Page 50 of Claim Me

“I feel like a queen,” I say, hugging them.

The twins gasp again, knowing what I mean. Their little hands go to their heads, already thinking about their tiaras.

Sync strolls over with their bags. They look at him starry-eyed.

“We’re princesses,” they announce and dance around their father.

“You’re all weird.”

“Don’t pretend you don’t wear your crown when you’re home alone,” I taunt.

Sync rolls his eyes and goes to put the bags in my truck.

Deirdre tugs at my hand and asks, “What’s your boyfriend’s name?”

“You’ll see him tonight. He’s been staying at our house. You know I get so lonely with my babies gone.”

“You love us,” Kiera says and then looks at Deirdre and gasps. “Can we have tiaras with the boyfriend at home?”

“Of course. He knows I’m a queen, and you’re my little princesses.”

The twins bounce, loving the nights when we wear our tiaras. We watch princess-themed movies and carry magic wands, bequeathing love upon each other. Bubbles gets transfixed by the sparkling tiaras and follows the girls around all night.

A frowning Sync stomps over from my truck and says, “Girls, cover each other’s ears so I can grownup talk with your mom.”

Kiera and Deirdre face each other. Giggling, they place their hands over each other’s ears. Sync waits until he thinks they can’t hear before unloading on me.

“Have you lost your mind? You can’t have a weirdo freak stay over with the girls? What if he’s a pervert taking advantage of your obvious loneliness to find new victims?”

Waving my hand dismissively in his face, I reply, “My boyfriend is sweet and sexy and only into me. Though he’s a little odd, he’s never a pervert.”

“I ought to meet him and make threats.”

Realizing there’s no slick way to announce the information, I blurt out, “It’s Indigo, you soggy fry.”

Sync’s expression shifts to confusion. “No.”

“Yes. We’ve been dating for a week. Don’t you dare make threats.”

“No,” Sync says again and looks around. “I was ninety-nine percent sure he was gay.”

“Well, you were wrong. He’s long desired my sweet loving, but he’s shy. Now I know he wants me, and I want him, too.”

“Because he wants you?”

“I never realized Indigo was an option. I mean, after you turned out to be a big flop, I assumed I’d never get another biker’s fry in my basket again.”

Sync wants to complain about my wording, but the girls aren’t even pretending to cover their ears anymore.

“What happened?” he asks the twins.

“My arms are tired,” Deirdre explains and spins around. “I’m Princess D.”

“I’m Princess K,” Keira says, spinning now, too.

Sync watches them goof around before turning to me and frowning. “This feels wrong. Indigo doesn’t like women or sex.”

“He’s into me.”

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