Page 143 of Not Until Her

“Blackberry,” I answer with confidence.

“Strawberryandpeach sound enticing,” Kara offers.

Vic finds her own glass on another counter and shoves it towards my wife.

“That’s exactly what I made. Try it!”

As she sips from the large glass, Miles walks in behind her and I freeze on instinct. I love everyone in this kitchen more than I have words for, but I will get fiercely protective over my wife if I need to.

Please don’t give me a reason, I try to telepathically tell him.Please play nice.

“Hey,” he says quietly.

Kara startles a little, and I think the liquid goes down the wrong pipe because she starts to cough into her hand. I take the drink from the other and hand it back to Vic.

“You okay?”

She holds her chest and laughs.

“Yeah, all good.”

“I… need a refill,” Miles tells Vic with a shake of his glass.

“How does strawberry and peach sound?”

“Delicious,” he says.

Vic steps up to her ingredients in front of the blender, and we stand there in a briefly uncomfortable silence.

Kara surprises me by breaking it.

“Can you show me how? You shouldn’t have to makeallthe drinks on your birthday.”

Vic beams.

“I’d love to show you! None of them ever ask,” she says and points in mine and Miles’ direction.

“I make plenty of things for you, drinks just aren’t my specialty. I don’t know what this guy's excuse is.” I go to playfully poke him with my elbow, but then I notice the look on his face.

He’s basically flabbergasted, and it makes me feel like I’m winning inside.That’swhy I want her to spend more time with them. Not because she has anything to prove, not that either of us do, but it feels good to know that there’s a change in her. A positive change, that’s obvious to everyone else too.

I bet he can’t imagine a time she’d offer to help anyone with anyone.

“You’re staring,” I whisper.

“You’re a wizard,” he says back, not as quietly.

“I didn’t do anything. I just fell in love with her, and she’s done all the rest.”

He puts an arm around my shoulders and squeezes me into a side hug.

“I’m glad you’re happy, Rey.”

“Me too, Cress.”

He pulls away and shakes his head.

“It took you this long to give me a nickname, and that’s the best you could do?” he asks with mock offense.