RAVEN
“Moooooom! I can’t find my blue train!”
Massaging my temples, I rein in my frustration. We’ve been living in Griffin and Knox’s house for months now. They convinced me that I didn’t need our house anymore, and it’s not like Noah and I were spending much time there anyway. So, I put my house on the market, and it sold almost right away.
But that means that we’ve been piled on top of each other in this two-bedroom house.
Three adults in one room? I’m going to lose my mind.
“Mooooom!”
Be patient. Be patient.
I find Noah in his room, which is Knox’s old room, digging through his pile of toys. It’s a legitimate mountain.
I need to organize that.
“Noah, your train is probably in there somewhere.” I gesture to the heap.
He plops down on the ground, slapping his hands on the carpet.
Noah finished first grade last week, and I’m already eager for the next school year. My patience is wearing thin, and I’m sure Noah’s is as well.
Downstairs, the front door bursts open, and Knox’s voice shouts, “It’s adventure time!”
Noah hops up, darting past me and down the stairs. “I want to come!”
The thought of getting out of the house even makes me a little giddy, so I follow Noah to Griffin and Knox. They’re standing in the entry, smelly and sweaty as they laugh with Noah.
The sight of Noah smiling and happy with them makes my heart ache, but in a good way.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
Griffin smiles. “It’s a surprise.”
Noah beams. “I can’t wait! Can we go now?”
“That’s the plan,” Knox confirms. “Let’s load up in the truck and get going.”
Noah slips on his shoes and runs out the door with Knox on his tail.
Griffin approaches me, but I hold up a hand. “Don’t you dare. You stink.”
He brushes aside my hand and wraps me in his arms.
I try to push him away, but he’s much stronger than I am. “Ew! Stop. You’re so sweaty!” My squeals and yelps echo in the entry. I let my body go limp, hoping my dead weight will make him drop me, but it doesn’t work.
“This would all stop if you’d just give me a kiss, Sunshine,” he teases.
Reluctantly, I press my lips to his, getting a taste of his salty musk. The kiss becomes intense as he coaxes my mouth open, and I get lost in the movement.
Griffin breaks our kiss. “We need to get going.”
I smile up at him. “Okay, but first, why are you and Knox all sweaty?”
“You’ll see,” he promises. Griffin grabs my hand and leads me to my sandals by the door. He kneels down and slides each shoe onto my feet. Then he guides me outside and into the truck.
When I realize the direction we’re headed, I ask, “Did you guys do work on the bar?”
