Just Good Friends (28 page)

She groaned, her flesh once more
tightening around him, notifying him that he had managed to prolong
her pleasure, and knowing this made him lose what little control he
had left. He managed one more thrust before he released his seed.
Gasping, he clung to her.

The first time they’d come together had
been incredible, of course. He hadn’t known how good it could feel
to be with a woman. But it seemed to him that each time they did
this, it got better. Maybe it was because he was learning what best
pleased her.

Or maybe it was just like their
friendship had been. The longer they knew each other, the better
things were between them. Because as they got to know each other,
they could tell each other anything and know they were safe in
doing so, that the other would always be there for them, no matter
what. And now he could truly share everything with her.

He gave her a lingering kiss then
rolled onto his side and brought her back into his arms. “You know,
I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re more important to me now
that we’re married than you were before. And before we were
married, you were the most important person in my life. I love
you.”

Smiling, she kissed him and said, “I
couldn’t agree more. I love you, too.”

With a contented sigh, he closed his
eyes and drifted off to sleep.

***

“
You sure you don’t mind
opening the gifts early?” Tiffany asked as her mom and dad picked
up the presents from under the tree in her apartment.

“
We leave tomorrow morning,”
her mom said as she handed Tyler his present. “We originally
planned to come up for Christmas, but Nathan said it was best if we
travel before then. He said he couldn’t get the best deals
otherwise.”

Tiffany glanced at Tyler, who was
sitting next to her on the couch, and grinned. It was a lie, of
course. Nathan could get a good deal at any time. He just knew he’d
be boxing her and Tyler into continuing on with the pretense of
being married if he got her parents to Omaha as soon as possible.
And though she’d never admit it to his face, she was glad Nathan
did it.

“
Christmas isn’t about a
specific day,” her dad said and gave Tiffany her gift. “It’s the
spirit of the season, and we can celebrate it anytime.”

“
True,” Tiffany
consented.

Besides, she and Tyler would celebrate
Christmas day with his parents, so it was probably best they spent
this time with hers. Given how well their parents got along, they
might forget she and Tyler were in the room.

“
Okay,” her mom said as she
pulled out her phone. “You can unwrap your gifts now.”

“
You’re going to wear that
poor phone out,” Tiffany said.

While her mom took pictures, Tiffany
held up a green sweater with white snowflakes sewn on it.
Thankfully, her mom had better taste than her sister. “Thanks,
Mom.” She smiled and waited while her mom took the
picture.

When her mom was done, Tiffany turned
to see what they got for Tyler. After he unwrapped his gift, he
showed her the watch they’d bought him.

“
I noticed your watch needed
replacing and thought I’d help out,” her dad explained.

“
Thanks. It’s nice,” Tyler
said then took off his old one to put the new one on.

“
I know it’s just like the
one you already had, but I wasn’t sure if you wanted different
features or not.”

“
I liked my watch just the
way it was, so this is perfect.”

Since her dad seemed pleased by Tyler’s
response, Tiffany figured it was time to give her parents their
gifts.

Her dad opened his present first and
laughed. “I got the very same Nebraska shirt at the airport when we
got here.”

Tiffany glanced at Tyler whose eyes
widened. She turned her gaze back to her dad. “I haven’t seen you
wear it,” she said.

“
There’s no point in wearing
a Nebraska shirt while I’m here. I’m waiting until I get to
Montana. But,” he pulled out a matching cap, “I didn’t get
this.”

“
We saw that shirt in plenty
of places around here,” her mom said as she took a picture of him
holding up the hat and shirt. “They must sell well.”

Catching Tyler’s amused grin, Tiffany
went over to her mom. “Why don’t I take your picture while you open
your gift?”

“
Good idea,” her dad called
out. “It’s about time she put a picture of herself up on
Facebook.”

“
I’m not that bad,” her mom
said as she unwrapped her present. “Corrine, who lives down the
street, is always posting pictures of herself. She calls them
selfies.”

“
I think anytime someone
takes a picture of themselves, it’s called a selfie,” Tiffany told
her.

“
You’re telling me she
didn’t make that up?” her mom asked, not looking
convinced.

“
Nope. It’s all over the
Internet and TV shows.”

Her mother shrugged then shook her
head. “You learn something new every day.” She picked up the charm
bracelet. “It’s lovely,” she said as she put it on so Tiffany could
take her picture.

“
As soon as I saw it, I knew
it was right for you.” That, and Tiffany and Tyler were in a hurry
to catch their plane in Las Vegas so they grabbed the first piece
of jewelry Tiffany liked. But hey, at least her mother couldn’t say
she saw it in the Omaha airport. “Here’s your phone back. You can
upload the pictures to Facebook now. And I’ll get some eggnog for
everyone.”

While her dad asked Tyler why the
Huskers were so popular in Nebraska, Tiffany went to the kitchen,
thinking that this was probably the best Christmas she’d ever
had.

***

Around seven the next morning, Tiffany
and Tyler took her parents to the airport.

“
Thanks for coming,” she
told them after giving them a hug.

“
We were glad we could
finally afford it,” her mom said. “And remember what I told you.
Tell us when something bothers you. Okay?”

She nodded. “I won’t hold it in
anymore.”

“
Good.”

Her dad shook Tyler’s hand. “Take good
care of my little girl.”

“
I will, sir,” Tyler
replied.

“
If you two want to come
back for next Christmas, I’m sure Nathan can hook you up with
another good deal,” Tiffany said, glancing at Tyler.

“
I’m sure he can manage it,”
Tyler replied, “though next year, I think you two can stay at our
house. We plan to move into one soon.”

