it was.
He and Odette had read all the Harry Potter books together, starting when they were eleven and twelve years old. He hadn’t wanted to, but she was insistent and, even then, he’d found it impossible to deny her.
“A Remembrall?” he asked, warmth spreading in his chest, his eyes darting between hers and the ball that looked tiny in his hand.
“So you don’t forget,” she replied.
Odette watched with bated breath as he rolled the little glass ball around in his palm.
She’d found the small piece of memorabilia on Etsy, naturally, and had ordered it immediately, thinking it would be a funny joke. She didn’t realize then that it would help bridge whatever gap had formed after the argument of the night before.
“I’m going to try so much harder,” he promised, a hitch in his voice making a lump form in her throat. “I will.”
“I know you will.”
“I Googled it last night. After you left.” He bit his lip almost like he was expecting judgment and damn, if he didn’t look adorable. “My forgetfulness.”
Good thing she’d already worked past her mad, because that little lip bite would have ended it anyway.
“Yeah, what did you find?” She couldn’t help but wonder if maybe something medical was going on.
Or maybe he’d been dropped on his head as a baby. After all, if they could blame it on Patricia, that would be good. That bitch deserved her ire more than Aussie did . . . right?
“Best I can tell, I’m either stressed, depressed, have an under-active Thyroid, or maybe a B12 deficiency.” He shrugged, as if to say whatcha gonna do?, which somehow made her heart hurt a little.
Like he was just going to accept it.
She wasn’t going to accept it. She knew him too well to think he was just a forgetful jerk. Which is why she said, “We’ll figure it, okay? Just . . . promise you’ll also bear with me if I get mad?”
“I’d get bare with you anytime, you know that.” His joke was so corny and so Aussie that she laughed. Dropping her bag to the floor at her feet and reaching for the Remembrall replica, she rolled it gently between her two hands.
It earned her a groan from Austin, as he watched the movement. “You’re killing me. I know how good you are with balls.”
“Hush, there are children in the house.”
“Not in here though.”
She set the ball on the bedside table and stepped into Austin, making it clear through her actions that she wanted a hug.
He obliged, and her entire body sighed in relief. “I’m glad we’re okay,” she whispered.
“Me too, though I’m surprised. I really thought you’d refuse to talk to me again for another few months.” Though the words were said lightly, with humor easily detectable in his tone, she knew he wasn’t really joking.
“Couples fight, Austin. All the time. It’s not a reason to break up or stop talking. Not over something like this.” She shrugged, though the movement was muted by his arms locked around hers. “We just have to keep talking and be all mature and stuff.”
“Oh, my God, do we really?” He mock shuddered and she retaliated by biting his chest hard enough to get his attention.
He moaned and squeezed her tighter. “There are children in the house,” he joked, echoing her earlier words.
“Think of it like snuggling,” she started, only for him to utter a curse word.
“I will get the hang of that.”
“I know and until you do, we’re just gonna have to keep trying.” She giggled at their stupid metaphor. Snuggling was no longer something they couldn’t do. Not literally, though there were moments when random arms and hands and erections seemed to get in the way. Mostly, though, it was just comforting and warm and safe and, when those erections were present, really fucking sexy.
“I’m willing to try anything with you, you know that,” he said, seriously. And then, with mischief in his eyes, he added, “Even that spanking you mentioned.”
Epilogue
A Few Months Later
Candles. Check.
Flowers. Check.
Lemon-free dessert. Check.
Guests, hidden and radiating excitement. Check.
Everything was in place and perfect.
Well, everything was in place except for Odie,
who was running late. She’d had a new client call and request a late afternoon session, and was due home any moment.
He hoped.
Austin had moved into her apartment only a few days after they’d successfully babysat both Finn and Kennedy—though the success was greatly helped by the presence of Karen—and now it was time for the next step.
A proposal.
He wasn’t nervous. He was ready. He had the ring. He had a speech prepared. He’d remembered not only the name of the jewelry store where she’d seen the ring she’d liked, but the cut and style of it, too.
