Page 39 of The Longest Wait

Alex coughed, making the back and forth questioning stop.“We all want you happy, Tess. My only concern is you talk aboutwhat he has, not who he is. You didn’t even mention his name.”

Oh, good call from Alex.

Tess blushed. “His name Douglas Madison. I didn’t mentionit because I was excited to talk about him. We’re going to dinnertomorrow night, and I will plan a time for you all to meet himfrom there.”

Dominic interrupted the conversation before it went any further. “Tess has a new boyfriend named Dougie, we got it.”

Tess’s eyes widened. “Do not call him Dougie. Or even Doug.He prefers to go by his given name.”

“Lame-o?” Sofia said over a giggle as Tess shot her a dirty look.

“All of this relationship talk, I need to find an Erica replacement. ASAP. Those are my plans for the weekend. What is everyoneelse doing? If anyone says work, they’re banned from the table.”

“Visiting family in New Jersey,” Connor said.

“Nothing crazy here. Lucy and I will probably catch a movie,”Jack told them.

“You still have sex even though you’re married, right?” Dominic joked.

Lucy and Jack grinned at each other. Their attraction was obvious, even to Alex who wished he didn’t have to see it.

“Dominic, come on. She’s my sister.”

“Calm down, he won’t say anything about their sex life. Jackhas stayed tight-lipped about Lucy the entire time they’ve beentogether,” Dominic confided. “I ask all the time though. I’m confident he’ll break eventually.”

“Never,” Jack said as he pulled Lucy closer to him.

“Thank God,” Alex said. “I have no plans. I was debatingtaking pictures.”

“What did I say about work?” Dominic countered.

Alex chuckled. “Before you cast me off the island, this wouldn’tbe a work assignment. It’s been awhile since I took pictures forno one except for myself. This weekend, photography will be forleisure, not work.”

That was agreeable to Dominic. “Sof, you’re up.”

They managed to get around the group of friends rather quicklyuntil it landed on her. She had plans for tomorrow, but she wassure she was going to be teased unmercifully for it. Whatever. Toher, her plans were badass.

“I have a Sudoku competition tomorrow,” she said proudly.

There was silence for about thirty seconds, which was swiftlyfollowed by laughter. From the entire table. Except for one person.

Alex looked impressed. “Where is the competition?”

“The convention center, at noon.”

“Oh no,” Lucy dramatized at the thought of Alex and Sofiaspending time together. “Don’t show up there, Alex. It’s bad enoughyou two can’t stand each other. If you ruin her chance of placing inher geek competition, she will never forget it. You think she hatesyou now, wait and see if you interrupt her from winning.”

The laughter continued, but Alex threw a challenging look toSofia. “I don’t think she hates me now.”

“How optimistic of you,” Jack retorted.

He lifted a brow, and she took this as her signal to speak up.There were a million things she could say.

Alex and I had sex, so that has lowered the previous hate level down.

Alex had some serious skills with his mouth, which made hatinghim hard.

Alex knew how to make me scream so loud, even I thought I blewan eardrum.