Our Forever

by Elena Matthews

  I nod against his chest, sobbing out a chuckle. I do remember. It was, by far, one of my worst days in elementary school—until the Bailey boys came to the rescue.

  “Then, the little shit pushed you to the ground where you fell and broke your wrist. Christopher and I heard your cries before we even saw you. We both ran like bats out of hell to get to you, and when we got there, Christopher—who was the smart one—ran straight to you while I decided to pummel the shit out of the prick’s face. He cried like a little baby because a kid a grade lower than him was kicking his ass.” He laughs into my hair, and I find myself smiling at the memory. “But while I was kicking his ass, I could hear Christopher in the background, trying to calm your pain-filled cries. As he wiped away your falling tears, he said, ‘Don’t cry, JoJo. You’re a princess, and princesses don’t cry. Princesses are female warriors, and they should embrace their battle scars. Battle scars don’t deserve your tears; they deserve your bravery.’ It was the sappiest thing I’d heard in my life, but as soon as he said those words, your cries just stopped. I realized he’d said those things to stop you from crying, and it worked. But not only that, he’d said those things because, in his eyes, you were a princess warrior, his best friend, his queen.”

  My heart thuds against my chest, and the cries are torn from my throat as a mixture of sad and happy tears fall down my face.

  “If your guy is the lucky one who gets to capture your heart in the way Christopher did, all Christopher would want in return is to know that his girl and son are being treated like the queen and prince that you both are.”

  Sobs continue to wreck me, but as the seconds pass by, a sense of peace settles within me with every tear that falls. Relief that it’s okay to move on. Relief that I’m able to find happiness once more.

  Minutes later, when my body has expelled every last one of my salty tears, I unclasp myself from Tyler’s embrace and sit back against the sofa, wiping away the tear residue from my face with the back of my hand.

  “Thank you.” My voice is barely audible, coarse from crying.

  Tyler stands from his crouching position, and he presses an affectionate kiss to my temple before sitting down beside Mia, enveloping her in his arms.

  “You okay?” Mia asks.

  I gently nod as I reach over for my glass of wine and take a few sips, allowing the alcohol to soothe through me. “Yes. I guess I was worried that you’d disapprove, but you’ve both given me the clarity I needed.”

  Mia reaches for my hand, her fingers locking with mine. “You deserve to be happy again.”

  I tenderly squeeze her hand. Then, I gently let go and cradle my glass of wine with both hands. The fire in my heart ignites once again, happiness taking position in the center of me, engulfing me with life. I feel lighter, knowing I can move on, knowing Christopher would want me to move on.

  I find myself smiling at Tyler. I never knew how unbelievably sweet he could be until now.

  “It pains me to say this,” I say to Mia with a mocked grimace, my sarcastic humor slipping back into place with ease. However, the next words are anything but sarcastic. “But you’ve got yourself a keeper there. Don’t ever let him go.”

  Mia curls into him and nuzzles her head in the crook of his neck, clutching to him tightly. “I won’t.”

  The next evening, I exit my bedroom and walk into the living room while fastening the back of my diamond earring before following suit with the other earring. “Are you sure you’re okay with watching Junior tonight?” I ask Tyler and Mia.

  Originally, I had a babysitter who my boss had recommended, but Tyler and Mia insisted they’d watch Junior tonight, so they’re on babysitting duties, not that they mind. They both love Junior wholeheartedly.

  Tyler halts from running around the living room with Junior on his back, who’s breathlessly laughing, and they both look up to me.

  “Hell yes. We have a fun-packed evening planned. Don’t we, Junior?” he addresses Junior with a pivot of his head.

  “Hell yes!” Junior exclaims with a fist pump, still a little manic after returning from the soccer game a while ago.

  In fact, he’s been hyperactive all day from the minute he woke up to find Tyler and Mia here, who, after much argument, stayed the night instead of driving the few blocks to a hotel.

  I give him a stern look when I’m really laughing inside because he copied his uncle. “What have I told you about using the word hell?”

  His eyes dip down, and a sorrowful frown sets on his face. “Sorry, Mama.”

