Page 53 of Everything I Crave
“I just wanted to apologize for earlier. My feelings got hurt, and not even by you, but this was more important.” She looks down at her feet, digging a hole in the sand.
“No.” I reach up to cup her cheek. “You’re right. I overreacted. Mack and Bennett all but told me that Madeline has been causing issues, I can’t believe I’ve been blind to it, or in denial about her regarding me. She’s a great waitress, but she’s only here for a few weeks in the summer and I don’t want her bringing down the team. I’m sorry.” I kiss the top of her head and pull her close to me.
“She is great. You can’t fire her, we do need her.”
I don’t miss thewein her statement, and I think it means more to me that she meant it.
“I’ll talk to Mack and Bennett about it when we get home, but I’ll try to find a replacement first.” I lift her chin towards me with my finger. “And if she ever says some bullshit like she did, feel free to set her straight.”
“Okay. You might regret that,” she giggles.
“Never, darling. I will never regret supporting my girl standing up for herself.”
I don’t let her respond, I pull her lips to mine and end this mess once and for all.
“So does this mean you want to be with me now? All those excuses you had be damned?”
“Yea, darling. I do. I always have. You are mine, never question that again.” I pepper her face with more kisses, pulling her tight to me.
“About time,” she whispers breathlessly.
She’s mine. Has been since the first time I saw her. Even if it scares the shit out of me.
After a little while on the beach with Willow, we head back up the stairs of death to meet the rest of the crew to board up the stairs until we can fix them for good.
“Heyyyy, G. How was the beach?” Hunter elbows me in the ribs, and I glare at him.
“It was great, the acoustics down there are just perfect.” Willow winks at him.
Hunter laughs at her response, and slaps me on the shoulder, “I think you found you a keeper, G.”
Wyatt and Emma are organizing the materials from the hardware store and dividing up the labor.
Emma waltzes over and hands me a shovel, and Willow two four by four poles. “You guys are in charge of step one. Get these into the ground on either side of the steps and then we’ll have these boards cut to nail up there.” She walks away without another word, her decision is final and we better get to work.
Since Emma is the only one who can get all five of us to listen she is generally the organizer when it comes to projects or something to do with the family.
It only takes about an hour for us to get it boarded up and put the no trespassing signs up to keep wayward teens out. We even put caution tape around it, decorating the posts like Christmas trees. Hopefully it deters kids from going down there tonight.I ordered a camera to put out there so we can monitor who is using the stairs, and Wyatt is going to set it up since it will come after Willow and I head back to Lupine Valley.
The crew decided that dinner is pizza from Rebel’s. I wish I could have ordered one of everything. Clark is an amazing cook, everything he makes is good. Of course, I keep that from Mack.
Dinner is a typical Keaton affair. Loud. Boisterous. Lots of giving shit to each other. The only one we’re missing is Liam.
But after the longest day imaginable, I’m done with all of them.
“Alright, we’re off to bed. You guys coming over for breakfast so we can get Liam in on this?” I ask.
“Yea, we’ll be here. I’m about to go run over to Rebels and make sure he’s still doing okay. I’ll bring him back to my place tonight,” Hunter offers.
“Sounds good. I’m going to go home and catch some sleep at a normal hour. Being the new guy in a department means a lot of overnights and I miss sleeping when it’s actually dark out.” Wyatt yawns, proving his point.
“I guess I’m going to go home and see if Momma is back yet.” Emma gets up to leave, and Cooper follows. Luckily he was close by but he looks more tired than I’ve ever seen him.
Cooper has been on the phone ever since we left the hospital with his editor at the magazine. He usually loves his job, but today he seems exasperated. It seems that his job is taking a toll on himrecently. I’ve caught him waving his middle finger wildly at his phone a few times. He’s been home since the last time I was up here, the longest stretch he’s had in awhile.
I pull Willow up and don’t let go of her hand on our way up the stairs. “So, where are you staying?”
“Um, about that,” she says sheepishly. “There is only one livableandavailable room. But, I think the term livable should be used loosely.” She pushes open a door revealing a dusty room that smells musty, and has our two bags on the bed in the center.