Page 38 of Succeeding Love

I shrugged. “He shouldn’t have cheated, then.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know,” he said dismissively. “Let me get my boss and we can start this meeting. I think you two will hit it off,” Milton chuckled. “He’s no nonsense like you.”

Drugs

Feighlynn

It was almost time! I had the chicken enchiladas in the oven, keeping warm, freshly made salsa in a bowl ready to bring outside, along with a bag of tortilla chips from the Mexican restaurant I like. I was standing in my kitchen, wearing my bathing suit and a dress cover up while smashing avocados for guacamole when Kevin’s barking started. I was startled, then bounced on my heels in excitement.

I could see my dog pacing at the window, going nuts like he does when someone is getting close to the house. I knew any second now, Vin would knock on my door. I squealed, having waited all day for this. I couldn’t find water guns anywhere, but I found something just as good. I ran on my tiptoes when I heard the knock, grabbing the Nerf gun I found in Preston’s old toy box where I left it on the counter.

I threw open the door excitedly, taking maybe half a second to appreciate Vin in his snug shirt and board shorts. When Vin saw the bright blue gun in my hands, that crooked smile lifted his face, and he let out a deep, throaty laugh as I shot him in the chest.

“Ah, you got me,” he clutched his chest in laughter. Kevin got excited about my gimmick and tried to tackle Vin to the ground in a playful attempt to help me, and Vin went along withit, going down on one knee and letting Kevin attack his face with wet kisses.

“Not fair,” I murmured. Seeing Kevin kiss Vin made me a little jealous, but it was still cute. Kevin kisses me all day, so in a way, it was like an indirect kiss.

Vin was still laughing as she stood back up and pushed Kevin fully in the house to close the door. “I don’t feel so childish about bringing these,” he said, lifting a shopping bag with two big water guns inside.

I burst into a fit of giggles. “Great minds think alike.”

“That, and you warned me,” he said, coming up next to me to give me a sideways hug, kissing the top of my head. “You’re so adorable. You know that, right?”

My cheeks flamed at the compliment. “I got it from my mama,” I said jokingly.

“I bet your daughter gets it from you,” he said lightheartedly.

“She does!” I boasted, laughing as we walked further into the house. “Speaking of Jessie, she saw your flowers and card this morning.”

“Uh, oh.” Vin looked at the flowers on the breakfast bar with a guilty expression. “How did that go? I know you said you haven’t talked to your kids about, um,thisyet.” He pointed between me and him.

This. I enjoyed thinking about us as athis.I enjoyed thinking about Vin all together.

I smirked, feeling pride in myself and my daughter for our exchange this morning. “She actually took it really well. She said she was happy for me.”

“Good. I know you mentioned she was still really close to her dad. Divorce and parents dating again has to be hard on a kid.”

“Yeah, that’s why I was holding back from telling them. But Jessie likes Nick’s girlfriend, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“She sounds extra sweet,” Vin leaned against the counter, “just like her mama.”

“Adorable and sweet,” I chuckled. “I must have good genes.”

Vin gave me that look, the one that had me biting my lip as my face grew hot. He pushed himself off the counter, walking over to me. I craned my neck to stare up at his face, which suddenly grew serious.

“Can I get something out of the way?” he asked in a raspy whisper. “Something I’ve been wanting to do all week?”

“W-what?” I blinked as his face got closer to mine. His intentions were clear, his eyes lingering on my lips. I don’t know what came over me. It might have been nerves or just my inability to keep my rabid thoughts to myself. “Oh, gosh, did I brush my teeth?” I whispered frantically.

Vin froze, and then just burst into laughter, buckling over and gripping the counter with one hand to support himself. His other hand was clutching his stomach.

My face flamed more than ever before. I covered it with my hands, mortified that I said that out loud. “I’m sorry!” Myvoice came out muffled through my fingers. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“Oh, man,” Vin stood up and wiped a thick finger under his eye, wiping some moisture away. “You are so fucking cute.”

“I’m an idiot,” I groaned, peeking at him through my fingers. “I have no brain to mouth filter.”

“That’s not a bad thing,” he smirked, taking my hands and pulling them away from my face. “I like your no-filter, stinky mouth.”

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