Page 106 of Yours, For Good

When I came back to myself, my breathing scraped through my vocal cords. I had to blink several times to make sure my eyes still worked.

"I hope you brought a couple extra shirts," she said. "I don't know how it happened, but there's a bit of a mess on this one now."

I chuckled, completely blissed out. "I wonder how that happened."

"It was the glasses." She gazed at me with victory in her eyes. "And the sweatpants. Deadly combo, in my opinion."

"Duly noted." I caressed her face again. "Pretty tattoo, by the way."

"Thank you, but I'm famished. I'll go eat something now, unless you need help finding the bathroom? You look a bit dazed."

I laughed. "I'll be okay, I think. Eventually. I'll GPS my way to it if I must."

It was her turn to laugh. She came off the bed and kissed me one last time. "See you downstairs."

Chapter 41

Javier

NORA WASN'T IN THE kitchen when I made it downstairs… but my friends were.

Jake, Gabe, and Max gathered around the kitchen island. They ate and drank coffee, chatting away the morning. Max wore slacks and a dress shirt as usual, while Gabe and Jake dressed more casually.

In my jeans, flip-flops, and button up, I halted at the sight of them. Even in my post-orgasm serenity, they looked suspicious. Especially when they all turned and gazed at me with focused precision.

I squinted.

"Good morning, Javi." Max's smile was devilish. "May I offer you some coffee?"

"Come sit here with us, Javi." Gabe pointed at an empty barstool between him and Jake.

I didn't approach the kitchen island, but Max didn't let it stop him. He ran an espresso for me and made it into a latte.

"I'm an expert at this now," he said, "which is to be expected, married to someone in the trade."

I snorted. "What are you all planning?"

"Nora is outside." Jake gave me a placid smile. "She's chatting with our better halves. We thought it was the ideal opportunity to… inquire how things are going."

I glanced through the large window, to find the four women we'd fallen in— we were with, all together with coffee mugs in their hands and smiles on their faces. Chatting a mile a minute, from what I could see.

"Things are alright." I took the mug Max offered. "Thank you. I'll just make myself a sandwich and go out and…"

"No, no need," Jake said. "I'll make you something. Come sit with us."

I resisted for a second longer, while I watched the ginger giant collect cheese, deli meat, and a fresh bun. Gabe took an avocado from a bowl, and started the process of cutting and removing the pit — experience taught me he would mash it up, add a bit of salt and lemon, and spread it on the bread.

The procedure would take a few minutes. I was trapped.

I sighed and, mug in hand, sat on the barstool designated for my ass. "I assume this is the interrogation you've been threatening me with."

"Not at all!" Max leaned on the kitchen island with a hand on the white stone, the angle of his body suggesting his legs were crossed at the ankles. He casually sipped from his coffee. "We are good friends who seek to support you in this difficult time."

"How are things going on with Nora?" Jake asked.

"Your texts have been… sparse, in this one regard." Gabe arched an eyebrow, challenging me to open up.

He scooped the green flesh out of its thick skin, and dropped both halves on the plate. Fork in hand, he proceeded to purée it. That's where my eyes latched on, as I shared more with my friends.