He didn’t tell Cher any of that.

He said, “Yeah. More later.”

She studied him a beat before she nodded.

“You gonna tell me what that smell is?” he asked.

“Garlic cheddar chicken, buttered noodles, fresh rolls from Kroger, and…” She dipped her voice quiet. “Green beans.”

“I heard that,” Ethan called.

She smiled up at him, not having moved from the curve of his arm, not an inch.

And he saw it. There in her face. That look he had memorized. That look, part of which she’d given him over and over for years and he’d been too blind to see.

That look now he’d never forget

She was happy. She was safe and happy.

And the part that had been his for a long time and he didn’t notice.

She was in love with him.

He lifted his free hand to slide it into the side of her hair as he took that look in.

He was wrong.

She wasn’t prettiest first thing in the morning.

She was at her prettiest any time of the day when she was looking into his eyes.

And hers were happy.

And in love.

* * * * *

Ethan

Ethan looked from the TV to his mom and Merry in the kitchen.

They were being gooey, standing close, staring into each other’s eyes, Merry’s hand in his mom’s hair by the side of her face.

Totally gross.

Even after witnessing the gross, when Ethan looked back at the TV, he did it smiling.

Chapter Twenty-One

Overachiever

Cher

Late Thursday Evening

In my cami and pajama bottoms, I sat cross-legged in Merry’s bed, facing Merry.

He had his back to the headboard, his body stretched out, his chest bare, the covers pulled up to his hips.

And he’d just shared his day.

For once in my life, I was at a loss for words.

But, being me, it didn’t take long before I found some.

“That BMW bitch…she have dark hair cut short and look-at-me-I’m-loaded sunglasses?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he answered.

I knew her. She’d honked at me too. More than once.

“I’ve seen her wear those glasses during a thunderstorm,” I shared.

Merry said nothing, just kept looking up at me with half his mouth hitched up like he thought I was cute or something.

“You got outta your car, flashed your badge, and gave her shit?” I asked.

“Yep,” Merry answered.

So…totally…fucking…loved this man.

“You do something like that with me around to witness it, straight up, a month of blowjobs at your command,” I announced. “Any time. Anywhere. Swear. You give the word, I’ll drop and suck you off better than you’ve ever had it, baby.”

His hand, resting on my knee, slid down the side of my thigh as he shifted down the bed and slightly to his side. He caught me at my hip and gave a tug.

I fell forward even though I could have righted myself. I knew what he wanted, so I didn’t.

I uncurled my legs and stretched out on top of him.