Page 58 of One Night Seduction

“For proving that there are good mothers out there, good female role models to look up to.”

A sad look passes over her face as she sighs heavily.

“Your mother loves you, she just?—”

“Loves herself more?” I snark.

Marissa winces before running a hand through her hair.

“I wish I could tell you what goes on in that woman’s head, Ari. She’s just…Kelly,” she says with a sad shrug.

“Guess so,” I say as I turn back to the toppings for the burgers, arranging everything on a tray before Marissa calls for Tom.

“Tom, burgers are ready to go on the grill.”

“Two minutes,” he says, staring at the TV as he does.

She shakes her head with a smile and leans against the counter as she whispers.

“So, come on, spill. Is he amazing in bed? I can’t lie, when he started coming around, I was sorry I was already married.”

My mouth parts, and I admonish her with a laugh.

“Marissa!”

“What?” She laughs. “These women out here are living up their best cougar life. I’m kinda jealous. I’d love to have some hot, spontaneous, forbidden sex.”

I’d agree with her, but I can’t relate to the wanting. I mean, I had a threesome not fifteen hours ago with two men in this very room. That’s pretty hot and spontaneous, and with their ages and the nature of our relationships, extremely forbidden.

“Ty is great all around. In bed, out of bed, and he doesn’t skip a meal, if you know what I mean,” I say, teasing her with a wink.

She howls out a laugh, attempting to stifle it.

“Oh my god, that’s amazing. Tom and I never have time together anymore. Since we had kids, things sort of declined, and now I’m lucky if I get laid once a week. We haven’t been together this entire trip,” she says, a sadness to her tone as she stares off at her husband.

I frown at that. What the hell is up with that? Marissa is beautiful, not just a pretty face and great hair, but an amazing body. If she was single, she would have a line out the door. Why do so many people, of all genders, give up when they get married? If I got married, I’d want to constantly date my partner. I’d want to fall in love with them every day because life is too short not to, right?

Easier said than done, though, I suppose. I don’t know what it’s like to balance life and kids and a marriage. Maybe I’m talking out of my ass, but I think she deserves better.

“Maybe you should fire up the hot tub tonight? Even if it’s raining, fuck it. Warm, bubbly water and a skimpy bikini sounds like an aphrodisiac to me,” I say with a waggle of my eyebrows.

She thinks on that for a second before she nods. “You know what, you’re right. I think I will.”

“Good.” I smile. “Just to clarify, I said fuck it, not fuck in it, because you know we’re still here for three more days.”

Marissa lets out a laugh that has the guys all turning to investigate what is so funny. Their confused faces only make the both of us laugh harder as Tom stands up, giving her that same look before taking the burgers out to the grill.

We eat kind of a late lunch, so we decide to skip dinner and just snack. We played an impromptu game of pool, which was hard for me since the last time I came in this room, I found Logan and my mom…yeah. That image will probably be burned in my head for all eternity, unfortunately.

My mom didn’t surface until around seven at night, looking a hell of a lot more refreshed than she did before. Of course, to fight off her wicked hangover, why would she eat food filled with calories when she can just start drinking straight vodka? I swear to god, her relationship with food is so unhealthy, especially paired with her borderline alcoholism. It’s no wonder she’s so thin.

After pool, Melanie, Marissa, and I played a few rounds of Uno, which was fun until Mel got a phone call. She hid the phone quickly and ran up to her room, but not before I saw the name Brianna with a red heart beside it. Maybe that’s why she doesn’t want to gush about boys with Marissa. I’m just glad that she has such an amazing mom that if she ever does want to tell her, she will undoubtedly support her. And probably make Brianna a permanent member of the family within five minutes of meeting her.

I’m sitting in the living room cleaning up the Uno cards when Marissa leans over to Tom seductively.

“So, I was thinking you and I could take a little dip in the hot tub, relax a little?”

He shrugs, barely glancing at her as he lifts his beer to his mouth.

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