Page 22 of Choices

She pulls out before flattening a hand, bringing it to her chin, and dropping it in a sign, before raising it again and making some crazy finger motions.

And Santiago fucking beams. I swear to God rainbows shoot out of his ass and little woodland creatures surround him, frolicking. Okay, maybe not so much, but the effect is the same.

Then she spins and turns to me, no hesitation in her face. Fuck yeah! Hug time! I open my arms wide, leaning back a little and inviting her in.

She laughs and shakes her head, but comes anyway, and lays a delicious full-body hug against me. Fuck, I'm instantly hard. Her plump breasts against my chest, her soft hair in a messy bun. She smells like lilacs and horses and I've never been harder. I resist theurge to press my cock into her stomach, but I do let my hands wander a little. I slide my hand down to cup her luscious ass when I see Santiago lunge for me. Before he can do anything though, she pulls back and swats at my hand with a laugh.

"God! You're so bad!"

Sweetheart, you have no idea.

We all pile back into the car, but the vibe is off. Hannah's happy, blissed out, content, Zen. But Santiago and Rico are still stuck on the earlier conversation.

"Will you get with your hacker friend and pull all of their financials? The Don, his son, seconds, fuck their gardener, I don't care. Maybe we can find something. Some pattern...or unusual expense." Rico trails off.

Santiago shoots him a glare, like we shouldn't be taking shop in front of Hannah.

But Hannah pipes up. "Can I take a look? I took a couple accounting classes in college. Maybe I can help you decide what's a real or a fake expense?"

My chest rises. Of course my girl wants to help. I internally throw a fist in the air in triumph.

Rico looks between me and Santiago. I'm all on board little miss thang becoming a part of us. Santiago's more hesitant - his need to protect her outweighing his desire to have her close.

"Yeah, maybe," Rico says, non-committedly. But I was the one who was going to get the files, and I for sure was going to include her.

She seems to understand this and looked at me. I shoot her a smile and a wink, keeping it our little secret.

Chapter seven

Hannah

Saturdays are sports days. A few years ago the county constructed a large sports complex, full of dozens of soccer fields, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and an indoor pool. It's a blessing to sports parents with multiples because most of the county sports happen at the complex in the evenings during weekdays and Saturdays, all day. This Saturday, Jack has soccer at 10, while Aiden has soccer at 11. Viv will usually practice her cartwheels or contortion on an empty soccer field.

I pull into the complex, woefully late, and break out my folding cart from the rear of my minivan. I've been unprepared enough to know I need this cart, plus folding chairs, water, snacks, and a first aid kit. Don't ask me how I know.

When you show up to soccer looking like a hot mess, you get labeled a hot mess and get hot mess passive-aggressive comments from the other parents all season. It's honestly just easier to be organized.

We reach the field Jack's playing at and I shove him towards his coach. I've just set up the other kids, claimed our spot along the sideline, and sat my tired ass in my folding chair when two large hands wrap around me from behind along the crook of my neck and shoulder.

Panic subsides when I smell him. Cedar and something unique, and two other bodies flank beside me.

I close my eyes and enjoy the touch. Fuck, when did I become so starved of touch?

I smile as he comes around to the side and lays on his side on the ground next to me. Out of my peripheral, I see Santiago and Matty take up their positions, flanking us.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, unable to contain my smile.

“Joining you for soccer. You don’t seem all that upset to see me.” He comments with a cocky grin.

“That’s very domestic of you.” I tease while throwing smiles at Santiago and Matty, too. Rico reclines leisurely on one elbow; his long body spread out in the grass by the sidelines. He's dressed in his customary black-on-black-on-black and stands out against the polo shirts and khakis of the other dads. In fact, I look around and notice the attention he and his entourage are attracting attention.

Santiago stands slightly behind us, large arms crossed over his wide chest, in a position of look-out. I glance and see he hasn't covered up his scar. That makes me happier than it should and I can't help but smile at him. I know he's working so I don't want to distract him. I simply sign 'hello' at him and finger-spell his name.

Viv's in the field behind us, practicing her gymnastics so Matty steals her pink folding chair, awkwardly, leaning on one hip as his giant frame dwarfs the chair. I can't help but laugh at the large, handsome man in a three-piece suit wedged awkwardly into a tiny pink chair. But he doesn't seem at all insecure about it.

I admire all of their 'I don't give a fuck' ness. That they can walk through this world without the burden of maintaining appearances.

A part of me worries about them seeing my children and my children meeting them. But I can always introduce them as myfriends. Women could be friends with men, right? It doesn't have to mean anything.

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