Page 51 of A Very Miller-Cooper Life

I laid my head on Reagan’s shoulder as I struggled to catch my breath. “Wow. That was… wow.”

Reagan let out a breathless laugh. “That good, huh?”

“Just give me a second and I’ll return the favor.” Although I had no idea how I would ever top that.

“There’s nothing to return. Watching you move against me. Feeling you move against me. Yeah, don’t worry. I’m good.”

Slowly, the recollection of where we were returned to me and I suddenly became very aware of the position of my half naked body. “I guess I should pull my pants up, huh?”

“I mean I’m not making you, but I guess if you must.”

I moved back to my seat and pulled up my pants and underwear. I had just pulled them over my butt when red and blue lights blinded me.

“Shit. Shit, shit, shit.” I wiggled around in my seat while I tried to figure out what to do.

“Just act normal,” she said out of the side of her mouth. “And let me do the talking.”

When the light from a flashlight shined on my window, I rolled it down and sat back so Reagan could take control.”

“Hey, officer, we just decided to pull back here to look at the stars while we wait for our kids to be done at their first middle school dance.” She pointed across the parking lot. “We can leave if you’d like.”

The police officer waved his hand and chuckled. “No. You’re fine. I was just making sure you weren’t two teenagers. Do you know they try to come here to have sex?” He scoffed. “Kids.”

Reagan brought her hand to her chest, looking like she had just been scandalized. “No. Please tell me that’s not true.”

He took his hat off and rubbed his balding head. “Unfortunately, it is. I’m just glad tonight I stumbled upon responsible mature adults instead.”

“That’s us.” Reagan smiled widely. “The picture of maturity.”

The officer talked to Reagan for another minute then told us to have a good night and left us alone in the parking lot again.

I let out my breath and realized I had been holding it that whole time. Then I looked out in front of me and saw the stars scattered around the sky. “The stars really do look beautiful tonight.”

“We have permission to look at them. Want to sit on the hood and do just that?”

“Stargaze until our kids are done at their first dance? What could be more perfect?”

We were silent as we sat on the hood of our car, hands resting on top of each other. There was so much I could have said at the moment. I could have told Reagan how much I loved the life we created together and that I was so happy we still had that spark after so many years together, but I didn’t need to. Becauseshe already knew. She always had from that very first moment that we met out in my parents’ driveway.

The night flew by and soon it was time to pick the kids up from the dance. “So, which boy did you choose?” I asked Olivia as the kids got into the car.

“Peter Simcox.”

Peter? Was I losing my memory already? That name didn’t sound familiar at all. I furrowed my eyebrows at Reagan and was happy when I saw that she seemed just as confused. “Peter? I thought it was two other boys you were choosing between.”

Olivia shrugged. “Me too, but then Peter asked me to dance, and he’s a lot cuter than the other two.” She looked at her siblings. “Isn’t Peter the best looking boy in our class?”

“I don’t really pay attention to that,” Carter said, already picking up the book she had left in the car.

“Maybe second cutest after me,” Ronan said smugly.

At least my son doesn’t lack confidence.

Olivia scrunched up her nose. “Ew. You’re not cute. You’re my brother.” Her expression suddenly changed to one of excitement. “Oh my god. I was talking to Ellen Geller tonight. She’s in eighth grade, and she told me the eighth graders get to have a dance with just them at the end of the school year. They even get to sleepover. How cool is that? I can’t wait.”

Ronan chortled. “Eighth grade is forever away.”

“It’ll be here before you know it. These years are going to go by quickly.”They already are.

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