“
Good idea,” her mom
replied. “It’ll be a good place to grow your family.”

Though Tiffany rolled her eyes, she
laughed. She knew her parents had been thinking of grandchildren
during the whole trip after seeing Nathan with his daughter, but to
their credit, they managed to restrain their enthusiasm. So she’d
let this little slip go.

After saying good-bye again, Tiffany
and Tyler left the airport, and Tyler drove up to the building
where she worked.

“
I’ll pick you up for
lunch,” he promised then kissed her.

“
I’m looking forward to it,”
she replied.

She got out of the car, and as soon as
she entered the travel agency, Danielle ran over to her. “Did I
just see you kissing Tyler?” Danielle asked, rubbing her hands in a
way that indicated she was about to hear a nice morsel of
gossip.

“
Yes, you did,” Tiffany
admitted as she hung up her coat.

Danielle followed her as she went to
her desk. “And does this mean what I think it does?”

“
That depends.” She put her
purse under the desk. “What do you think it means?”

“
That you two are
dating.”

“
Then, no. It’s not what you
think.”

Danielle’s shoulders slumped in
disappointment.

Unable to hide her grin any longer, she
showed Danielle the ring Tyler had bought her three days ago. “This
is what it means.”

Gasping, she took Tiffany’s hand and
studied the diamond. “You’re married?”

“
Yep.”

“
But when? How?”

“
A very quick trip to Vegas
while my parents were too busy to care that I was
missing.”

“
No way.”

“
Way.”

The door opened again, and this time
Amy came in, followed by Nathan who was holding their
daughter.

“
Did you know Tiffany got
married for real?” Danielle asked them.

Amy offered an apologetic smile.
“Nathan told me she and Tyler flew out to Las Vegas.”

“
And you didn’t tell me?”
Danielle demanded.

“
I couldn’t. Nathan swore me
to secrecy.”

“
It’s true,” Nathan told
Danielle. “I thought it best to keep everything hush-hush until
Tiffany’s parents left and Tiffany was here to tell you
herself.”

Danielle sighed but didn’t protest,
though Tiffany could tell she hated being the last person to find
out.

Nathan walked over to Danielle. He
pulled an envelope out of the breast pocket of his coat. “I can’t
put a spa in the back room, but Amy said this would help soften the
blow.”

Danielle took it and pulled out a piece
of paper. She read it then shrieked and jumped up and down. Tiffany
looked over at Amy, wondering what in the world could make Danielle
so excited.

“
All is forgiven,” she told
Amy then turned to Nathan. “Thank you!”

Amy chuckled then kissed her daughter.
“I’ll see you after work, sweetie.”

Amy went to hang up her coat, and
Nathan asked, “Aren’t you going to kiss me and tell me you’ll see
me after work?”

After a moment, Amy shrugged. “Sure.
Why not?” When Nathan sighed, she laughed and kissed him. “I didn’t
think you’d want me to be so familiar with my boss when others are
around.”

“
If there were customers
here, I’d say it’d be best if you showed some restraint, but we’re
with friends so it’s okay. Fortunately,” his gaze went to his
daughter, “I don’t have customers coming to my office all day, so I
can have you with me all day.” He headed for the door, stopped and
turned to Tiffany. “By the way, congratulations on fooling your
parents.”

He left, and Amy snickered.

“
What’s so funny?” Tiffany
asked.

Amy sat at her desk and turned her
computer on. “He thinks he has everyone figured out all the time
and that no one can surprise him.”

“
But?” Danielle asked,
putting the paper back in her envelope.

“
But I know something he
doesn’t,” Amy began with a smug smile, “and I have no qualms
telling you two what it is.” She leaned toward them. “I’m
pregnant.”

“
Since when?” Danielle
asked.

“
I found out last night when
I took a pregnancy test. But I’m not telling him until Christmas
day. I thought it’d make a good present.”

“
It will make a nice
surprise,” Tiffany said. She hesitated to ask Danielle what was in
the envelope but curiosity got the best of her. “What did he give
you?”

Danielle’s smile grew wide. “Unlimited
free visits to my favorite spa for an entire year starting January
1st.”

“
Wow,” Tiffany replied,
giggling. “I’d say that was worth being in the dark about me and
Tyler.”

“
Yep, which is why I forgive
him and Amy. Does anyone want a frappuccino?”

Both Tiffany and Amy said they would,
and Danielle hurried to make them each a cup.

Epilogue

One year later

Christmas Evening

Tiffany finished changing the diaper on
her one-month-old son and swaddled him in his favorite blanket. She
picked him up and carried him down the stairs of the home she and
Tyler had bought earlier that year. She picked up the bottle she’d
prepared in the kitchen and went to the living room where her
parents and Tyler’s parents were gathered around the Christmas
tree, drinking eggnog after opening their gifts.

Once again, her parents were doing most
of the talking while his parents listened, but both couples seemed
perfectly content with the way things were so she was happy for
them. Since her mom was uploading more pictures to Facebook,
Tiffany decided to go up to Tyler’s mom.

“
Would you like to hold
Eddie?” she asked.

His mom nodded and held her arms out.
“I’d love to, Tiffany.”

She gave Eddie to her and handed her
the bottle. “He’ll probably fall asleep shortly after you feed
him.”

“
I certainly don’t mind
holding a sleeping baby. They look so peaceful.”

“
It’s better than when they
cry.”

His mom chuckled, and Tiffany went over
to the couch and sat with Tyler. He put his arm around her waist
and drew her close to his side. She settled against him. Having
been married to him just a little over a year now, she could
honestly say marrying him was the best decision she’d ever made. He
had been an awesome friend, but he was much better as a
husband.