Chapter Twenty-Three

 

 

 

 

Megan

 

 

 

 

 

Simon and I transitioned from friends to more than friends easily over the next few weeks. He spent a few nights a week at our place and we met for lunch or I’d take him dinner during others. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be at the station house as often as I was but I’d gotten to know those in Simon’s company pretty well. Nick Christos was one of my favorites. Hidden under his boyish and immature personality was someone who truly cared and wanted to help those around him.

Tori Jones was my other favorite. I loved watching her interact with the men in her company. They didn’t treat her any differently because she was a woman. If anything, they respected her even more. I’d learned that she and Simon were both after the same promotion and he’d confessed that he felt that she had a leg up on him.

“I should go,” I said to Simon as I buried my face deeper into his bare shoulder. He chuckled and increased his hold as he nodded.

“Probably.”

It was a Sunday morning, about three weeks after Simon’s bout of strep throat, and we were lying on a bottom bunk at the station house, both of us naked and relaxed. I’d brought cookies that I’d made in some lame excuse to see Simon and somehow we’d ended up ripping the clothes off of each other twenty minutes later.

I’d made a huge attempt to be as quiet as I possibly could be after Simon had confessed that everyone had heard us that first time but I apparently failed at it. Simon spent a good amount of time covering my mouth with either his own or his hand to keep me quiet. I was sure they all knew what we were doing but knowing and hearing were two different things.

“Want to come to my parents’ for dinner tonight?” I asked, pushing myself up so I was in a sitting position. Simon stared up at me, his expression unchanged as he absorbed my words. Finally he sat up, too, and pushed my hair back so he could place a kiss on my neck.

“Will they be okay with that? I mean, five weeks ago they were at my place chatting it up with your boyfriend who was not me and now you’re bringing me home.”

I had told my parents that I’d broken up with Alex but not that Simon and I were together. They hadn’t been surprised to hear about the split and my father even looked relieved, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell them everything.

Alex still didn’t know about us, either. Apparently he’d started causally dating again but Simon still wasn’t ready to make that confession to his brother. Although Simon went home more during the weeks the kids were home, Alex had started asking his brother about who he was seeing that was keeping him away so often.

Alex not knowing also meant that we still had to be careful. I went to Simon’s baseball games every other week but I didn’t dare go the weeks the kids were home, just in case. I wanted Alex to be told, not for him to find out by crappy circumstance. I missed the kids, though. I missed them more than I’d even admit to Simon. I’d grown really attached to Hudson and Kendra during the time I’d been with their dad.

“My parents love you. I’m also never going to leave if you don’t stop.” I wiggled out of his hold, forcing his lips from my neck, and shook my head with a smile as I stood from the bed. I grabbed my underwear and pulled them back on while Simon watched. “We have to tell them sometime and it will be good practice for your brother.”

Simon stood with a sigh and started to pull his own clothes back on. “Like I’m going to say no to you.”

“That’s because you love me,” I said, still smiling as I slipped my shirt over my head. Simon just grinned and gently pushed me against the door so he could give me a long kiss. When we parted, he nodded and smoothed my hair for me.

“So much.”

He took my hand and opened the door to the tiny room, grabbing my purse off of the floor for me in the process. We walked down the hall to the common area and I only blushed lightly when his co-workers gave me knowing looks. No one said anything, probably out of fear that Simon would kill them, but their grins all widened slightly.

“Hey, Gold. These are amazing,” Nick said as he shoved another cookie in his mouth. “I love your cookies.”

“Sounded like Owens loved her cookies, too,” Chad Hughes muttered as he looked at the TV. Quicker than I thought possible, Simon had reached over and slapped him in the back of the head.

“Shut the fuck up.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and gestured towards the stairs. I held my hand up in a wave and said goodbye to everyone as we headed towards the ground floor.

“Ah, Ms. Gold.” Simon’s boss, Captain Stevenson, smiled when he caught sight of us. “I knew you were here somewhere. Thanks for the cookies. They’re amazing.”

“You’re very welcome, sir. Thank you for letting me come by.”

“You’re welcome to be here anytime, my dear.” He gave me an affectionate pat on the back as he headed up the stairs without acknowledging Simon at all.

“Jesus,” Tori said as she walked up, watching her boss as she shook her head. “He’s the biggest asshole in the word to all of us but turns into a big pussycat when Megan’s around.”

Simon nodded in agreement. “It’s weird.”

I waved to Tori as Simon walked me to my car. He gave me a long kiss and promised he’d be by my place when his shift was over that afternoon. I was home before noon and found my sister in the living room doing her morning Pilates. I chatted with her as I did laundry and cleaned up around the house. Afterwards I sat down with a book until Simon text around three to let me know he was leaving the station.

He knocked twice before walking through the door and I looked up from my book to smile at him.

“Hey, Si.” I accepted the quick kiss he gave me as he bent down.

“What time are we leaving for your parents’?”

I ran my fingers down his cheek and closed my book. “Dinner’s usually at six but I’d like to be there a little early.”

“Okay.” Simon dropped another kiss to my forehead. “I’m going to go grab a nap then, if that’s all right.”

“Of course. Go nap. I’ll wake you up around four-thirty.” I pat his face once before he straightened up to head to the bedroom. I went back to my book as he slept, only stopping to check on the brownies that I was baking to take with us.

Kelly walked in a little after four, a towel wrapped around her from being at the pool. She looked at the clock above the TV before looking at me.

“I saw the truck parked outside. Are you brave enough to bring Simon tonight?

I nodded and gestured to the bedroom. “He’s taking a nap.” I paused and ran my lip through my teeth. “Do you think they’re going to freak out?”

