Chapter 33

Ricci

Having never showered with anyone before, I wasn’t prepared for my shower with Manny. A second round of lovemaking commenced by the time we were done washing, so after we completely wiped out all the hot water, we finally got some sleep.

Waking up, I smile because last night was everything I ever dreamed it could be. I can tell he’s already up, so after stretching, I roll out of the bed and head into the bathroom to take care of my screaming bladder. Thankfully, after multiple UTIs early on in my relationship with he-who-shall-no-longer-be-named, Ivy told me the trick about peeing after sex, so this is just the normal morning, so to speak. After I wash my hands, I go ahead and brush my hair, then my teeth before it dawns on me that I wore my pajamas over here.

“Son of a biscuit eater,” I mutter.

“What has you cursing so early today?” Manny asks. When I shriek, he chuckles, causing me to turn and glare at where he’s leaning up against the door jamb. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?”

He looks extremely relaxed, almost like a contented cat this morning and I preen a little inside when it dawns on me that I’m behind his mood.

“I uh, I realized I wore my pajamas over here last night. I don’t have anything I can wear back home.”

He bursts into laughter at my confession then pulls me into his arms. “Well, your pajamas aren’t too revealing, sweetheart, so you should be just fine driving home to get dressed. Which you need to do as soon as possible.”

“What? Why?” Maybe last night didn’t mean as much to him as I thought it did, which has my heart sinking.

“Not for any other reason than I want to take my two best girls to breakfast before we check out a local estate sale. My granddad used to take me when I was a kid and he often found items that he was able to repurpose. Thought y’all would like to go with me.”

“It sounds like fun. Okay, I’ll head out so I’m ready when y’all come to get me.”

“Not before kissing me good morning,” he growls out, before tugging me into his arms and thoroughly kissing me.

By the time he pulls back, I’m breathless and wondering if we can just spend the day in bed instead, which he must pick up on because he laughs. “If we could, we would, babe. Unfortunately, unless my other best girl is with family, that’s unlikely to happen. The good news is, she’ll be off to college in a few years.”

“If she goes. She might decide to go to a technical school or something. Do you know what she wants to do?” I question, moving away and putting my slippers back on.

Yes, my slippers. Why I didn’t put on my flip-flops or hell, even a pair of sneakers, is beyond me. Nope, I have my fuzzy chicken heads on which has him doubled over now, laughing his ass off.

“What, they’re cute!” I defend my footwear choice.

“They are, sweetheart. We won’t be far behind you, Marisol is showering now. We’ll get some breakfast at the diner, then head over to the sale.”

* * *

“What will you do with that?” Marisol asks Manny, looking at a huge hutch he just bought.

“Not quite sure yet, but I’m positive I’ll come up with something,” he replies.

I love watching the two of them interact; they don’t realize just how many of their mannerisms are similar. Today has been an absolute blast. Despite my concern, Marisol didn’t bat an eye when she saw me coming out of her dad’s bedroom. Instead, she linked her arm with mine and thanked me for being willing to come over the night before.

“Maybe I can help,” she shyly says.

“You like creating things?” he questions.

“Yeah.”

“Then when we get this beast home and I have your uncles come over and help me unload, I’ll show you the workshop, see what you think. Your great-grandfather taught me everything I know, plus I’ve taken a ton of classes in different techniques. If you want to learn, I’ll be happy to show you all I know,” he says.

“I’d like that a lot.”

Once he pays the man overseeing the sale, he maneuvers his truck over to where several items he bought are waiting. Several men come over and help him get them loaded, then he attaches a gazillion bungee cords to secure everything before he gets in the driver’s side.

“Y’all ready?” he asks.

“Yes!” Marisol exclaims.

* * *

“I think you should build us a she-shed,” Marisol decrees as we watch Manny’s brothers help him unload his purchases. “That way, we can create things without getting in your way.”

“You think there’s enough room out here for one of those?” he teases. “Because I suspect you two will want one of those cutesy things I’ve seen online, one that has a porch and an overhang. Chairs, that kind of shit.”

“Of course,” I state, joining in on the conversation. “And tables inside with good lighting so we’re able to see what we’re doing.”

“There’s plenty of room in here,” he muses, a grin on his handsome face. “I could put some tables over there in the back. Yep, plenty of room.”

“Dad,” Marisol drawls out. “Your workshop is cool and all, but it won’t be as cool as the one Ricci and I will have if you make us one.”

I see him fighting not to roll his eyes or start laughing because she’s being serious. He finally shrugs when one of his brothers says, “They’ve got pre-built ones for sale at the big hardware place in town, Man. I think they’re even pre-wired. At least then, you’d still have your own cave of sorts.”

“I like him,” I whisper to Manny. “He’s on our side.”

“He’s got a house full of girls,” Manny retorts.

“Well, seems to me, you’re trying to catch up,” his brother teases.

“Fine. Let’s go into town and check this thing out, then we’ll head out to my mom’s house. We’ve put it off long enough.”

Apparently, while Marisol has met some of the family, she hasn’t met everyone yet and today’s the day.

* * *

“I still can’t believe it’ll be delivered next weekend,” Marisol says as we head home after a fun afternoon out at her grandmother’s house. Many of her cousins are either the same age or close to it, so now she’s got a built-in support system that I think will go a long way to helping her heal.

“They could’ve done it during the week, but I’ve got clients, Ricci works, and you’re in school. Although, they have to have an adult on the premises before they’ll deliver so even if you were home, it wouldn’t matter,” Manny says. “Are we dropping you off at the apartment or do you want to come home with us?” he asks, squeezing my hand.

“You should totally come back to the house with us, Ricci. We have to plan how we want to decorate our craft shed,” Marisol advises, causing me to giggle.

I’m pretty sure that’s not why Manny extended the invitation, but since it’ll be a few more hours before bedtime, talking about our plans for the building Manny cheerfully paid for so we’d have our ‘own place’ is fine with me.

“Then that’s what I’ll do,” I reply.