Page 73 of Last Call

I lean up on one elbow and gaze down at her. She’s so beautiful and stubborn. “I’m trying to get to know you, Coffee Girl.”

She arches an eyebrow. “After two kids and living on the road in a tiny bedroom, for weeks on end, I’m pretty sure we know each other better than most.”

I kiss her full lips and she smiles softly before playing our song, “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac.

“I knew you’d play this.”

“Then why the hell make me go through all the song hoops?”

“Because I love you and I enjoy driving you crazy.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her on top of me. “I also like to keep tabs on what questionable music you’re listening to.”

“Hey, those songs are awesome. I could be listening to that bum, Tatum Reed. He’s so pitchy and full of himself. How he got a recording contract is beyond me—”

I capture her lips with mine, effectively shushing her. Kiki’s fingers thread through my hair, and I groan, wanting more. She breaks the kiss, gasping for air.

“Tatum, I’m not on the Pill.”

“Then I guess we’ll leave it to fate,” I say, knowing how badly she wants to try for another baby.

She rears back. “Wait, are you serious?”

I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, her eyes searching mine. “Kiki, at the end of the day, all I want for you and the boys is to be happy. If that means another baby…” I shrug. “But don’t be mad if we have another boy. These swimmers of mine are hellbent on creating wild boys, not sweet baby girls.”

“I don’t care what it is. I really don’t.” A tear rolls down her cheek and I swipe it away with my thumb. “As long as it’s healthy, right?”

I pull her back down to me and make love to her without interruptions, without babies crying or kids climbing into bed, knowing this moment of quiet won’t last long. Life is funny like that. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, you make a decision that complicates the hell out of everything. But one thing I’ve learned in all this is in the end, it doesn’t matter, because it always somehow works out.

Chapter 26

TJ

The elevator doorsopen and I hop off feeling refreshed and renewed. Connor and I had a long talk when we got back from Florida. He’s worried I had become obsessed over trying to start a family, and he’s right, I had. We decided to take a step back and take it as it comes, if it ever comes. I still cling to the hope that someday we’ll be able to have a baby of our own, but I’m no longer hellbent on making it happen as quickly as possible. We did agree to contact Gloria and finish our application to be foster parents just to have that option in our back pockets. Classes start in a few weeks, and I’m actually looking forward to it.

“Shorts, you’re looking breathtaking this lovely spring morning.” She looks pasty and her hair looks limp and unbrushed, but no need to get her spirits down. I throw my coat and bag on her desk and she subtly slides them right back off.

“I just threw up, but thanks, TJ.”

“Oh hon, TMI,” I stage-whisper. “When do we start interviewing for your position?”

“I have some applicants already, but—”

“Please let me help you! Please, please, pretty please? I mean, what if you vomit during the middle of an interview?” I hold my hands clasped together under my chin.

Andie twists her mouth. “Fine, if you’ll stop doing that creepy smile.”

“Yay, it will be so funsies, you and me interviewing together!”

“Yeah, funsies.” Andie flattens her lips and covers her mouth with her hand.

“Kiki, Sare Bear, can you come out here, please?” I shout.

Kiki and Sarah come out of their offices. “Morning, TJ. You’re here early. Is there a meeting I forgot about?” Sarah checks her watch.

“Girls, I got my hands on the newNash Newsmagazine and you arenotgoing to believe the article inside.”

The girls look at each other curiously. “What is it about?” Kiki asks.

I flip open to the page I have tabbed and place it on Andie’s desk for everyone to see. “It’s a piece on Sonja King.”

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