A Cosmic Kind of Love(79)

Curled up on the end of my couch, knees drawn toward her chest, container of Chinese food in hand, Hallie looked tiny. A surge of protectiveness rushed through me at the way she squeezed her eyes closed, as if in pain. The feeling was not new to me when it came to her. In fact, it had been gathering momentum and strength ever since we started dating. I reached out to stroke her knee. “Now I’m worried.”

Her eyes popped open, and I relaxed as she gave me a somewhat crooked smile. “Oh, no, it’s not bad. It’s embarrassing but not bad.”

I waited patiently for her to continue.

“So . . . everything was going swimmingly at the engagement party when suddenly the bride and groom approached me and told me they had an issue to deal with and needed privacy in the ladies’ restroom. Could I guard the door for them?”

Already suspecting what was coming next, I grimaced for her.

Hallie groaned. “God, you know already, which just makes me the most naive person on the planet.”

I squeezed her knee, trying not to smile in sympathy and failing.

“I took them at their word, and they slipped into the restroom and I stood guard, turning people away, fibbing about a plumbing issue and that it would be resolved soon. That was fine. Until the sex sounds grew audible.”

I almost choked on my kung pao chicken.

“Uh yeah. And they were loud. So loud that people were staring and were visibly outraged. I panicked.”

“What does that mean?”

“I started to sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ at the top of my voice.”

I couldn’t stop a loud explosion of laughter because that mental image was hilarious.

“Stop!” Hallie’s cheeks flushed red as she prodded me with her foot. “It’s not funny. There I was, this lunatic, singing ‘Sweet Caroline,’ waving my hands and trying to get everyone to join in.”

It was difficult to voice the question around my laughter, but I asked, “Why that song?”

“The bride’s name is Caroline.”

“Well, that makes sense.”

“You’re still laughing.”

“It’s really funn—” I couldn’t finish as I gave another bark of laughter.

Hallie, thankfully, was laughing too.

Grinning adoringly at her, I eventually asked, “Did it at least work?”

“Yes. And by the way, kudos to the happy couple for their stamina, because I got through the entire song, and by the second verse, the guests joined in. So the bride and groom walked out of that restroom, looking thoroughly fucked, to a hundred people singing ‘Sweet Caroline.’ The bride was generous enough to share with me that the second chorus brought her to climax, and now ‘Sweet Caroline’ is forever tainted for me.”

Still chuckling, I gestured to her. “Come here.”

“What? Why?”

“Come here.”

Looking bemused, Hallie set her food on the coffee table and crawled along the couch to me. I kissed her as soon as her lips were within reach. When I finally let her up for air, she gazed at me in a dreamy, dazed way that made me feel fifteen feet tall.

“What was that for?”

“Because you’re adorable and sweet and funny, and your boss does not know just how lucky she is to have you working for her.”

Hallie practically melted into my side. “You don’t think I’m a people-pleasing moron?”

I frowned at her. “Never. Don’t call yourself that. You’re hilarious, and you went above and beyond at your job. All I care about is that you’re okay. If today made you incredibly uncomfortable and unhappy, then that’s not okay. But if it’s just a funny story you can add to your repertoire, then who cares? You did a good job.”

“It’s just a funny story,” she assured me with a small smile. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

She pressed another soft kiss to my mouth. “For being you.” Then she licked her lips. “Mmm, kung pao chicken. Any left?”

Grinning, I handed her the carton and reached for hers on the table.

She settled into my side, and I switched on a sci-fi TV show we’d started watching at her place this past week. However, once the food was eaten and we were curled up together, her head on my chest, I noticed Hallie lifting her phone to check it every fifteen minutes or so.

“Waiting on a call?” I asked.

“What?” She looked up at me with those long-lashed wide eyes.

“You keep checking your phone.”

“Oh.” Her gaze dropped back to the TV. “My aunt Julia has been calling me, but I haven’t picked up. If it was an emergency, she’d leave a voice mail, but she hasn’t, so clearly Mom, for whatever reason, is using her as a go-between.”

“But you’re waiting for her to call again?”

“No.” Hallie sighed heavily. “I’m waiting for my mom or dad to call me. It’s been weeks now and nothing. That’s shitty.” Her voice hitched.

Her fucking parents.

I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, tightening my arm around her. “They’ll call.”

And if they didn’t, I guessed I’d just have to find a way to help them pull their heads out of their asses.

“I don’t want to talk about them tonight, if that’s okay.”