Page 149 of Foreplay on Words

“Oh, come on. They’re harmless...mostly. Mrs. Elkins apparently signed up for Tinder.”

I cringed as I thought about my mother’s over-sixty-year-old friends on Tinder. “That’s just wrong.”

“She’s gone on dates, too,” Kelly giggled. “Horny old cougar.”

“Please make it stop.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “What time does your flight get in?”

I gave her my details, and then we hung up because they’d started boarding. In a few hours, I’d hopefully be able to redeem myself. I missed the banter and teasing from Chase. She’d become such a fixture in my life that I missed her terribly after less than 24 hours apart.

I arrived in Chicago a few hours later. Kelly was waiting for me near the baggage claim. Holding a sign that said ‘Stoner.’

“Haha. You’re so funny,” I rolled my eyes.

“Hey, I could have put ‘Rock Hard’ on it,” she shrugged. I wouldn’t put it past her to do it. Nothing embarrassed her.

“Why did I call you again?”

“Because you looove me.” She reached up to pinch my cheek and threw her arms around me. “How did you get so tall?”

“I’ve been taller than you since I was twelve,” I laughed as I hugged her back. It was good to be home.

“You’re still my wittle baby brudder,” she cooed in that ridiculous baby voice.

“No more cheek-pinching,” I leaned back as she came at me again.

“Alright. Let’s get out of here. Does this mean I get to meet Chase?” she asked eagerly. My family was excited that I’d finally found someone.

“I obviously didn’t think this part through,” I cringed, and she smacked me in the shoulder.

“We all would have met her in three days anyway. Mom is gonna be so jealous,” she laughed, clearly happy she could rub meeting Chase sooner in Mom’s face. “Loved the book, by the way. I read the pre-release copy Adrian sent me. Damn, you guys are hot!”

“I’m not talking to you about this.” I shook my head. It was already weird for her to have read my last book; this was mortifying. And that is exactly why I had a pen name.

After my suitcase came through, we got in the elevator to the parking garage.

“So, how many sex toys do you own now?” she asked with an entirely straight face as she popped her trunk.

“I’m gonna go walk into traffic,” I sighed as I pulled the handle on my suitcase back out and pretended to walk away.

“Ain’t no shame in the game,” she laughed, pulling me back by my shirt.

Once my luggage was loaded, I decided to turn the tables on her. “So, have you met any nice guys lately?”

“Touché,” she laughed. “I’ll stop teasing. For now.”

She told me all about her new position at her company on the way downtown. By the time we reached the parking structure down the street from the venue, I was nervous.

“You’re gonna be fine. Just stop sweating. You don’t want to be like Ross in Friends with those leather pants,” she laughed.

“I was hoping you didn’t notice them,” I told her as I pulled at the leather covering my thighs.

“Oh, I already snapped a pic of you in them to send to Mrs. Elkins.”

“I hate you.”

“Come on,” she bounced in her seat as she turned off the car. “I want to see this hot girlfriend of yours.”

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