Hannah: Did Win name them that???
Tanner: yes ma’am. she’s already thinking of the names for the cows that I don’t own yet.
Hannah: Those are her friends’ names from summer camp. You absolutely do not need to keep those names.
Tanner: and disappoint Fred? i would never.
Hannah: I promise you she will be okay…
Tanner: sorry. they love their names. never changing them.
“I thought that was you.”
I pick my head up and find Riley standing in front of me with Poppy at her side. Immediately, I’m scrambling for my cover up, wishing I went for the one-piece.
“A few of the moms and I are just over there.” She points over a few chairs to the group of women smiling as they shield the sun. “Come sit with us.”
I look back at Winnie who spots Poppy immediately and comes bolting over.
“Win, I’m going to move our stuff down by Poppy’s mom, okay?”
“Okay!” she chirps as her and Poppy run off to another little boy and girl.
“RJ and Ava.” Riley tips her head in their direction.
I collect our things, follow Riley, and realize for possibly the first time ever, I’m being invited to hang out with other moms. That for the first time, the Forrest name hasn’t scared off apotential friend. The name, though powerful and tied to a lot of money, also wields itself like a damn sock on a door handle. Telling people to not bother. Don’t come in. Stay away. Unsavory things are underway.
“You must be Hannah.” A woman with rich dark skin smiles up at me from under her sun hat. “I’m Bernie. Bobby’s my husband. He told me about the groceries.”
My cheeks heat with deep embarrassment. “I swear I can carry groceries on my own. Winnie begged Tanner and Tanner dragged the guys along.”
“Oh, Bobby loved it. He loves seeing Tanner so happy. My daughter is Ava.” She points in her direction.
“That one flopping around is mine.” The other woman smiles. “RJ. I’m Pia. I’m married to Tanner’s friend Rodney.”
It’s not lost on me that they are all sharing their connection to Tanner, and I wonder if Riley knows how he got Winnie in. I wonder if they all know. I have half a mind to ask, but Riley lays back in her lounger and commands us to do the same.
“Come on,” she sighs, with her chin tilted up in the sun. “Having kids doesn’t mean we can’t be tan and hot.”
I take a breath, slip off my cover up and lay in a chair next to the women. We spend hours talking about school, and stain removing, and picky eaters. We talk about things like laundry and the best vacuum for pet hair, and how to really get your gas stove top clean. Time flies by and I love every mundane second of it.
I leave with a sunburn and my number added to their mom group chat and a summer pass for the pool.
Back at home, I manage to deposit Winnie on the couch with cartoons and a bottle of water while I head back down to get our stuff. My skin brims with warmth from the sun, and from the fact that I am quite literally standing in a parking lot in nothing more than a bikini and a see-through cover-up that is flapping in the wind.
“Can I be of service again?”
His voice is low and deep, and I know that me leaning over into the back seat is giving him quite the view. As I stand to face Tanner, I see he’s sweaty and tired but with the way he’s looking at me, I think maybe neither of those things matter right now. Tanner’s eyes shamelessly drop down my body and back up again. He swallows hard.
I don’t know what kind of help he’s referring to, or what help I’m accepting, but my insides ignite as he takes a single finger and traces it down my side so slowly that I feel each skin cell glow under his touch. Every inch traced in molten gold. He stops just above the line of my bathing suit bottoms and hesitates.
“Hannah,” he takes his finger away and places his hand on the side of my neck, so his thumb brushes across my cheek. My name is intoxicating as it drips off his lips. I bring my hand to meet his, breathing through the temptation to taste my name as he says it. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
“Have you just been waiting for me to come home?”
He tilts his head, smiling. “Maybe. I'm working late and kept my eye out. It looked like, or maybe still does look like, you could use some help.”
“In what department?”
