Page 154 of How to Prevent a Fumble

Needing to look anywhere but forward, I cast a glance down the table to where Leo is chatting with Emmett. Across from him sits Heidi, her gorgeous red hair piled high on her head. Sitting between Isla and Elara, with Juniper next to Emmett, she’s had a busy night of conversation.

What do you get when you mix purple and brown?Juniper had asked her at one point.Why in the world would I eat a wholesquid? Aren’t their eyes in there?Elara had asked when the chef brought calamari out.

I feel kind of bad bringing her along to watch the kids, but she’s told me countless times that she appreciates it, and that she’s having the time of her life.

“An all-expenses paid trip to Turks and Caicos? A stay in this giant, beautiful house? All paid for by my rich ass friends’ boyfriends, and all I have to do is watch two kids I adore? Don’t you dare apologize one more time,” she had told me pointedly.

I haven’t apologized since.

“Do you think something’s going on there?” Leo asks, his breath tickling my ear.

“What?”

“Over there. Heidi keeps looking at Emmett. I mean sure, he’s looking extra pretty tonight but I don’t know. I wouldn’t be sneaking a peek at him that many times.”

I watch Heidi as she takes a bite of her salad before quickly looking at Emmett. She looks away, placing her fork on the table and smooths out her shirt.

“I would say no, but the fact that you noticed it makes me wary,” I whisper back, continuing my watch.

Leo jerks back just a touch. “What does that mean?”

Rolling my eyes, I shoot him my bestare you seriouslook. “You’re one of the densest men on the planet, Leo. It takes a lot for you to notice something.”

His eyes narrow. “Oh yeah? I noticed you waxed your upper lip the other day.”

I gasp. “How dare you.”

He shrugs. “I notice things, Sunny. Like how your,” he looks around, “pussy,” he says even quieter, “has been shaved ever since the first time we slept together.”

My jaw drops. “Do you just have a thing for body hair?”

He shrugs. “I notice other things too.”

I brush him off with an eyeroll.

“Anyways. I think there may be something. Why? Do you think it would be a good fit?”

Leo leans back. “I plead the fifth.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I don’t know, Briar.”

I make a mental note to ask him about it later.

“What do you think the guys are doing right now?” Isla asks, wiggling her ties.

“Getting into trouble for sure,” Heidi giggles, leaning back in her chair.

The boys surprised us with a spa day. They were going to take the girls on an adventure while the three of us got our nails done, had the best massages, a delicious lunch, and relaxed in their spa room.

“The only thing I’m personally sure about is that Elara is up to no good,” I tell them, thankful I left my phone in the changing rooms. I’d be on it in an instant asking Leo how my daughter is. It’s not that I don’t trust him with her. I do. I just know she can be, well, a little evil sometimes.

“How’s everything going, by the way?” Isla asks me, and when I arch a questioning brow, she clarifies. “Withthatman.”

I sigh.

“Things are, uh, not going, I guess,” I tell her with a shrug. “I haven’t heard back from him since the last time. I’m not sure if he actually did anything, if I’m honest.”

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