I need to build her safety net for her.
I can’t think of two better people to do it with than Arlo and Zoey.
As I stand there in what is nowourkitchen and kiss him, I think about all the times I swore I’d walk away from him, just to feel angry and jealous when I’d see him trying to date and move on with his life.
Thinking that it should bemyhand he was holding.
I was a hot mess, I’ll admit it.
In some ways, I guess I still am. The difference now is IknowI am, and I’m actively working toward a healthier future for myself.
Definitely a happier one.
One that includes Arlo and Zoey.
When I lift my lips from his and stare into those gorgeous eyes again, I know I was stupid to ever think I could quit him or what we have. That after having experienced Zoey’s boundless love and acceptance I could have settled for anything less than both of them.
He smirks. “What?”
“Thank you for being patient and never giving up on me.”
He grabs me by the hips and pulls me against him, grinding on me. We’re both hard now, but I know we really don’t have time to screw around this morning. Despite what he’d promised us, we have alotof stuff to get done today. I don’t want us living in chaos for weeks and weeks.
He’s also wearing that evil grin he always gets, one he’s had since we were kids. “Save me some energy for tonight,” he whispers, giving me one last kiss as he releases me because we hear Lucas’ bedroom door open down the hall.
“I will.” I step aside so he can move, and we’re both adjusting ourselves so we can kind of hide what we’d been doing before the boys walk into the kitchen.
It’s going to be alongdamn day.
* * * *
Zoey dangles a key ring with two identical keys on it from her index finger. In the empty apartment, the sound eerily echoes. Arlo and the boys are over at my apartment complex’s pool and enjoying a well-deserved break.
The two of us have just finished the last of the cleaning. My vacuum cleaner, a bunch of cleaning supplies, and two large coolers full of ice and perishables sit in the living room by what was once my front door.
She’s smiling. “Don’t need these anymore.” She hands them to me. They were the spare keys I gave her and Arlo.
They were the only two people, besides me, who had keys to my place. I’ve had keys to their house ever since the weekend they moved into it. Arlo and Zoey insisted on me having keys. And that I was always welcomed to come by without calling first.
And they’d meant it.
I pull her in for a long, sweet kiss. “Be careful what you wish for, sweetheart.” Tomorrow, I’ll hand in my keys, and the mailbox keys.
She drapes her arms around my neck. “I’ve been wishing for this for a long damn time. Seems like it’s the weekend for wishes. I must have lived right this week.”
I cup her ass in my hands and playfully squeeze. “Not just you, apparently.” I sigh. “I hope she doesn’t start trouble.”
Zoey knows who I mean. “You need to learn to fight harder for yourself, Nol. Fight for yourself as hard as you fight for Katie. Put yourself first.Shetries to walk all over you because she thinks you’re an easy, vulnerable target. Narcissists don’t like it when you put up a fight. You put up enough of a fight, and show superior firepower, they show their cowardly bellies and leave you alone. They only like victims they can pick on and control.”
I know she’s right, but I really don’t want to think about having to fight Jerilyn in court again. I want the next twelve years to go smoothly and without incident.
Then I can flip her birds with both hands and tell her to go fuck herself.
While kissing my husband and wife in front of her and anyone else who wants to watch.
“You know it’s not a matter of if, but when Jeri starts something, right?”
She shrugs, a playful smile curving her lips. “Let her bring it. United front. Mike told you there’s nothing wrong with what we’re doing. That a judge will turn around and toss her out of his court for that bullshit.” She wiggles her hips against mine. “Living together, it means let her bring it, if she’s that stupid. We’ll help you pay for it. You now have the luxury of having a little bit of a war chest. And by the time she gets done wasting money, we’ll still be living happy, and she’ll be not only alone and miserable, but poorer for it. And possibly worse off. Especially if you go for full custody and child support.”
