"I'll remember that," she murmurs, stroking my chest. "Wait, what did you say?"
Laughing, we try to cool off and barely succeed.
The siblings are now ballroom dancing. Zane takes turns partnering with each sister. I notice Yesenia watching from a table. She looks more out of place than I feel most days.
"Do you think Yesenia can make things work with Zane?"
"If she loves him enough," Sawyer says, wrapping her arms around my right one, "she'll learn to adjust. We made things work, and our problems were deeper than her dislike for the twins."
Nodding, I think about those problems. Embracing the old memories makes me stronger. They also make me edgy. Living a fake life has advantages that being honest can't claim.
"Want me to tell you something about yourself?" Sawyer asks softly.
"Yes," I whisper.
"The last Christmas we spent together, I baked homemade gingerbread cookies for you. I was so proud of making everything myself. You ate over half of the batch and praised me a ton," she says, studying my face. "You didn't like them though."
"That obvious?"
"No, but I could tell."
"Sorry."
"I liked that you lied to spare my feelings. That's husband behavior right there. Pop didn't like Mom's baked chicken. Loved her fried chicken and barbecue chicken though. Hell, he loved everything she made, but not the baked kind. He ate it though and told her it was awesome. When you did the same thing, I know you were more than a boyfriend. You were my forever."
"Then I fucked it all up."
"And fixed it in the end. Where we end up matters more than how it started, Jace."
"I knew there was a reason I loved you more than anyone else."
Sawyer nearly climbs into my lap, but controls herself when the twins arrive carrying two large wrapped gift boxes.
"We know our time together is nearly over," Bodie says.
Colbie sighs. "And you're still so very uneducated. Stupid really."
Sawyer tears open the gifts and frowns. "What am I looking at?"
"Boxes, dumbass."
"Oh," Sawyer says, opening the boxes. "Oh, great."
Colbie smiles. "All the horror movies you've missed over the years. Everything from C.H.U.D to Saw 23. We even added all sixteen Paranormal Activity movies. You're welcome."
"The three Matrix movies are in there too," Bodie says. "I wouldn't suggest you watch the last two. They're fucking awful, but I bought them as a set."
"This is so great and useless," Sawyer says, hugging the twins. "So very useless."
"You say that now, but wait until you're attacked by sewer crocs or tornado sharks," Colbie murmurs.
"Or more likely the zombie apocalypse happens. You really need to be ready for that one. Too many weird cannibal incidents in the news lately. I'd watch those movies first."
Standing, I embrace Bodie before Colbie tackles me into a bear hug. Sawyer pulls the woman off me and shoves Bodie away.
"My stallion," she growls at the twins. "Mine. No touch."
Colbie places her hands on Sawyer's cheeks. "I'm going to miss your eloquence most of all."
Sawyer laughs, but still blocks the twins from getting touchy with me. I only smile. My woman takes what she wants without asking questions. I've always loved her stubborn nature. It's what drew me to her, and what kept her heart open to me after the last nine months.
Chapter 39
Sawyer
Goodbye to You
The McLaughlins insist we use their private jet to fly to Ellsberg. Not only do we love the idea of flying in style, we know there's no other way to arrive home quickly and keep all the weapons gifted at our farewell party. In a giving mood, they plan to pay to have the Harley and SUV transported to Ellsberg too.
"So long, Annie," Colbie says, shoving me away after the hug. "Don't fuck up things again and expect us to bail you out."
"You're really good at goodbyes. Like, you could go pro."
Hiding her face under her cowboy hat, Colbie nods. "You wanted hugs? Well, fuck you for thinking you deserve hugs."
Jace laughs. "She sounds like she might cry."
Colbie shrugs coldly, turning to her brother for a hug. Bodie watches this display and reveals nothing of her own mood.
"I don't cry," she finally mutters.
"Good for you," I say, hugging her. "Thanks for the help. We'll visit soon. Take care."
"You're as bad as her." Bodie squirms out of my hug and focuses on Jace. "Stay frosty." When he frowns, she throws her arms in the air. "I swear you fuckers have never seen a single movie ever in the history of movies."
"I saw all three Dumb and Dumber movies," he says, and I swear they look ready to tear him apart.
Bodie pats her sister on the back. "This was fun and heartwarming. See you around, Neo and Trinity."
"I get that reference," I say.
Rolling her eyes, Bodie returns to the SUV with her siblings while Jace and I walk up the steps to the jet.
"Fancy," he says, sitting in a seat. "Living like this, I can see how the McLaughlins got so weird."
"I have plans for the family businesses. Maybe one day, we'll get a jet."