The kids splash around in the pool and play in the bounce house while the adults remain around the tables drinking and talking, and I can’t remember the last time I was this relaxed.
I head inside for a piss, and just as I walk past Drew’s study, the door opens revealing Lillian Barron. Charlie’s little sister is flushed in the face with her hair all messy, and her lips are swollen with her lip gloss smeared. Blood drains from her face when my gaze lifts to the man standing behind her. “I didn’t see anything,” I calmly say.
“Rick.” Arlo drills me with a deathly expression, looking so much like his dad it’s scary.
“No need for the threatening looks, little Manning. I meant what I said. You’re both consenting adults, and if you want to keep this a secret, that’s your right. It’s none of my business, and I won’t tell anyone.” Except my wife, but Shandra will respect their privacy. “You can breathe now, Lillian.”
“Thank you.” Her eyes shine with gratitude.
“For what?” I arch a brow as I walk off, wondering how that news will go down when it comes out. And it will at some point. Nothing is ever a secret for long in our circle.
“Thank you all so much,” Olivia says much later, going around to everyone personally to say goodbye. Her friends left earlier, and Vera and Jake made their exit ten minutes ago. “I’ve had the best day, and my heart is so full.”
“It’s been a great day,” I agree. “Do you need a hand with the gifts?”
“No thank you, love.” She kisses me on both cheeks. “I’m leaving them here. I’ll come get them tomorrow. My car is already full with the little ones.” Amelia, Dani, Charlie, and Aubree are sleeping over at Olivia’s so their parents can let their hair down. It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together like this, and none of us are ready to call it a night yet. I’m glad Shandra and I took a vacation day tomorrow and we won’t have to get up early to return home.
After Olivia leaves, some of the older kids head out to meet up with friends while the rest of them go to Drew’s cinema and game room to hang out. We stay outside until it’s dark, catching up on life.
Kai and Abby tell us Oli has fessed up, and while they’re not ready to talk about it yet, they are now handling the situation. Abby gets all teary even telling us that much while Kai looks ready to raze the world to the ground. We congratulate Nessa and Jackson on their surprise pregnancy, something Shandra and I already knew, and discover Drew and Thena are trying for a baby and they’re a little worried they haven’t conceived yet.
Nessa and Thena disappear to discuss things privately. Jackson and Nessa have had their own share of issues conceiving, and I bet Nessa has lots of good advice to share. Thena looks happier when she returns even if her eyes are red rimmed and her cheeks tearstained.
We tell everyone what went down with Shandra’s boss, and I’m not the only man in the room nurturing murderous thoughts judging by all the dark faces. Zayn, Sawyer, and Xavier offer help before we even get to ask. Arlo fills us in on his new career plans, and by the time it’s dark and we head inside, we’re all more than a little tipsy and ready to let loose.
Arlo organizes the music, and we push the couches and chairs in Drew and Thena’s living room flush to the wall to facilitate a makeshift dance floor. The girls kick off their shoes and dance in their bare feet while the men talk and watch.
Some of the older kids reappear, and they’re instantly dragged into dancing whether they like it or not.
Arlo is clutching his belly with tears leaking from his eyes as Xavier drops his pants, revealing the tiniest pair of Batman briefs, then wiggles his ass, and thrusts out his hips. He loses the pants fully and struts around the dance floor like a peacock wearing only his shirt, those ridiculous briefs, and slides. Of course, the girls are all loving it, playing up to him, and he’s lapping it up like the attention whore he is. Sawyer just laughs at his husband and leaves him to it.
Nessa grabs a hairbrush and jumps up onto the sideboard, singing into the brush like it’s a microphone, belting out the lyrics to an Ariana Grande song. She’s got a decent voice, and she looks thoroughly in her element prancing around like a wannabe popstar.
Abby tries to teach the others some trending TikTok dance, and I watch in amusement as the girls all try to follow her moves while Talia and Oli record it on their cells.
Zayn swoops in, bundling his giggling wife up before she falls flat on her ass after swaying precariously. “Water for this one,” he says, carrying Emery out to the kitchen.
Joaquin’s date is floating around the room with a permanent smile on her face, looking like she’s in her own little world. Thena and Demi are taking a break, both sitting on their husband’s laps, watching the antics with matching grins, though Jane and Lillian are currently trying to coax both women back to the dance floor.
Shandra blows me a kiss as she shimmies her hips and gives me blatant fuck-me eyes. I wonder if it’d be rude to ask Kai for his house keys and call a car because I need her naked underneath me as much as I need air to breathe.
“You look like you need to cool down.” Kai flops onto the couch beside me and hands me an ice-cold beer.
“Actually, I was?—”
“Nope.” He cuts across me with a grin. “No one is leaving until we’re all ready to drop.” The grin transforms into a smirk. “Don’t know about you, old man, but there’s plenty more partying left in this hot, virile body.” Kai points at himself and preens.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Probably, but I’m still right.”
I clink my bottle against his. “I’ll give it to you but only ’cause I’m feeling generous.”
Kai slides his arm around my shoulders. “Pity Harley and Roman couldn’t be here. I’ve missed all of this.”
“Yeah. It’s been fun.”
“We need to do this more often.”
