Chapter Twenty-Two
~Mia~
“You know, we can just pick something up at the grocery store for the party,” Garrett reminded me for the tenth time.
I was attempting to bake, and it wasn’t going well. I was a terrible cook, and baking definitely fell into that category. As batter flew from the mixer, he surveyed the disaster in my kitchen. He gave me a lazy grin, and I powered down the mixer.
“No, I want to make something from scratch. I want your sister and Leah to like me.”
His smile grew wider, and I could sense he was holding back his laughter. His eyes flickered with amusement, and his entire body quaked as he tried to hold himself together.
“What?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest with a bit of annoyance.
“You have chocolate batter all over your face.”
The deep masculine laughter he’d been keeping at bay came barreling out as soon as my eyes widened in horror. We only had an hour left until we had to be at Leah’s house, and I still had nothing to bring. I had no perfectly baked brownies, no chocolate chip cookies—nothing. I just had a bunch of weird lumpy-looking batter.
Garrett sauntered forward and pulled me into his arms, grasping my hips with his strong, firm hands. “You don’t need to stress, baby. Leah already loves you. She’s told me a dozen times, and she’s threatened bodily harm if I hurt you. And Clare just needs to get to know you. She barely remembers you, but she couldn’t be happier for us.”
“Okay, but are you sure you don’t want someone else with a bit more culinary expertise? I mean, at this rate, you might die from starvation before our second wedding anniversary.” The words had slipped out of my mouth, and I sucked in a sharp breath as soon as they had been uttered.
We’d talked about the future, and I thought that meant our future would be together, but that didn’t mean he wanted to marry me.
He had wanted to once, but maybe he’d since changed his mind.
He still might after I finally come clean.
My panicked eyes turned up to his, and he only smiled.
“There’s no one else I’d rather have than you, bad cooking and all.”
I exhaled, and my knees went wobbly. Garrett had a gift of knowing exactly what to say to make my heart take flight. It had been free flying for weeks now.
“So, you’re saying I am a terrible cook?” I joked.
He angled downward, his lips hovering over mine in a sly grin. Feeling him this close to me made my shaky knees feel weaker.
“The worst.” He laughed as he placed playful kisses all over my lips and cheeks.
After a brief, playful make-out session in the kitchen, involving Garrett licking every bit of batter off my cheeks and chest, he finally saved the day by taking over.
Within fifteen minutes, the brownies and the first batch of cookies were baking in the oven.
I stared in wonderment. I was completely amazed and astonished that he could accomplish so much in such a small amount of time—and with no mess. “How did you do that?”
“I followed the directions on the box. Baby, it’s not that hard.”
I folded my arms and sulked. “For you maybe.”
Within the hour, everything was baked, cooled, and packed up. I’d run upstairs and managed to make myself look presentable in a pretty floral sundress that brought out the subtle red highlights in my dark locks and the blue of my eyes.
“Forget brownies. I want to eat you,” Garrett growled as I joined him back downstairs.
“That can be arranged…later,” I teased.
“Not funny.”
“Come on, we need to get going, or we’ll never make it.”
His eyes lingered, taking in every curve of my body in my brightly colored dress. “I’d be okay with that. I don’t think they’d miss us too much.”
I rolled my eyes as I took his hand and pulled him toward the door. He dragged his feet but reluctantly came, making sure to grab the goodies by the door before we left.
I’d never been to Leah and Declan’s house. Since Leah and I had become such close friends, I tried not to think of her husband as a famous movie star, but when we pulled up to their driveway, it was difficult. Their house was massive and beautiful. It had perfectly landscaped lawns and flower beds, a beautiful brick exterior, and a white picket fence. A large wide lot gave them privacy and room to let the children run.
After we made our way up the walkway, Garrett didn’t bother knocking at the front door. He just turned the knob and walked in like he owned the place. I guessed family could do that. Leah and Declan’s house was regal and sophisticated from the outside, but once we entered, I immediately felt at home. Inviting, warm colors and soft, plush fabric made the large spaces feel intimate and cozy. Children’s artwork hung from the walls, and toys were shoved in every corner in an effort to keep things tidy. It screamed family, and I could see bits of my new friend scattered everywhere.
“Hey, Goober!” Leah greeted us as we entered the kitchen.
She was putting the final touches on a salad, and Clare was drinking a glass of wine while sitting at the counter.
“I really hate that nickname,” Garrett grumbled, causing the three of us to burst out laughing.
“I think it’s adorable.” I placed a sweet kiss on his cheek.
The gesture didn’t go unnoticed by Leah and Clare, and I saw them share a quick grin of satisfaction.
“Garrett, the guys are outside, pretending like they know how to use a grill. Why don’t you go out there and help them?” Clare suggested.
He gave me a sideways glance, and I smiled in approval even though I wanted to hurl. I’d become comfortable and close with Leah. I could handle her blunt personality and witty humor. Clare was a wild card, and I didn’t know how she would react to me without Garrett around.
“Okay, but be nice,” he warned.
Leah and Clare put on their best innocent faces. Garrett only grunted in response, shaking his head, as he made his way out of the kitchen. He slipped out the sliding glass door, and I heard a bunch of manly greetings follow. I stood quietly and pretended to be highly interested in the curtains and beige wall color.
This is not at all awkward.
“You think we’re going to interrogate you, don’t you?” Clare asked, amusement flickering in her emerald eyes.
“Kind of,” I answered honestly.
“Oh, please,” Leah answered. “We just wanted to thank you.”
Shocked senseless, I managed to ask, “Why?”