“Well,” Kelly said with a sigh. “It’s a weird situation so… I don’t know. Luckily they already seem to love Simon, so you have that going for you.”

“Thanks for your words of encouragement, Kel.” I rolled my eyes and rubbed the back of my neck. “Want to ride with us?”

“Yeah, please.” Kelly headed towards her bedroom. “I’ll go get ready.”

As she disappeared into her room, I stood from the couch and stretched my arms above my head. I took Simba out and let him run around for about fifteen minutes before heading back inside. He stayed on my heels as I walked to the bedroom and pushed open the door.

Simon was asleep on his stomach in the middle of the king-sized bed, taking up a good majority of it as he spread out. The sheet was bunched up by his legs and he was wearing nothing but his boxers. I crawled up the bed until I was on my hands and knees hovering over his back. I leaned down and pressed my lips to the skin between his shoulder blades. He stirred under me as I kissed a path to his neck and he turned his head so he could give me a sleepy smile.

“Hey, beautiful.” Simon rolled over carefully and I leaned back on my knees so I was straddling his waist instead.

“Hi,” I said softly as I stared down at him. “Did you sleep okay?”

He nodded and ran his hands up my body until his palms were cupping my jaw. “I slept great. Come here.”

I didn’t hesitate to lean back down so I could press my lips to his. When Simon deepened the kiss, I pulled back and shook my head.

“We don’t have time, Si.”

He gave me a boyish grin and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure,” I replied as I dropped a quick kiss to his lips. “Your mouth says one thing but the rest of your body betrays you.”

“There’s a gorgeous woman on top of me. I’d have to be dead to not react to that.”

I giggled and maneuvered until I was standing on the floor next to the bed. “Play your cards right and you could end up in the same situation later on tonight.”

“I’ll be on my best behavior,” he promised as he stood to grab his clothes. “I’ll be every parent’s dream.”

I led Simon out of my bedroom and called for Kelly to get her shoes on while I searched for a storage container for the brownies I’d made. As I started transferring the brownies out of the pan, Simon’s chin rested on my shoulder from behind me. He didn’t say anything but I held up a brownie in offering and he kissed my neck before taking it.

“You’re the best.”

I chuckled as I put the lid on the container and turned to him. I stole a bite of his brownie and called for Kelly again. She appeared from her bedroom a few minutes later and we all walked out to Simon’s truck.

Kelly and Simon debated the entire way to my parents’ house. Although Kelly wasn’t a vegan, she spent the thirty minute drive wholeheartedly defending veganism against Simon’s criticism.

“But you’re not hurting the freakin’ chicken by eating its eggs! That’s all I’m saying!” Simon gave Kelly an exasperated look through the rearview mirror and I cut them both off before she could respond.

“Okay, enough. We’re here. I can’t listen to this anymore.”

Simon laughed as he parked along the curb of my childhood home. The exterior of the house was in pristine shape with the bright red bricks and perfectly manicured lawn. I knew that the inside of the one-story building would be just as perfect when we walked inside, too.

Kelly got out of the truck and immediately went for the front door but Simon and I hung back. He laced his fingers through mine and looked over at me.

“Ready?”

I nodded and tugged him forward. “Let’s go.”

We walked through the front door of the home and followed the hallway back to the empty kitchen. I looked out the sliding doors to the backyard and found my dad and Kelly on the porch swing while my mom was pulling tomatoes off her plants.

Everyone smiled as I stepped out to the porch but their faces morphed into looks of surprise when Simon followed.

“Simon, my boy. How are you?” My father stood from the porch and held his hand out to shake Simon’s. He faltered for a moment when he saw that Simon had to drop my hand first.

“Mr. Gold. It’s great to see you again.” They shook hands and my father nodded as he stepped back.

“It’s James, please.”

My mom walked up the stairs to immediately engulf Simon in a hug. When she released him, I watched her and my father exchange a look. She cleared her throat and gestured between Simon and myself.

“So, are you two together then?”

I was so afraid that my parents were going to judge or look down on me but I pushed back that fear and stood up straight.

“Yes. We are.” I reached for Simon’s hand again but I didn’t have to go too far because he was doing the same thing.

The tense moment felt like an hour as my mother and father shared another look. Suddenly, they both smiled and my mom moved forward to wrap me in a hug.

“Good for you both.” She pulled back and smiled at me. “It’s about time you two realized that you were better together.”

My father was nodding and he gave Simon a pat on the back. “Your brother is a nice kid but I could tell right away that there was something special between you two.”

“So could I,” Simon said softly as he looked over at me. I rolled my eyes and gently elbowed him.

“I know. I’m an idiot.” I felt so foolish. Everyone around me had seen what I’d refused to see. Or maybe what I’d ignored.

“Hey.” Simon shook his head and gave me a hard look. “We’ve talked about this. Stop.”

I nodded, giving him a small smile as I did. I turned back to my parents and offered up the brownies I was holding. “I made dessert.”

My father accepted the container and pressed a kiss to my forehead before taking them inside. Simon offered to help my mother with the rest of her harvesting and I took my father’s spot on the swing next to Kelly. She dropped her head to my shoulder as we swayed slowly.

“I’m happy for you, Gan. You and that animal killer are good together.”

I slapped her thigh gently and laughed. “Be nice.”

We stayed on the swing for a few minutes, watching Simon help Mom in the garden before he was pulled into helping Dad work on the riding lawnmower. Seeing him interact with my family so easily was perfect. During dinner, he charmed them with his stories, manners, and jokes and after dinner he won my mother’s heart when he refused to let her do the dishes.

It amazed me that I was allowed to love someone as great as Simon. And even more amazed that he loved me in return.