Oh Sherry // Steve Perry

Jeff drives the twenty minutes to my apartment with his arm around my shoulder and my head resting on his. He's fresh from his shower, wearing dress pants and a button up shirt that my dad requires after a game. He looks so good I can hardly keep my hands to myself. But I don't want to do anything to ruin the calm we've finally found so I keep my hands to myself. Being with him like this is peaceful. For the first time since I met him, I can snuggle into him practically worry free. I don't know what's going to happen with Reign and the investigation, but Jeff has his car back. He's been cleared of any culpability, the guys have been taken in, my dad is on our side and we can finally be out in the open.

Life is good.

He pulls to a stop in front of my place then kisses my temple. We slide out of the car and his hand wraps around mine automatically. The closer we get to my front door, however, the more my heart is racing. I'm feeling the opposite of peaceful and calm. My mind is spinning with all of the possibilities on the other side of my door.

We're about to be alone after all of that suggestive flirting.

I open my door. Jeff follows me in, closing it behind us. I've just dropped my things when he hauls me back to him, spinning me around into his waiting arms.

"Is this okay?"

I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him in answer. He kisses me back, teasing my tongue with his, filling me with the need for more. His arms are around my waist. I tremble as his fingers dip under my shirt, tickling my skin. I step back, bringing Jeff with me.

"Is this too fast?" he asks with his lips against my neck.

"It's been months and months."

"We've been apart so long."

I nod. We have. Too long. But he's with me now. He's moved heaven and Earth for us to be together, to keep me safe. I know now he'd do whatever it took, and he did.

"But we're together now."

This time he nods. Then he scoops me up in his arms and carries me across the room to my bed.

"I love you."

"I know."

Jeff pulls back, brow furrowed. I smile.

"It's what Han Solo tells Leia when she says she loves him. It's his way of saying it back." I shrug. "Wrong moment?"

"Does that make me Princess Leia and you the badass smuggler who joins the forces of good against evil?"

I pull him back to me. "No. That makes you the guy who gets me. The man of my dreams. The only one for me."

"And?"

"And what? What more is there?"

He nuzzles my neck. "Say it. Out loud."

I laugh. "Oh my gosh, you're mixing your fandoms. This isn't a Twilight moment and you're not a vampire."

He bites my neck. "I'm not?"

"I thought we were getting busy, but we can't stop making jokes." I wrap my legs around him. We're on our sides now, his hands in my hair, his lips on my neck, me pressed against him. All of him.

"Who says we can't laugh while we're making love?"

Jeff's lips find my earlobe and all of the silly leaves my body. I'm a puddle, at his mercy.

"No one," I whisper. "But..."

"But what, baby?" Now he's kissing my cheek, moving to my chin, then finally hovering over my lips.

"But I think the show's over. Time for the encore and that's always the best part."

Jeff kisses me soundly. So damn good I forget what we were just saying until he leans away and pulls his shirt off.

"See. This is the best." I say, taking mine off as well.

"Better than killer clowns playing death metal?"

I laugh, again. "I thought we were done playing around."

"I've never played around with you. I've always been 100 percent serious." He kisses down my chest, between my breasts, over my bra.

My fingers thread through his hair. "I love you."

Jeff releases a slow breath. He pushes up to look at me, then leans down again. He closes his eyes pressing his cheek against mine. Our hearts beat together. I can feel his against my chest. So close.

Without words our hands begin to explore. More clothes come off. More skin to kiss, to touch. I curve myself around him as he covers every inch of me.

"I came prepared. I hope that's okay."

I nod. "I'm so glad you did."

Jeff pulls a foil packet out of his pocket. Seconds later he's back, ready for me. I'm more than ready for him. He hovers over me, never taking his eyes off me. When he moves, I move with him. And it's perfect.

***

The gallery is full. Everyone is here tonight; many I know and even more that I don't. I'm nervous but it's the good kind.

"This is amazeballs," Misty says, coming to stand beside me. "It's your brain but up on a wall. And enlarged."

"It's not my brain." I twist to give Misty a scowl. "It's pictures around Fallbrook, the stadium. And some from the stakeout."

"Duh. I know what they are. But this is how your brain saw all of that. So it's like we're getting a glimpse inside your head."

I understand what she means. But Misty's version is still a bit off. Whatever. I don't have time to debate viewpoint with her. That's what art is, anyway. Open to interpretation.

"You should go find Jeff. He's probably having a panic attack right about now." Misty gives me a gentle shove.

"Why would that be?"

"That sexy picture you took of him. He's not a showy guy, Ali. He seems like he'd rather keep his bits to himself."

"What are you talking about? I don't have a picture of Jeff's bits on display?"

"What's the one with the wrinkled brown things?"

I facepalm and groan.

"Seed pods that were on the ground outside the stadium."

"Oh."

I shake my head and walk away.

"It was a natural mistake!"

I wave her off without turning around. The last thing I need on my mind is Jeff's bits. He's been busy the last few weeks with playoffs. I miss his bits. Once I turn the corner to the open gallery, I shake off the conversation with Misty and any lingering thoughts about Jeff. He should be here with his family. I had to be here hours ago to start setting up.

I glance around the large open room. High ceilings and well-appointed lighting gives the room a museum feel. The bright white walls are the perfect backdrop for display, making even the muted colors of my photographs pop.

Devon insisted that I display my recent photo project once she saw me developing them. After giving me the insight about the emotion that emanated from my stadium abstracts, she'd tasked me with keeping a camera by my side at all times and documenting my surroundings as emotions came to the surface. While Misty insists that she's looking at my brain up on the walls, what she's really seeing is my heart.

