“They should be arriving any minute. Steven’s already waiting in the car, and Emilio’s putting together something sweet and sugary.”
“Just what they need,” Gabriel grumbles, though I can hear the smile in his voice. His happiness is contagious, so I give him even more reason to grin.
“Alex and I are looking forward to meeting your boyfriend next Saturday. Come around seven. And don’t play games and come alone, Gabriel—make sure he comes too. Alex has been looking forward to him coming all week.”
“Is that so?” he preens. “First of all, Elijah, Inevercome alone… as you well know.”
I shuffle some pebbles with my shoe, waiting for the rest.
“And if Alex is that eager for my boyfriend to come, I’m sure I can arrange it. He’s wonderful to watch when he?—”
“Jeeesus, Gabriel.”
“Oh, Elijah, lighten up.”
The way he wraps his tongue around English has always driven me crazy. Sexiest sound ever, honestly. It just goes to remind me how much Gabriel prides himself on that damn tongue.
“The things I do to him with my tongue…” he teases because of course he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“Gabriel…” I groan.
“You remember how talented my tongue is, sí? You used to enjoy it, mi amor.”
“Usedto.” I chuckle because he’s just being silly. “I’m sure your boyfriend’s enjoying that fringe benefit of dating you by now. Now, if you can please control your mouth around Alex, I’d really appreciate it.”
“And ruin the fun?Never,” he hoots, and I shake my head. “There’s far too much enjoyment to be had with my mouth. Andmy Speedo, by the way… or lack thereof—as you so blatantly requested.”
This is typical Gabriel misbehavior, so his sass doesn’t bother me at all. Chuckling, I take him off speaker and bring the phone to my ear.
“Listen, love, I need to get back inside.”
“Finally, I agree with you. I miss you being there too… inside, that is.”
I roll my eyes. “For fuck’s sake, Gabriel. We’ll see you next Saturday. And for the love of God, clean up that dirty mouth.”
I hang up before he can remind me again just how much I used to enjoy it.
That’s what I miss most about my ex-husband—his unapologetically filthy humor.
And, of course… his tongue.
“Daaaaad…”
“Hey girls!” I swivel as the door flies open and Emilee and Ana come bouncing in—and holy Jesus, I amnotprepared for my daughter’s idea of “all out.”
I nearly choke on an ice cube, coughing it back into my glass of Kahlúa. The splash sends a dark arc over the rim. Gabriel did warn me, but still… this?
Needless to say, she’s beautiful—alarmingly so.Alarmingbeing the keyword.
A caramel-colored dress clings to her frame, falling all the way to her ankles. Dark stitching runs through the fabric like wood grain, and two shapes—baseball bats—cross at the chest. Embroidered across one, in rainbow thread, are the words: BATTING FOR THE OTHER TEAM.
My eyes shift to Emilee’s dress, which falls right in line with Ana’s—similar cut, same spirit. Hers is patterned with red-stitched baseballs, the phrase THAT’S HOW WE ROLL winding through the fabric in looping letters that perfectly complement Ana’s outfit.
For heaven’s sake.
“Dad?” Ana twirls, snapping me out of my befuddlement. It never fails to amaze me how much she takes after Gabriel. Where he wears his queerness with exuberant pride, she highlights it with her own fearless sense of style. You should see them during Pride month.
I place my glass down and clear my throat. “Emilee, are you comfortable with this… attire?” I wave my hand like a game show host presenting a prize.