Okay, he’d saved that information to the notes on his phone when Ashton had told him, but he remembered to check it when the time came to go ring shopping.
He’d even remembered Odie mentioning that she wanted to get engaged on her parents’ wedding anniversary. It had been a drunken rambling, one he’d guided her towards as he planned the perfect moment for them.
“I know it’s silly, but”—she stopped talking to take a long sip of red wine, grimacing at the flavor before continuing—“I want to be surprised by everyone. Like, everyone. Everyone. On my parents’ anniver–anniver–anniversary. A surprise party, like, boom! And we’re engaged.”
She’d hadn’t remembered the conversation the next day, a fact which amused Austin to no end, and he’d taken advantage of that to start making plans.
Five months later, with permission from her parents to commandeer their big day for the sake of their daughter, he was ready in time for Karen and Mark’s thirty-fifth wedding anniversary.
Now all he needed was his girl.
From the kitchen counter, his phone rang. He raced over to see if it was her, and it was. Swiping the screen and slamming it against his ear in a movement that might actually result in ear-shell bruising, he asked, “How far away are you?”
“Hi, babe. How did it go? Did you like your new client?” She sighed dramatically—a trait she’d picked up from him, no doubt. “Whatever happened to traditional greetings?”
“Sorry, Garfield. Hi.”
“Hi.”
“How did it go?”
“How do you think it went?”
“Are we really doing this?”
“Do you think we should stop?”
“Yes, we should stop. Babe, please. When will you be home?” He wasn’t above begging. He just wanted to ask the question, give her her surprise and make her his, forever.
Because, after all, forever was their end game.
“I’ll be there soon. I changed at the gym like you asked and I am ready for my parents’ dinner. I don’t know why you’re being so weird.”
I bet you do, and you’re just being nice and playing along. That was the kind of thing she’d do, after all.
“Sorry, I got the dessert and I asked about the lemon and I’m just anxious to know it goes better this time.” As excuses went, it was pretty weak, considering they’d had countless dinners with her parents since the night of the Raspberry with Lemon Zest Cheesecake disaster. But he didn’t care.
He just needed her to get home.
“It’ll be fine. I’ll be there in five minutes.” The smile in her voice was evident when she added his daily reminder. “Don’t forget your B12 tablet.”
“Already done.” A shot of pride at how well their joint Googling and forgetfulness-investigating went. He’d apparently been severely B12 deficient—who even knew that was a thing?—and he was a much better boyfriend as a consequence.
Odie was still convinced that Patricia had damaged him in some way, but that was more because she wasn’t a forgiving person and his mother was in her permanent bad books.
She made a kissing noise in his ear. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he replied, enjoying the way it was so easy and so right to say those words to her. Ending their call, he turned to the empty-looking room and called to the guests hidden throughout, “Five minutes.”
“Uncle Ozsin?” Finn’s voice came from underneath the coffee table. “I needs ta pee.”
Aaron, who was behind a curtain, poked his head out, laughing. “Come on, bud. Let’s go.” He walked over to the table and ducked down to help Finn slide out. “We’ll wait in the hall if we aren’t back in time.”
Austin nodded, the nerves and emotion of what was about to happen made clearing his throat necessary as he watched Aaron and Finn walk away, their hands joined, Finn looking up at “Aawon” with devotion.
They were close, those two, and with Simon, the three of them had made the best kind of family. Funny, loving and really inappropriate at times. Well, the inappropriate was mostly Aaron, but still.
A minute or three or five passed before a key slid into the lock, the clicking magnified by the atmosphere of anticipation. “Ready,” Austin whispered to the room, before positioning himself in front of the door.
He’d be the first thing she saw, and he hoped to God she said yes.
Odie could tell Austin was up to something, but she didn’t know what.
Of course, she had her hopes and her hidden dreams, but he didn’t know that she’d always wanted a surprise proposal on her parents’ anniversary, so really, she needed to get a grip on her imagination.
