Page 50 of Sex. Love. Marriage.

Noah ends up changing the tire, and then I shuffle the kids back inside the car. It’s just as I’m leaving the dealership that he backs me up against my car door casting a shadow over me, one hand on the door, the other on my hip. “You know you have nothing to worry about with me, right?”

Clearly, he’s not meaning emotionally, because that part of his heart is off limits. The one, however, he’s talking about, I know his intentions are never deceitful or vindictive. “I know. I was just caught off guard by her. I mean, look at her.”

“I’m not.” His tone is final, as if there should never be a question to it.

Insecurities suck and unfortunately, I have them. I don’t like that I do, but they’re definitely something I’ve struggled with my entire life. It might have something to do with never being good enough for my mother, but regardless, I have them, and Noah is well aware of this. I raise my hand and run my fingertips over his embroidered name on his shirt. “She has perfect tits.”

He dips his head forward to catch my eyes. “So doyou.”

I snort. “I’ve breastfed five babies. Perfect is not something I’d use to describe them. Hazel told me they were hangy-down boobs the other day.”

Noah fights back laughter, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. “They nourished and provided for my children. That right there makes them the best tits around.”

“Okay, crazy. I have to go.”

“Wait.”

I arch an eyebrow. “What?”

He steals a kiss before backing up. “Make sure your costume reveals your hangy-down tits.”

I burst out laughing as I open the car door. Noah backs away with a smirk and then a wink, his laughter rolling off my skin. I’ve decided I’m going to wear the most revealing costume ever and see how this goes.

(Parents of the year right here.)

“WHAT EXACTLY ISa block party?”

Kate thinks about it for a moment as she applies another layer of eye shadow to her already heavy makeup and messes with her fake eyelashes. “It’s where we all get together in the street and party.”

“This is so exciting!” Ashlynn says. “I love Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday.”

“Yeah?” Gretchen snorts, unwrapping her third snack-sized Butterfinger of the night. “How come?”

“Because I get to dress up.”

Gretchen chews slowly, thinking about her answer, and then smiles. Her and Ashlynn are still not friends. I think it has something to do with her son watching one of Ashlynn’s pornos and her catching him. It was a mess. “Yes, because any other day you dressdownfor work.”

Ashlynn rolls her eyes and flips her hair at Gretchen. “Don’t blame me for your son being curious about me.” And then she turns to Kate and Charlee. “Do you guys have them every Halloween? Is it like a thing?”

“Yep.” Kate nods and then jabs her finger in her eye trying to fix the lashes. “Goddamn it. How do you do this?”

Ashlynn smiles. “Oh, honey. Easy there.” And then she’s helping Kate fix her fake lashes to complete her zombie bride outfit. There’s no wedding dress. It’s basically lingerie.

“What do you think Jason is going to say?” I ask, handing Kate the lashes for the other eye.

“Probably something stupid.”

Charlee grins. “Word on the block is you two started….” She pauses and looks down at Fin on the floor playing with tubes of lipsticks. Fin isn’t paying attention, but you never know. She hasn’t said her first word yet, and I definitely don’t want it to be fucking or something equally as graphic. Charlee catches on by the look on my face and adjusts. “Boning again?”

All eyes are on Kate.

She meets our stares and rolls her eyes. “We live in the same house. Of course we bone,” Kate says, as if this isn’t new information. “It’s not like I can bring a guy home. Jason freaks out and tells me all the reasons why he’s not good enough for me. And he’s yet to bring a girl back to the house. So we… bone.”

I had a feeling they still had sex even though they’re divorced.

Eventually, the girls leave, and it’s me and Kate in my bathroom with my kids running in and out.

“Is it weird?”

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