Page 60 of Devour
“Awake.” Eli sighed, then lazily rolled his hand to gesture he wanted me to come to him.
“You said I couldn’t,” I teased.
“I did.”
“What changed?”
“Me. Decided I didn’t give a damn,” he mumbled.
Back under the blanket, comfy and warm in my original spot. This was nice. Hubs leaned in and kissed the top of my head, then slid his hand down my spine before coming to a rest on my back. He flooded my senses with that emotion again, almost like affection but stronger. Only I wasn’t sure I was ready to admit to myself that I knew what that was, or that I’d known for quite some time. And even that I felt it, too.
Attending Mary’s wedding went well. No really, Rhory and I managed to have a good time somehow. He switched his hair to silver since the last time my family saw him. Not quite gray, but with dark roots and highlights. Overall, very trendy, yet did nothing to age him. It suited him.
The biggest—and only—downside of attending the wedding had been seeing my family twice within a few months, rather than a few years. Surprisingly, no one said anything about Rhory accompanying me. According to him, no one suspected anything the morning after Christmas. He had enough foresight to relocate to the chair upon waking and pretending to sleep until someone else woke—lest he get caught on the couch with me. This also meant, despite my family not particularly liking him, no one had anything to say about his presence. Everyone stayed on their best behavior.
And since attending the wedding went so well, and because Rhory could talk me into almost anything, we agreed to come back this summer and visit Mary. I hadn’t had a vacation in… maybe never aside from the few days I took off years ago (where I suffered at home alongside Rhory). As soon as Rhory showed an interest in returning to The Cape, I knew this trip would happen. Still, he tried to make it seem as if this was my idea and good for me and all that nonsense. He wanted to go to the beach, and my cousin lived a short drive from multiple (plus we got free room and board with her).
Rhory and I drove down on a Thursday night with the intent of staying for the long weekend, but I took a smidge more time off in case we wished to stay an extra day or night. Our visit also overlapped with Mary’s annual Fourth of July barbeque, which I did not know about, and now I felt bad for imposing. I only got told the day before when I asked if she expected any guests for the holiday, and I still felt bad the next morning at breakfast. Even more so, considering she made eggs for us.
“You didn’t have to do all this,” I said, taking a seat at the breakfast table beside Rhory.
Rhory in pajamas would never cease to amuse me. Knowing him meant knowing if he must wear some, he would want lingerie or something equally exposing and fashionable. Yet, he never looked more normal than when he wore pajamas. Despite seeming odd at first, it soon became ridiculously cute seeing him in dark plaid bottoms that sat only a little low on the hips. I thought for sure he’d go shirtless too, but he settled for stealing my undershirts because he couldn’t be bothered to invest in nightwear, or any practical clothing really.
“Hey, let me pretend I’m actually a domestic wife while you’re here.” Mary offered me the pot of coffee next and started doling out scrambled eggs to everyone.
“I like how the term domestic wife implies the existence of a feral husband.” Eric chuckled.
“That’s it. That’s what I aspire to be known as,” Rhory laughed along with him.
“Makes me glad mine’s domesticated.” Mary beamed at Eric. “I can send him to the grocery store.”
“The day before the Fourth. I must really love you.” Eric poured extra coffee for himself before turning to us. “Of course, as our honored guests, food requests are strongly encouraged.”
“Rhory and I can go to the beach instead,” I said again. I’d been suggesting it ever since I found out Mary would be hosting.
“No,” she scoffed. “Don’t waste your time and money. Too crowded because of the holiday.”
“You should’ve told me you had a party every year and I would’ve come another weekend,” I said while gesturing.
“Eli, if I didn’t want you here this weekend, I would’ve said something. It’s fine. Our friends are good people. You don’t have to hang out here if you don’t want to, but you are welcome.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be an annoyance.”
“Hubs, pretty sure beating the subject to death is what’s annoying her.” Rhory smiled before slurping from his mug.
He had Mary and her husband convinced that he only wanted black coffee in the morning. Mostly because Mary fell into a slight panic thinking he had food restrictions that she somehow forgot when he didn’t eat yesterday. Really, he didn’t feel right about wasting their food.
“He’s got a point, you know,” Eric chuckled. Then he and Rhory smiled at each other.
So, we were staying for a party tomorrow. As for today, we had plenty left for us to do. Rhory and I planned to leave in the late morning to do touristy things, stay out for one or two meals, then come back in the evening.
Mary mentioned at breakfast a couple of her friends would stop by this morning. Something about dropping off some tables and a couple of chairs for tomorrow—since they might arrive late, but wanted to be sure she had enough for the party. Seeing a car pull up while leaving through the backyard came as no surprise. I’d be more than happy to help out while waiting for Rhory.
Mary’s friend, Ezra, didn’t even notice me while he climbed from his car parked in front of her house. Mary intended for us to meet at her wedding, even going so far as pointing him out and telling me his and his boyfriend’s names, but the opportunity never arose. Rhory and I got a weird vibe from those two, anyway. Almost as if they avoided us on purpose all night. Not so much Ezra, but his Viking-looking boyfriend, Kai. He and Rhory steered clear of each other all night. Probably for the best that Rhory wasn’t here now.
A large, black lab hopped out of the backseat of their car next, but before either man could click a leash to his collar, the back door on the second floor banged closed. Rhory must have finally been ready to leave and walked out after me. The dog snapped to attention in time with the door and came tearing toward the yard as if the sound were a whistle.
Now, I liked dogs. Heck, I’d even say I loved dogs. Know what else I loved? Not getting bitten by dogs.