“That’s fascinating,” I reply, ribbing my brother. “What other tid-bits do you have to share?”
“You’re an ass.” Luke laughs. “This is my life, man. Nap times and fictional bulls and the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Nat’s great,” I reply seriously. “You couldn’t have done better than marrying her.”
“You’re damn right. If she ever tries to leave me, I’m going with her. This life doesn’t work without her.”
When his words sink in, I cover my mouth and try not to laugh too loudly, afraid of waking the baby. “’If she ever tries to leave me, I’m going with her.’ That’s awesome.”
“And completely true.” Luke offers me some pineapple from a bowl, and I take a slice, the juice reminding me of Mer’s pussy.
God, I fucking love her pussy. So sweet, so addictive.
“How are things with Meredith?” he asks, as if he can read my mind.
“Good.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing.”
He chews on a slice of pineapple. “You don’t show up at my house in the middle of the afternoon on a Friday for no reason.”
I chew the pineapple slowly, trying to verbalize the words that keep floating around in the back of my head.
“Spill it, for fuck’s sake,” Luke says with exasperation.
“Things with Mer are great…”
“But?”
“If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.”
Luke grows quiet. I glance up to find him watching me thoughtfully with narrowed eyes. “Do you think it’s too good to be true?”
“I think it’s happening fast, but I can’t seem to slow it down.”
“You’ve been in love with her since you were sixteen, man.”
“She’s not the same girl she was when she was sixteen, and I’m not the same either.”
“So you’re getting to know each other, and learn what’s changed, but at the heart of it, you’re still fundamentally the same people. Trust yourself. Trust your girl.” Luke shrugs as if it’s the easiest thing in the world. “I’m not saying be stupid about it. Keep your eyes and ears open, but you’ve found each other again after more than ten years apart. If it’s what you want, enjoy it.”
I nod thoughtfully and take another bite of the sweet fruit. “I know you’re right, but I can’t help but wonder when the other shoe is going to drop.”
“Why does it have to?”
“It doesn’t it’s just…” I push my hand through my hair and scrub my scalp with my fingertips. “What if something happens, like a job or something that takes her away again?”
“You still think she’d choose dance over you.”
Hearing Luke voice my deepest fear makes my mouth go dry. All I can do is jerk one shoulder up in a shrug.
“Part of learning each other is also learning to trust each other. Only time will do that.”
“I’m not a patient man.”
“I don’t know, you’ve been more patient than I would have been.” Luke grins and leans on the counter. “Enjoy her. Bring her for dinner some time. I always liked her.”
“I like her too,” Nat says as she joins us in the kitchen. “I got to page five in Ferdinand and Livie fell asleep too, so I get to have a grown up conversation now.”
“How are you, beautiful girl?” I ask and kiss her cheek. Luke’s eyes narrow and I can’t help but sling my arm over her shoulders and grin smugly at him.
“I’m good,” she says and hugs me around my waist.
“She likes me more,” I inform Luke.
“She tolerates you,” he says. “Like we all do.”
“Pshaw. I’m everyone’s favorite.” I kiss Nat’s head and then back away when Luke growls.
Even I know where the line is.
Natalie stands on her tiptoes and kisses Luke, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding on tight. When he comes up for air, she grins and says, “You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.”
“She’s just saying that.”
Luke flips me off and kisses his wife, and I’m suddenly aware that with two sleeping kids, this is an opportunity for them to have some time for just them.
“I’m gonna head out. Mer should be just about ready.”
“Bring her for dinner next week. Monday?” Nat says.
“She’ll be in LA early next week,” I reply and ignore the way my stomach clenches with nerves. “Then we have Vegas next weekend.”
“Well then I’ll get to chat with her in Vegas.”