“Oh, I’ll enjoy your pussy again, Elle Reed. Don’t you worry.”
When her gray eyes widened, I knew she was about to yell and braced for the noise.
“I'm not a flesh trophy!”
“Alright,” Ford said, standing up from his spot in the family room and walking over. “I think you two have bonded enough. Elle, come with me. Zodiac, go find someone else to annoy.”
Grinning at Elle, I held her gaze while Ford took her plate and walked her to where his wife, brother, and sister-in-law sat. Once she was distracted from glaring at me, I took my food and found a spot with Clint.
“Your sister has a thing for me,” I told him.
“She mentioned something about that,” he replied casually. “Her crush ought to keep her busy until the baby is born.”
Narrowing my eyes, I knew what Clint was hinting at in his usual chill way. Elle’s feelings were fleeting. I was a shiny new toy that she would soon bore of, and I ought to be ready to be forgotten.
I didn’t doubt Clint knew his sister well, but this thing between Elle and me was something special. No woman had inspired me to give her a second thought, let alone to keep my dick dry for so long.
Add a son to the mix, and I knew Elle belonged to me in a way no other woman ever would.
ELLE
Ford kept Zodiac and me apart for the rest of dinner. I was a little sad to see the sexy jackass leave the house. However, he and I couldn’t seem to have a single normal conversation.
Once Zodiac returned to Baton Rouge the next day, I couldn’t settle my ass down. I wandered around the house, feeling lost. Sutter tried to keep me busy by asking to take the dog for a walk.
“What if I fall behind with school?” Sutter asked as I carried a tired Hobbs the rest of the way around the lake at the center of the Sleepy Eye Community.
“Your program was designed by a professor. The only way you’ll fall behind is if you and I slack off. While I might be a weak link, I know you’ll push yourself hard.”
Sutter had outgrown his elementary school by the end of first grade but was too young to attend junior high. The solution had been to work with a professor who had been supervising Sutter’s education since my son was four. He designed a homeschooling schedule for us to follow during the next year. Sutter would also audit junior high courses online. If he had questions I couldn’t answer, several professors had agreed to tutor him.
“Will you miss playing with the other kids?”
“No.”
“Will you miss having lunch in a room full of squawking children?”
Sutter grinned. “Yes, very much.”
After we shared a laugh at his lies, I promised Sutter, “I will ask for help if I don’t understand something. Admitting to one of those nerd professors that I’m clueless will cause me zero shame.”
Sutter took my hand as we finished walking home. I smiled at how sweet he had become since summer camp.
Later that night, Sutter called me up to the family room. I found him sitting between my parents. Sabrina, Ivy, and Clint were also present.
“What’s this?”
“Another intervention,” Clint said and then asked our parents, “How many have we had now?”
Shay shrugged. “I’ve lost count.”
Frowning, I forced my way between Sutter and Shay, squishing us on the couch.
“Fine. Let’s do this thing.”
“We think you should visit Zodiac,” Ford said as he tried to get comfortable with so many asses on one couch.
“What for?”