  “It’s okay. Just don’t say it again. It’s a bad word.”

  “Sorry, Jo. That was my fault.” Tyler grimaces apologetically.

  I smile with understanding. If I had a quarter for every time I swore in front of Junior, I’d be raking it in.

  “It’s okay. Just don’t do it again,” I say to Tyler with a smirk. “Or I’ll have to kick your butt.”

  Tyler squares his shoulders and stares down at me.

  “Did you hear your mom?” he aims the question to Junior with a cocky glint in his eyes. “Kick my butt? Yeah, right.”

  He brushes it off, as if I’m not a match for his strength, but he forgets who taught me how to protect myself with the perfect punch. Junior giggles at his uncle, and I cock an eyebrow at Tyler.

  “Time and place, Bailey. Time and place.”

  He gives me a tsk of disapproval, and I give him my best fuck-you grin.

  Mia sidles up to me, gazing at me with a look of awe. “Wow, Jo, you look gorgeous.”

  I give her a bashful smile, smoothing down the skirt of the black two-piece lace dress I’m wearing. Yes, I, Jo Donovan, who lives in jeans and sneakers, am, in fact, wearing a dress.

  Kaelyn, the godsend that she is, sent me a care package with various dresses, tops, and shoes with notes on what would complement each item, so I wouldn’t worry about what to wear. She even had the dress picked out for tonight for me with instructions not to question what I was wearing but to just wear it. The sheer lace waist skirt fits seamlessly against my curves and falls just above my knees with the loose-fitted lace top showing a hint of my midriff. She matched my outfit with a pair of peep-toe heels that fasten around the ankle.

  “Yeah, you look real pretty,” Junior says with a huge smile on his face.

  My heart fills with pride. I move toward him and press a kiss against his flushed cheek. “With compliments like that, you’re going to make some girl really happy someday.”

  His face scrunches up in disgust. “Ew, no! Girls have cooties!”

  We all burst out with laughter, and I shake my head with humor.

  Tyler tilts his head back until he locks eyes on his nephew. “Yeah, it’s better to stay single, less complicated.” He smirks when Junior’s brows draw together with confusion.

  “Huh?” comes the response from Junior.

  I shove a chuckling Tyler against his arm with a warning glare.

  I return my attention to my handsome son. “It’s nothing, baby. You don’t have to worry about girls for a long time.”

  “Good, because this girl, Gracie, in my class tried to kiss me, and I didn’t like it. She tasted like coconuts, and you know how much I hate the taste of coconuts.”

  “Yeah, coconuts are pretty bad. I wouldn’t kiss anybody who tasted of coconuts either,” I agree, wrinkling my nose with distaste. Once I say this, my pulse picks up speed at the sound of the knock at the door. My eyes fly to the door, and my senses become heightened at the prospect of seeing Drew, who’s waiting for me on the other side.

  “Drew’s here. Be good, and when Uncle Tyler tells you it’s bedtime, it’s bedtime. He’s the boss of you tonight, okay?” I say in my stern mom voice.

  “Okay!” Junior answers in a singsong voice, grasping Tyler in a death hold around his neck.

  I edge toward the door, and when I swing it open, my heart hammers against my chest at the beautiful man who stands before me. He’s dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans, a tight white hen
ley shirt that shows his defined abdomen muscles, and a leather jacket. He eagerly drinks my body in from top to bottom, and the hunger I can see flickering within his clear-blue eyes makes me feel as if I’m the sexiest woman on the planet.

  “Hi,” I greet softly, unable to take my eyes off of him.

  He catches me off guard when he steps toward me and presses his lips against mine in a whirlwind of a kiss that abruptly takes my breath away. Seconds later, he breaks away, and the intensity of his stare shakes through my very being, sending shock waves shuddering through me. His eyes are commanding, holding me in place, unyielding, and I find it impossible to look away.

  “Sugar, you look incredible. So beautiful,” he ends on a rasp.

  When I hear a soft cough coming from behind, I close my eyes as warmth graces my cheeks, and I laugh under my breath at Mia witnessing the kiss between Drew and me.

