Page 46 of Lush Curves

“So you had sex once for sure and got two kids out of it,” Sarah said. “Beyond that, I don’t want to know.”

“No?” Annie said coyly, twirling her straw in her Mojito. She was happily buzzing, happily enjoying her daughter’s party, happily thinking about going Sam’s after. “You don’t?” She took a big gulp. “Ohhhhh-kaay then.”

The younger women blinked at Annie. Sarah looked horrified, then intrigued.

“Wait, wait, wait.” Sarah gulped some more wine. “You mean – you’re – you and this guy that you dated and won’t tell me about… are you two –”

“We are indeed.”

“Argh,” Sarah mumbled. “I don’t know if I can handle this information.”

“Have another drink!” Maria said helpfully, then saw that there wasn’t actually much wine left. “Ummm… maybe just start drinking from the bottle now?”

“Mmm-hmmm.” Sarah poured the wine directly into her mouth, leaned back. “OK, Mom. Go. No, wait.” She drank again. “Nowgo.”

“Well, you know him,” Annie said. “You met him a few years ago, and then again recently.”

“Yeah? Who is it?”

“Sam Innis.”

“Sam…” Sarah choked on her wine, and Tessa merrily patted her on the back. “SamInnis?DoctorSam Innis?”

“The one and only,” Annie said. She turned to the other women who were listening avidly. “When Sarah was badly hurt a few years ago, Sam was in the E.R. the night that Jax, King, and Mac brought her in. He’s a trauma doctor and surgeon.”

“Ooooh.” Mirrie’s eyes were huge. “Wait, Iknowhim.”

“You do?” Sarah asked her. “How?”

“Through Mac, mostly,” Mirrie said. “They’re friends from the hospital, have been for years, and they get together and play basketball sometimes. In fact, when I was beaten up by the Fallen Angels, it was Sam Innis who saw me first in trauma, and called Mac in to assess the damage to my brain. It’s because of Sam that we even met.”

“He gets around, this guy,” Tessa said. “Saving livesandplaying Cupid.”

“Wait,” Sarah said suddenly. “How old is he?”

“Uh, well, yes.” Annie squirmed. “He’s… he’s a bit younger than I am. By about… erm… by about fifteen years.” She gulped down the rest of her drink. “Give or take a year.”

“Shut the front door!” Naomi squealed. “Yougo, Annie!”

“Mom!” Sarah was horrified and delighted in equal measure. “Your boyfriend is practically the same age as my fiancé!”

“I – oh, God. I actually never thought about that.”

“This isawesome,” Mirrie declared. “I am in awe of your awesomeness, Annie.”

“Thank you, darling,” Annie said. “And I’m in awe of your alliteration.”

The women laughed again, though Sarah still looked a bit shocked.

“You OK with it?” Annie asked her now. “I mean… maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Of course you should have, and of course I am!” Sarah said with emphasis. “I’m thrilled for you, Mom. You’re dating a smoking-hot younger man, whoalsohappens to be a kick-ass doctor who helped save my life. You think I’mnotgoing to be President of his fan club?”

“Well…”

“You’re bringing him to the wedding, right? To my and Jax’s wedding?”

“I was thinking about it.” She hesitated, peering at her daughter’s face. “Is that alright with you?”

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