I laugh and shake my head. I’m about to give him one of his quotes about loving and living, but he flips me over to my back and slips inside me and I forget everything that I was about to say.
Except, “I love you. I love you.”
31
My mom’s annual Fourth of July Punch and Pies party is this evening. But first, Josh and I have to finish up at Dr. Ingraham’s. I look around the waiting room. There are four other couples here waiting to be called back by the nurse. Joy is behind the front desk, ignoring everyone. I stare at the new wall décor, an abstract landscape painting. I can’t tell whether it’s a skyscraper, or…no, it’s definitely a skyscraper.
I just had my egg retrieval. Dr. Ingraham said that my eggs looked to be of “superb quality.” Apparently three months in Europe with Josh was good for me. Or it’s my new job, freelance social media marketing consultant. I have to admit, I love being my own boss.
I tap my foot against the low-pile carpet. What could be taking Josh so long?
My phone buzzes and I look down at the display.
I smile when I read the message.
Josh: It’s not working…
Then he sends through a picture. It’s a shot of The Production Room. The room is just as bare and depressing as the last time he was in there. This time Josh is in the shot too and he’s sending me sad, puppy eyes.
I can’t help it. I grin.
Gemma: Look up some porn.
Josh: Gemma…
I stand and hurry to Joy’s desk. I clear my throat. She looks up and raises an eyebrow. “What?”
“I need to use the bathroom,” I say.
She shakes her head and drops the bathroom key into my hand.
My phone buzzes again.
Josh: Inspiration?
I step into the bathroom and lock the door behind me.
Gemma: How about an ankle pic?
Josh: …
Gemma: I could send you a pic of my stomach.
Josh: Gemma…they’re knocking on the door. Little help here?
I grin at myself in the mirror. Then I prop my phone on the sink and hit the video call button.
Josh answers on the first ring.
“Gemma?”
His voice echoes in the tile bathroom. I put my finger to my lip and smile.
Then I whisper, “How’s this?” I pull my T-shirt over my head. My hair comes out of my ponytail and falls around my shoulders. I stand in front of the camera in my bra and shorts.
Josh’s eyes go wide, and he gets that look I recognize. The one where I have about five seconds to choose between the bedroom or the floor.
“Not a breast man,” he says with a low growl.
I smile at him, then turn my back to the camera. I unhook my bra and let it fall away.
I hear his sharp intake of breath. But I don’t stop. I unbutton my shorts and then slowly side them down my legs.
“Gemma…”
I push my panties down my legs, until I’m standing in front of the camera completely naked. Josh sucks in a harsh breath. I look over my shoulder and smile at him.
His eyes aren’t focused on my bare skin, but on my face.
“I love you. Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
I shake my head no. “Not since this morning.”
He gives me a surprised look. “Let me remind you then. I love you. I love that you’re mine. I love you.”
“I love you,” I say back.
And that’s when I know, everything is going to work out. Everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be perfect.
Because when you believe the universe is going to give you good things, sooner or later, it will.
It’s January first and all our friends and family are gathered at the annual Wieners and Wine New Year’s Resolution Party. My parents’ house is full to the brim with guests, even more than usual. There has to be at least a hundred people here. The plastic wrap is out in full force protecting all carpeting and furnishings from barbecue sauce and red wine spills.
I breathe in the happy, familiar smell of barbecue wieners, mini gherkins, and lime Jell-O. My mom bustles out of the kitchen with a tray of pimento olives on toothpicks. She lifts it up high as Sasha, the twins and Colin race under it after their new puppy, a little cocker spaniel named Chase.
“Kids, no running in the house,” Leah calls after them. But she’s distracted when Oliver grabs her hand, spins her around and dips her. Leah smiles up at Oliver, then he plants a kiss on her lips.
“Leah made her resolution come true,” I say.
Josh looks at my sister and her husband. “Dance lessons?”
I nod. “And Sasha got her resolution.” I point at the puppy that the kids got for Christmas. The girls are now huddled under the dining room table trying to pry Chase away from chewing up the table leg.