was cool with all of this.” I lifted the covers and crawled into bed.
“It pays to be a Storyteller.” JerRic closed our bedroom door.
“I thought for sure that she would... I don't know... something.” I shook my head.
“She did do something.” JerRic flashed me a mischievous smile.
“Offering to take the kids out for ice cream isn't what I meant.” I laughed.
“Milo and Iris were a big hit with my parents too.” JerRic lifted up the covers and got into bed.
“All my goodness, Narina and Travis are so sweet!” I gushed.
“Them, what about me?” JerRic frowned.
I rolled my eyes and laid down.
“I'm sweet too.” JerRic complained.
I reached for my husband's hand. “You are?” I used my low voice, the one he had a hard time resisting.
He pulled free of my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Mm hm...” He whispered in my ear.
I started giggling. “You're distracting me.”
“Don't forget we're going over to Peter and Maddy's for dinner tomorrow.” JerRic whispered. “Now, I'm reminding you.”
“And we have school tomorrow too.” I made a face.
“Don't worry about it, it will be a fun last year of High School.” JerRic was nonchalant.
“You don't worry about anything.” I rolled my eyes.
“Why would I?” JerRic smiled at me mischievously. “As long as you're happy and our kids are safe, there's nothing else left to worry about.”
“Jer, that was almost sweet.” I teased.
“Almost?” JerRic protested.
“So we're really taking the kids to school tomorrow?” I made a face.
“I messaged Tristan. His girls are two years older than Iris.” JerRic sighed.
I made a face. “What about Ginny?”
“Is that your niece?” JerRic made a face.
“Yeah.” I pulled out my phone. “I don't have his number.” I made a face.
JerRic reached for his necklace. “Now you do.” He smirked.
Felix's name popped up on my contact list.
“Thanks.” I grinned at my husband.
It's Annabeth. How old is Ginny?-Me
4- Felix
OK thanks- Me
“That is a no go.” I made a face.
“We can always go back to Angeline.” JerRic smirked.
I laughed. “You would.”
“That's why I offered.” My husband placed a light kiss on my lips. “Seriously, she will be okay. It's only Kindergarten. If she says or does something weird, her teacher will just think she's playing pretend or something.”
“I guess so. We can't exactly go and sit in the back row, can we?” My eyes met his.
An amused expression walked over my husband's face. “No, Beth. We can't.”
I let out a deep breath. “We better go over to the school a few minutes earlier just to make sure that Iris feels comfortable.”
“We can do that.” He nodded.
I was concerned. Iris had never been to a real school. This was her first experience in the real world. It was hitting me harder than I thought it would, for my daughter to go off to school for the first time. Milo too, for that matter. It was like a double whammy.
“And Milo? Do you think he will be okay?”
My oldest was a lot more... humble in nature, that and pessimistic. He was the last to speak up for himself and the first to speak up for someone else.
“My nephew, Zaden, is Milo's age.” JerRic was thoughtful.
“Zane and Zamfira's son?” I tried to remember if they mentioned a Zaden.
“Yeah.” JerRic pointed at me and made a clicking sound with his mouth.
“Aw.” I laughed. “Let's hope that goes okay.”
“Zaden means well.” JerRic made a face.
“Oh, no.” I made a face.
“He's a little hyper, but he will look out for Milo.” JerRic's tone was more reassuring.
“So you're saying Zaden will get him into trouble?” I put my hand on JerRic's chest.
“Probably.” JerRic grinned. “But he was born in Angeline, and everyone around here kicks in extra when it comes to family.”
“That makes me feel a little better.” I smiled softly.
JerRic kissed me. I felt warm from head to toe. His eyes sparkled.
JerRic rubbed his necklace. The light went out, and he cuddled closer to me. “You have my heart, Beth.” Love wrapped around each word. I knew his words had action. That meant more to me than anything in all of the world.
“I love you Jer. You're an alright husband.” I grinned in the dark, trying not to laugh. I knew when I said things like that he had something to prove to me.
“Alright?” JerRic's voice went up an octave.
I turned to face him. “Maybe a little better than alright.” I touched his face.
“What happened to handsome? Amazing? Sexy?” His voice went down an octave.
“Those things too.” I giggled as I found his face in the dark and shared a steamy kiss for a steamy night. Every moment after that added to the happily ever after I had been living with JerRic since the day he bumped into me in the hallway.