Edge of Love by E. L. Todd Page B

already told you my fiancé doesn’t carry
anything.”
    I rolled my eyes. “I’m not
fragile.”
    “ That’s beside the point.”
He stared at me for a long moment. “You look beautiful in the
morning.”
    I blushed. “You’re just saying that.
I’m not wearing makeup.”
    “ Exactly,” he said. “You
don’t need it.”
    I smiled. “So, you think I look
hideous when I wear it?”
    He laughed. “No. But you look more
real this way.” He stepped toward the door. “You ready?”
    “ Get me out of
here.”
    He laughed. “Let’s go.”
    I tried to grab the remaining bag but
he gave me a look of death. He shouldered all of our belongings
then walked down the stairs. When he reached the entrance way, he
deposited our bags on the floor then called the cab agency and
requested a car.
    Diane walked out of the kitchen. “Are
you leaving already?” She wasn’t as buoyant as she normally was.
The awkwardness from the evening before settled in the air. “It’s
nine in the morning.”
    “ Our flight leaves soon,”
Sean said as he circled his arm around my waist.
    She nodded. “Okay.”
    Andrew appeared from the doorway,
holding a cup of coffee. “Leaving so soon? Can you stay for
breakfast?”
    Sean shook his head. “The cab will be
here soon.”
    His father nodded. “Well, it was great
seeing you.” He pulled his son into a hug. “I’m very happy for
you.” He leaned closer to Sean’s ear then whispered, “And keep her
around, kid. Fiery heathens like that are hard to fine.”
    Sean laughed then clapped him on the
shoulder. “Thanks, dad.”
    Andrew turned to me. “Goodbye, my
girl.”
    “ Goodbye,” I said as I
hugged him.
    “ And make sure you call me
dad.”
    My eyes started to bubble. “Okay,
dad.”
    He pulled away and kissed me on the
cheek. “Be safe.”
    I nodded. “Sean always takes care of
me.”
    Diane hugged Sean and held him close
for a long moment. When she embraced me, she leaned close to my
ear. “Goodbye, Scarlet.”
    “ Goodbye,
Diane.”
    She pulled away and smiled at me. I
waited for her to grant me permission to refer to her as my mother,
but the offer never came. The awkwardness picked up in the room. I
know everyone felt it.
    Andrew looked up the stairs. “I wonder
where your brother is. He needs to come say goodbye.”
    “ That’s unnecessary,” Sean
said quickly. “He’s probably still asleep.”
    Andrew shook his head. “That’s
nonsense.” He cupped his mouth with his hands and was about to yell
to the other side of the house when a car horn sounded from
outside.
    Sean moved for the door. “That’s our
cue.” He grabbed the bags from the floor then walked outside. I
followed and opened the trunk for him while he stuffed our
belongings inside. When they were secure, Sean opened the backdoor
for me.
    I waved before I got in and they waved
back. Sean followed me inside then shut the door.
    “ Take us to the airport,”
he said quickly. “Move.”
    I laughed. “We’re safe,
Sean.”
    He sighed. “I’m so glad that weekend
is over. I’m so sorry that it was so shitty.”
    I placed my hand on his thigh. “It’s
okay, babe.”
    He grabbed my face and kissed me. “Now
let’s go home where we belong.”
    “ I can’t wait to sleep in
my own bed tonight.”
    “ And I can’t wait to have
sex like normal again.”
    I looked at him. “We can’t have sex on
the plane.”
    He grinned. “Is that a
challenge?”
    “ I think we learned our
lesson.”
    “ It usually takes me a few
times until I get it right.”
    I rolled my eyes. “It’s not happening,
Sean.”
    He rubbed his hands together. “This is
going to be fun. You’re always challenging me, pushing me to be
better. I love it.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “I’m not trying
to challenge you. And you’re already amazing in that
department.”
    He smiled. “You have a point
there.”
    The cab took us to the airport and
dropped us off at the terminal. Our flight wasn’t for a few hours,
so we had