Page 42 of Love is Grand
“You look beautiful,” I told her, my lips grazing her cheek and moving on to her mouth.
We pressed our lips together a few times until she pulled back.
“Cal, I don’t know. It’s all so confusing to me.”
The old me wanted to reply, It was never confusing before, but I held back.
Instead, I said, “I understand, but know this—the attraction is there. The chemistry is off the charts. That hasn’t changed.”
Shell gave me a frustrated look. “I’m changing. You know, my body? I’m going to get big, and then it takes a while to get back to where I was, and well, by then it may not matter.” She turned her face from me.
“With my baby. You’re getting big with my baby,” I said out of nowhere.
It finally dawned on me how sexy she would be with my little one growing in her. It also occurred to me that I had no clue who I was anymore.
“Big with my baby,” I said again, awestruck at the thought. “That’s sexy as fuck.”
Shell glanced at me. “Last time, it was easier. I didn’t know what to expect. But now I do.”
“Well, I don’t, so it’s all new to me. Come on, let’s get you to dinner where you can relax.” I had no clue where any of this solicitude was coming from, but it seemed right.
I took her hand and walked with her toward the car.
Jack hopped out to open the front door for her as he greeted her. “Why don’t you ride in front, so your hair doesn’t blow as much.”
I felt myself growl. Why is he suggesting that? Shouldn’t that be me?
The ride back to the hotel was quiet other than the wind reverberating throughout the Jeep. Along the way, my thoughts warred with my heart and other parts of my body. I wanted to hurry up and eat, and then carry Shell back to my room like a caveman, but that wasn’t possible.
Seated at Eye of the Sea, we were at a primo table in the back, the ocean roaring through the open glass panels. Our table was covered in a pristine white tablecloth, and servers attended to our every need. It was the type of place people went when they wanted to impress, except Shell wasn’t the type impressed by that kind of thing.
“Sparkling water?” I asked Shell as the server approached, and she nodded.
I ordered a bottle of sparkling water for her and a Scotch for myself. The server asked if Shell wanted lemon or lime, and she requested both. I banked that tidbit in my memory vault, sensing that knowing little things like that about her was important.
Like how someone took their coffee.
“Weezie? She’s five?” I asked.
“Almost six, going on thirty-five,” Shell said. “She’s had to grow up way too much in the last few months. I just want her to be a kid, but now she wants to know things she should never have to know about.”
Understanding, I nodded. “Like when our dad died, I think my mom felt the same. We were too young to deal with that. Just babies.”
“Yeah,” Shell said wistfully. “I wish it was different for Weez, but we’re dealing. This baby will be another blow.”
From somewhere I couldn’t explain, I said, “We’ll make it okay for her.” I didn’t have the first clue how, or if it was even my place, but it came out of my mouth.
“Oh,” Shell said. “I will. She’ll enjoy the chance to be a bossy big sister, but I know she’ll miss some of the attention.”
“That’s the thing with being a triplet, you’re used to sharing attention,” I told her. “It’s weird. I’ve never thought much about it, but sitting here with you, I’m thinking about it. It was the only way I knew. We had our roles, you know ... I was the fun one.”
“Of course you were.” Her laughter rang through the restaurant, and I wanted to keep it all for myself.
We were interrupted when the server returned with the water and my Scotch.
In an effort to get rid of any intruders, I asked Shell, “How’s the tasting menu sound?”
She nodded, then told the server, “No soft cheese for me.”