  “Let me grab my bag,” I whisper, smiling bashfully. I step out of his embrace, trailing my fingers into his. “Come and meet Tyler and Mia.”

  He smiles with ease and allows me to lead him inside, but I drop my hand from his when I come into Junior’s view. I haven’t discussed with him in full detail who Drew is to me yet, and I don’t want to confuse his little head by thrusting it under his nose without talking about it first. Junior knows that we’re friends, and he’s been comfortable with our friendship so far, but I have to tread carefully and ease him into the relationship, a relationship that seems to be blooming at an excessive rate that’s enough to give a person whiplash.

  I see Mia’s eyes forcibly widen at the first glance of Drew, and I silently laugh when Tyler scowls at the attention she seems to be giving him. I’m guessing the picture I showed her last night didn’t do justice to the man standing in front of her. He does look exceptionally handsome tonight, especially with the five o’ clock shadow dusting his face, giving him more of a rugged look.

  “Tyler, Mia, this is Drew. Drew, this is Tyler and Mia,” I introduce.

  It warms my insides when Drew holds his hand out to Tyler with a friendly smile on his face. I’m horrified when Tyler isn’t as friendly, making Drew painstakingly wait, while he sizes him up in a protective-brother way. However, I don’t know if it’s because he’s protective of me or because he’s pissed that his wife finds someone other than him attractive. Then, I breathe out a sigh of relief when I see the glint of humor dancing in his eyes, telling me he’s purposely messing with Drew. Mia elbows him in the ribs, staring daggers at him, until he breaks into a shit-eating Tyler grin.

  “Just messing with ya.” Tyler laughs, and I see a smirk appear on Drew’s face as they shake hands. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You, too,” Drew says with an easy smile. He turns his attention to Mia, who beams her smile.

  “Hi, Drew. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

  “Hi, Drew,” Junior calls out with his spellbinding grin. “Did you bring any cupcakes?”

  Drew chuckles. “Sorry, not today, buddy. However, a little birdy told me it’s your birthday next week, and let’s just say, you’ll have an awesome cupcake coming your way.”

  Junior’s eyes gleam with utter excitement. “Really?” he yells, unable to control his giddiness. “Oh, is it that present that Mama opened yesterday? She said that was for my birthday.”

  Drew gives me a side glance, choking on a laugh.

  I purse my lips together, staring at him with a look that says, Yes, I almost opened my after-hours gift in front of my six-year-old son, and to avoid any questions, I told him it was his birthday gift, so go with it, okay?

  “Actually, that was something else for your birthday.”

  “I get two gifts?” He squeezes his uncle Tyler’s neck like a vise as excitement courses through him.

  “You sure do.”

  “Mama, did you hear that? I get two gifts!”

  I laugh at the happiness bursting from him. “I know. You’re so lucky,” I boast, my heart swelling with joy at seeing that beautiful smile on his cute face, looking every bit like his father did at his age. Pushing away the emotion that evokes me from within, I glance at Drew. “We should probably get going.”

  He leads me toward the front door.

  I turn to Mia, my mom mask still in place. “Call me if you need me. I’ll have my phone with me at all times.”

  She shakes her head, dismissively waving her hand. “We’ve got this. Go and have fun.”

  I exhale a breath, softly smiling. “Okay. Thank you.”

  “Have fun,” Tyler calls out with a wink. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  I roll my eyes with laughter.

  Just as I’m about to say bye to my baby boy, Junior shocks everybody by saying, “Yeah, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  We all roar with laughter, and once mine dies down, I point at Tyler. “No more sugar for him.”

  I look at my son, who has a wide grin on his face, now looking like the spitting image of his uncle. I smile and blow him a kiss, and he reaches out and catches it.

  “I love you to the moon and back,” I say.

  “I love you to the universe and beyond.”

  I let out a sigh and grasp my chest with the love that pours out of me for the boy who’s been my world for six years.

  After I grab my clutch purse from the kitchen countertop and my jacket from the hook by the door, I slip it on, and then Drew and I leave the madness behind. Once the door is shut, warmth engulfs me as Drew captures my hand with his.

