My mouth split into an even wider smile. “Tanner’s moved in. Scott and I have become… well, we’ve worked things out, and all is right in the world.” Warmth settled in my chest at the realization that life sometimes had a way of figuring things out. A part of me wanted to hit Pause so I could bask in the rightness of my world, but where would the fun be in that?
For the second time since I’d known her, Lauren was speechless. Her eyes were doing something crazy as she seemed to be absorbing and taking it all in. All I could do was laugh at her reaction and the way things worked out.
Chapter Twenty-One
TANNER
Carter was goingto kill me. Dead. No lie. But I couldn’t not go through with it. I’d received the call from Marcy over the weekend, and fuck me, I had no idea how I’d kept tight-lipped for the past thirty-six hours or so. But the painful, slow death I expected to receive would be worth it.
I’d spent the morning painting the sitting area’s walls, and then started making some calls about subletting my place. After that, Rex and I had walked into town and purchased Carter’s surprise. It then took an hour to set everything up.
I looked around the room, my eyes landing on the multiple surprises I’d placed on a variety of surfaces.
Dead. I was so dead.
I laughed as I exited the room, energy pulsing through me, eager for him to be home. He’d messaged me earlier saying Lauren was going to drop him off, which meant I was waiting impatiently for his arrival.
With a quick glance at the clock, I ventured into the kitchen and pulled out a beer. I needed to occupy myself before I came out of my skin. By the time I took my last mouthful, I heard the door open and Rex bark, announcing the man I loved was home.
There was no hiding my eager grin as he stepped into the room.
Immediately, Carter glanced around, his eyes shifting carefully over the room, no doubt trying to pinpoint the reason for my eagerness. “Do I really want to know?”
I nodded while he was halfway through speaking. “You really do.”
His mouth twisted into a grin, but I also saw the nerves flickering in his eyes. Yep, so dead.
“You had a good day?” I asked. My attempt at being casual didn’t work.
With a shake of his head, Carter sighed and wiped a palm over his face. “Just get on with it.”
My cheeks hurt from grinning so much. I had no doubt from his reaction he knew his surprise wasn’t something romantic like a candlelit dinner, or cutesy like… whatever the heck couples gave each other that was cute.
Taking a step toward him, I stretched out my hand for him to take. He did so without hesitation, which surprised me. I expected him to put up more of a fight. I pulled him into my arms and planted a kiss on his warm lips. I sighed happily on contact, but there was no way I would take it further, not with his kickass surprise waiting.
“Should I be nervous, because I am?” He looked skeptically at me.
Taking his hand, I led him out of the kitchen and to the staircase. As we climbed the stairs, I could barely contain myself. “I love you. And I think it’s important to accept every part of each other, warts, kinks, and all.” I felt him hesitate, so I pushed on, virtually tugging him up the remaining steps. When we reached our bedroom door, I paused to allow the word “kink” to settle in. I also paused to work out the best move. I knew I may need a quick escape, but I also desperately wanted to see his reaction.
“Just open the stupid door already.”
Not wanting to push him too far, I moved to the side so I could open the door, with him entering next to me.
“You ready?”
“Do I have a choice?”
I grinned. “Kinks and all,” I murmured next to his ear as I pushed the door open wide, put my hand on his lower back, and forced him to take a couple of steps in.
Flickering candlelight greeted us. I nodded in appreciation at the mood lighting. My gaze then followed his, but while he stood frozen in abject horror, mine landed on the first display with glee. Two Ken dolls were strategically placed on the end of the bed, both butt naked, and in the 69 position.
Then I caught Carter’s head flicking to another display; this one I was mighty proud of. Three Kens were going at it in a sort of triangle, one impressively taking it up the ass while he was giving head to the other cockless Ken. It had taken at least ten minutes to get those bastards to behave. Thank Christ for superglue.
“Ta-da!” I considered doing jazz hands but didn’t want to overdo it. “You know”—I stepped up behind Carter and wrapped my arms around him, deliberately locking his arms to his sides in case he decided to strike out—“I think I can totally get why you’d use Ken dolls as porn.” He tried to spin around in my arms and made a disgruntled sound that may have been threatening my own fine specimen. “Ken is kinda hot when he’s getting his kink on.”
I laughed loudly when he managed to wriggle free, his face to me, his eyes wide. “You— I can’t fuck—” He shook his head, struggling for words. Letting out a huge sigh, he rolled his eyes. “When did you speak to my mom?” I could see him fighting laughter.
“This weekend,” I admitted. Figuring I’d lived so far, I risked tugging him toward me.