Except when she swung open the door, there he was, on one knee, with an open ring box in his hand and a look on his face that told her he was hopeful but scared.
Like she’d say no.
Didn’t he know her at all?
“Austin?” she asked, stepping in and closing the door behind her. Fitting that they get engaged in front of the door, since they’d never really managed to control the lustful, needy urges that had them groping each other in front of—or behind—it on the regular.
“Odette.” He blew out a long breath. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Okay, that’s good, because I have a question for you.”
She smiled, tears forming and falling in an instant.
Her best friend on his knee, asking her a question? That was the forever she’d always dreamed of.
Who knew it would become reality?
“You’ve been my best friend for as long as I can remember—and though we both know my memory isn’t the best, there isn’t a single memory that makes me smile that doesn’t include you. I want to forever be that way. I want to smile with you and laugh with you and throw socks at you always.”
She covered her sob-laugh combo with her hand at his reference to their go-to way of kicking off an argument. When the socks started flying, it was the signal that it was on, and when they stopped, it was time to talk it out.
Like the mature adults they so obviously were.
She waved at him to continue, so she could say yes. Her answer was on the tip of her tongue, begging to be released, but that couldn’t happen until he asked.
“Do you think, maybe, you’d agree to marry me and be my best friend forever? Because forever with anyone else doesn’t sound like nearly as much fun.”
She giggled through her tears and nodded. “Yes, forever with you sounds like way more fun than forever with Meatball McGee.”
From somewhere in the room, a deep, “Hey!” sounded, and just like that, friends, family and Meatball McGee popped up from behind couches and under tables and around corners, congratulations flowing like champagne from their lips.
“You invited Meatball to this?” she asked Austin around the throng of well-wishers.
“I might be the one with the shoddy memory, but I didn’t want him to forget that you’re mine,” he replied in a tone that, were he a woman, she might have called tart.
Instead she called it smug, and laughed at his reasoning.
Because she was his. Just like he was hers.
And together, they were in it for forever.
Another Epilogue
Aaron stared at the two people he loved most—with apologies to his brother and sister—snuggled up and sleeping in the center of his king-sized bed.
How o
ften he found them sleeping together, he couldn’t say, but it was one of his favorite things to see.
Even if the reason it happened so regularly rended his heart.
Finn loved living with him and with Simon. Their little family was formed from tragedy, though, and every time a reminder cropped up, the little guy withdrew just a little.
In those moments, he sought out Simon.
In other moments, he sought out Aaron.
Together, they’d find their way.
“Hey,” the sleep-weighted voice of his husband brought the smile back to Aaron’s face.
“Hey yourself. Is he okay?” Aaron laid his suit jacket over the back of the chair that sat in the corner of the bedroom he shared with Simon, and loosened his tie. “I came home early for birthday ice cream.”
It was Finn’s fifth birthday, and his first without his mom. Understandable, then, that the kid might be a little upset and in need of comfort.
“He’s fine. Austin came over with Odie earlier and they riled him up with presents and it wore him out. I promise, nothing’s wrong.”
The rustling of covers told Aaron that Simon was climbing from the bed, and it wasn’t long before strong, warm arms were wrapped around his waist.
The kiss that landed on the back of his neck made goosebumps pop up over his entire body. “Don’t start,” Aaron warned in a low voice, knowing that with Finn around anything—like that seemingly innocuous kiss—that used to signal the start of naked-time was not in the cards.
“I just wanted to say hi and I missed you today.” Simon placed another kiss on the back of his neck, and Aaron turned slowly so he could look into the warm-chocolate of Simon’s eyes.
A wicked smile tilted his husband’s lips.
It was that smile that had caught Aaron’s attention in the first place, so many years ago now that it made him feel old to think about.
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s all.” Aaron wrapped his arms around Simon’s neck, bringing their lips together in a slow, but chaste, kiss.
Okay, mostly chaste. There might have been a little lip-biting and a quick punch of the hips to make sure Simon knew the effect he had.