Page 128 of In Spades

“You’re not pushing me,” she blurted out. “But you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I know we didn’t exactly plan for this, but I have an extra toothbrush, and?—”

“I want to stay.”

“It’ll be you and me on the sofa bed. And no sex because, you know, thin walls.”

I chuckled and reached across the cab of the truck, sliding my palm between her thighs. “But you’re thinking about sex, aren’t you?”

Her muscles clenched.

My hand slid up her thigh to the edge of her jeans. I hooked my finger over the lip of denim, beneath the thin layer of her cotton panties.

As if on cue, the flood light turned on and Hunter popped up in front of the screen door.

I yanked my hand away and pretended to rub the back of my neck. “Should’ve gotten you off in the parking lot at Jokers.”

Kristin cupped her hand over her mouth and snickered. “Are you ready for twelve hours of blue balls? No one will blame you if you head home.”

Unlatching my seatbelt, I leaned over and pecked her lips. “I can be resourceful.”

Per usual, the kids piled up at the door, waiting for us to come inside. Even Logan.

“What’s up, man,” I said as I ducked through the door behind Kristin.

He didn’t even try to hide his ear-to-ear grin. “I got a ‘B’ on my math test.”

“Hell yeah, dude!” I cheered. We high-fived, and I pulled him in for a back-slapping bro hug. “Dude, I’m so fuc—freaking proud of you!”

Kristin just stood there, stunned. “You got a what?”

I couldn’t help but grin. On the nights I couldn’t make it over, I video chatted with Logan to help with his homework. Kristin did her best, but she had a lot on her plate. I could handle a little twelfth grade math.

“We’re celebrating this weekend!” Kristin said, throwing her arms around Logan.

He grunted as she strangled him like a python. “Kris, it’s just one test.”

“Alright, Sunshine,” I said, chuckling as I peeled Kristin off her brother. “He’s turning blue and purple. Might wanna let him breathe.”

He grimaced. “Geez, you smell like the bar.”

“Probably my fault,” I admitted. “But she had fun.”

Logan shook his head, smiling as he wandered back to his room.

“Did anything new happen?” Kylie asked as soon as she could barrel to the front of the pack.

“I told you, Ky,” Kristin said, shaking her head. “Bridget is marrying Mr. Kingsley, and Chase is dating the nurse that Mel works with. That’s what’s happening.”

Kylie crossed her arms. “But they’re supposed to be together.”

Kristin tucked a stray piece of Kylie’s hair behind her ear. “People who are meant for each other will find their way. And if they don’t, it wasn’t meant to be.”

Kylie rolled her eyes. “Or sometimes adults just need to get their heads out of their asses.”

“Asses!” Zoey squeaked, much to Kristin’s dismay. I couldn’t help but laugh.

Logan brought his homework to the table. I sat and helped him study while Kristin ran through her bedtime routine with the little ones.

The background noise of the running shower cut off. A minute later, Hunter darted out of the bathroom in just his underwear.

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