Frannie Anderson laughs. “God, you’re hot, an amazing dad, and you’re always willing to try my crazy concoctions, and you actually like them. Why did you have to meet Cas before you came back to Honeysuckle Harbor?”
She casts me a look and I give her a wink.
I know Frannie is teasing James not only because he’s married, but because she thinks he’s only into men.
But he’s actually bi and Frannie is gorgeous and if he had come back to Honeysuckle Harbor single, he probably would’ve taken her up on this not-really kidding offer.
I study my husband across the table as he and Frannie chat. They’ve known each other for years. They’re the same age and went to school together all the way from kindergarten through senior year. I’ve gotten to know both Frannie and her twin sister Fiona and have even met the other triplet, Finley, once since we’ve moved back. Their older brother Ford owns our favorite restaurant, Raw, where we’re having dinner tonight while James’s mother gets her grandson fix.
James is really happy back here in Honeysuckle Harbor. He’s a naturally happy, laid-back guy who makes friends easily wherever he goes, but there has been a change in him since we moved back. He’s more relaxed, he doesn’t worry about things like finances and the crime rate like he did when we first started talking about having kids.
I was very happy to give him this small town life when we finally decided to start a family.
I would do anything for him.
There is truly only one drawback to living here.
Small town life, especially small town life where he grew up and knows everyone, has put the kibosh on one part of our lifestyle.
James and I both like women.
We’re in love with each other and very happily married, and we have an amazing sex life, but we’ve always enjoyed bringing women into our bedroom from time to time.
It was something we did when we first started dating and we easily made it work with adventurous women in the city who were happy to be a one-night or even weekend-long third. They were never relationships, but we definitely liked the women and even had a couple over the years who we hooked up with regularly.
It’s been a fun, consensual part of our relationship from the beginning and has actually brought us closer as a couple.
And we’re both missing it since we moved here.
We agreed coming to Honeysuckle Harbor would end all of that. Having a situation like that in this town would be far too complicated.
It’s fine. We’re very happy and our sex life is great. As great as two working new dads to a three-month-old can be.
We’re a very typical couple in every way.
It’s just a little like no longer being able to get salted caramel cold foam on my iced caramel lattes. They’re still amazing without it, but that extra sweetness on top just makes it a little more fun sometimes.
“Caroline said she’s living with you and Fiona right now,” James says as I tune back into their conversation.
After reminding myself that Frannie is not an option for a third with us, no matter how gorgeous and funny and sexy she is.
“She is,” Frannie says. “It’s been really fun having her back. She said she stopped over and saw you today.”
Yes, this is the fifth time James has mentioned Caroline tonight.
TheCaroline.
He told me his old friend had stopped by to say hello and meet Noah. Apparently, she’s been out of the country for several years and is back in town just for a few months between jobs.
James told me it was great to catch up with her. He told me they had a great afternoon and that Caroline will be nannying for our neighbor Grayson. He also told me that he hired her to work part-time at the gym.
I have heard a lot about Caroline.
Add that to my previous knowledge about Caroline and I find this very interesting. Caroline isn’t just one of James’s old friends from high school, like Frannie or Fiona.
No, Caroline is an ex. She and James dated, and she’s probably the most serious girlfriend he’s ever had. She was also his first.
And I can’t help but notice the way my husband’s eyes light up a little and the extra tilt to his mouth when he smiles, talking about her.