  “Junior is funny as hell,” Drew says with a chuckle as we make our way to the elevator, hand in hand.

  “Yeah, he’s at the stage where he copies everything everyone says, and since he looks up to his uncle like he’s his hero, he’s become a little mini version of Tyler.” I shake my head, amused.

  “Yeah, I have to be a lot more careful with what I say around Mason. The kid is like a sponge.”

  We approach the elevator, and with the press of a button, we wait for it to climb to the fourth floor. Once it arrives, we enter.

  While the cab is descending to the garage level, Drew turns to me with a sly smile. “So, I’m guessing I should have dropped that gift off a little later than I did last night?”

  “Yeah, that would have been wise.” I raise my eyebrow with a smirk. “He’s usually in bed by then, but he turned into Satan and wouldn’t do as he was told. Then, when you rang the doorbell with your after-hours gift, there was no way he was going to sleep until I opened it. Of course, one glimpse of it had me slamming the lid back down on the box.”

  “And you told him it was his birthday present?” Drew chuckles.

  “Yes, I told him it was his birthday present, or the kid would not have gone to sleep until I opened it.”

  He takes a sudden step toward me. His piercing blue eyes are all I can focus on through the heat of the haze he creates with one look alone.

  “Do you happen to be wearing the after-hours gift?” His question comes out all seductive and dripping with sex.

  His warmth consumes my body and mind to the extent that the simple task of breathing becomes somewhat challenging.

  “Uh-huh, I sure am. I did, however, have to wash my panties this morning because they were a little…messy.”

  His eyes slam closed on a grunting moan. His breath fans out along my lips before he hungrily takes my mouth against his for a split second. He draws back, and his unsteady, reckless breathing seems to be a good match for mine.

  “I can’t wait to get them messy again.”

  Oh God.

  The elevator doors open, and with another brief kiss, he leads me out into the garage with my hand clasped in his.

  We walk a couple of steps in silence, and then miraculously, as if he was unaffected by our moment in the elevator, he says, “So, any tips on what I should get Junior?”

  I glance his way with a gentle smile playing on my lips. My heart picks up speed, and my ovaries almost burst at the thought of him buying my little
boy a gift for his birthday. “He loves reading on his Kindle, so perhaps an Amazon gift card. He also loves pretty much all sports, soccer mostly—his favorite team is FC Dallas—but he also loves football. And you know he’s a huge Spider-Man fan.”

  His face flickers with disappointment, causing a laugh to erupt from my throat. “He’s still no match for Captain America.”

  “Boys and their superheroes,” I chirp with an amused shake of my head.

  “Hey, don’t mock us. Superheroes are whom we learn to be great men from.”

  I bark out a laugh at his self-assured attitude. “Okay, did you learn your sarcasm from Captain America, or has he helped prepare you for the attack on Hitler?” I deadpan.

  When he throws me a look of annoyance at my obvious mocking, I giggle.

  “No, but I heard he’s great in bed, so obviously, those traits have rubbed off on me.” He winks, his smile back in place.

  I roll my eyes at his pure arrogance while I gently hit him with my purse. We come to a stop at a slick black motorcycle, and it’s not until he hands me a helmet that I come to the realization that this motorcycle is his and that he plans on riding it—with me on the back.

  Not a chance in hell.

  “Of course you have a motorcycle,” I mutter to myself. I shake my head, refusing to take ahold of the helmet, as I push it back in his arms. “There is no way I’m getting on that thing.”

  “Sugar—”

  “Have you seen what I’m wearing? It’s hardly appropriate bike attire. And I’m a mother, for crying out loud. I can’t put myself in danger on this death trap. We can go in my car.”

  I turn and charge toward my car, but he quickly latches on to my wrist. In a move that leaves me breathlessly dizzy, he spins me back toward him until my chest is flush against his.

  He looks down at me, his eyes ablaze with lust. “Yes, I’ve seen exactly what you’re wearing, and, sugar, you look fucking breathtaking. I can’t wait to tear the lace from your body later tonight.”

  My body trembles as he trails his fingers along my outer thigh.