I find Jeff standing with his family admiring some of the stadium shots I took. Each wall is labeled with a different emotional experience. The stadium shots are all on the anxiety wall. Even the ones from the last home game when Reign was finally arrested. My stress was off the charts until the end when I saw Jeff in the hallway.

I run my hands along the green fabric of my skirt as I take the last few steps to where Jeff is standing. He's wearing a tie with little green leaves to match the color of my dress. I couldn't believe the cute vintage chiffon dress that I found at the consignment store. Misty dared me to wear it, knowing I'd chicken out at the last second and retreat to my boho style. But the fitted bodice and gathered fabric makes me feel fabulous, so I'm more than happy I took the dare.

"These are amazing." Jeff kisses my cheek. "And you look gorgeous."

I smile up at my boyfriend, dressed to compliment my outfit and standing here to support me. I couldn't be luckier.

"Yes, you have such command of your camera." His mom gives me a gentle hug. His dad and sister smile. Jeff's best friend, Matt is here with his girlfriend, Hannah. I finally met them at Jeff's house not too long ago. They've been through a difficult journey. I think even worse than ours. I feel for Hannah, but they're doing so much better now.

"Thank you all for coming. I had no idea if anyone would want to."

"We wouldn't have missed it for the world." His mom reassures me. She and I have become close since meeting at the police station. My dad did an amazing job raising me on his own but having Jessica as a mother figure has been nice. More than nice. Needed.

As if I conjured him, my dad makes it over to us at that moment. He's seen the entire exhibit many times over this week as I enlisted him to help me hang all of the pieces. Any spare time he had off the field was put to use here.

After greetings and hugs with my dad and Jeff's family, I show them the other three walls of emotions; fear, relief and love. All of the shots are abstracts of everyday objects and places. It's whatever was around me when I noticed a strong feeling. Devon insists that my emotions pour out of the pictures.

The show comes to a close. The gallery empties of people, a few who actually want to buy my work. Jessica wants to buy the photo I took of Jeff's shoe. That's the only request that made me a little nervous. I took that one right after Jeff drove me home from the fated game. Our first time together, alone, in so long. His shoe was sitting on the floor next to my bed. I was so happy, so in love and blissed out from being with him, I took the picture with those thoughts in mind. Now I can't look at it without remembering his...bits.

But his mom doesn't need to know that part.

Jeff and I leave the gallery hand in hand, the last two in the building besides Devon.

"Frank called earlier," Jeff says casually. As if that isn't a potentially Earth-shattering conversation.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Your show came first. I'm telling you now."

I sigh. "What did he say?"

"Everything's going the way he and Allen predicted." Allen is the lawyer Jeff's dad called. "Brax and Rob had given Frank all of the info he needed on Jez to locate his operation. Declan and Reign had enough DNA and doping parafinalia in their system and frat house to warrant charges. Frank said that beating Jez up was Declan's biggest mistake because now he's got a gang leader out for his blood, so Jez had no problem rolling over and implicating him in the entire thing. Apparently Declan was dealing as well, so the charges are even worse."

"Wow." I'm in shock even though this was what we were told would most likely happen.

"Yeah." Jeff takes a deep breath. "It's basically over."

We stop at his car. Jeff takes me in his arms. "Enough about the drama. I'm so proud of you. This show was amazing."

I snuggle into him. I still can't get used to being with him like this. In public.

"How are you doing?" Jeff kisses the back of my hand.

"Relieved its over. Happy that everyone seemed to like it. Ready for bed."

Jeff wiggles his brows. "Me too, baby."

I smack his arm. "I'm actually tired."

He squeezes my hand. "I'm kidding. I know you must be wiped out. You've worked on this exhibit night and day for a week now."

I nod. "But I'm really looking forward to cuddling with you. And you never know what could happen with cuddling. I could pass out, or I could get inspired."

"As long as you're next to me, either scenario sounds good to me."

We make it to Jeff's car. It's been a long time since I first saw this old junker he calls his baby. He worked hard to buy it, then worked hard to keep it. Just like he worked to keep me.

"I think this car and I are kindred spirits."

"Oh yeah?" Jeff starts her up and makes the short drive to my place.

"It's safe to say we both hold a special place in your heart. You were desperate to keep us both even under dire circumstances."

Jeff keeps his arm around my shoulder, as he does every time we're in his car.

"You are the only one who inspires my desperation, Ali. This car is special, yes. But you are irreplaceable. I would have lived just fine if I never saw my Camero again. But you? That would be a heartache I'd never recover from."

That's all it took to make me fall in love with him all over again.

We've arrived! And yes, an epilogue will follow...with hints for the first Salt Creek book, Moonlight. I can't believe the story I started 5 years ago, More Than This, led to four books in this series, three in Blue Bloods and so many more planned!

Jeff first showed up as a very minor side character in More Than This, Matt's quiet voice of reason and the cool guy who refused to be an asshole. I wanted to give him a happily ever after with a twist (there were serious bumps along the way!) but he got there in the end.

Who knows, Frank and Misty might show up in their own series someday. There will absolutely be a Kyra/Pete story somewhere down the line and I've got a soft spot for  Mark so who knows.

Oh Sherry is a sweet love song and that's exactly what Alison needed at this point. Your love goes on...

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You may have until August to do your free reread/intro to Inevitable including all of the professional edits (Thanks to Bryony Leigh!) and brand new scene at the end of the After chapter. PS WHO WANTS A BONUS PROPOSAL OR WEDDING SCENE??? I may be writing one exclusively for those who subscribe to my newsletter...so let me know if you'd like that! ❤️❤️❤️