Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 83211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I shrug. “We can fuck again.”
She laughs. “Besides that.”
“Oh.” I think about it. “We need to go to the grocery store. What do you want to do?”
“I told Bethany maybe we’d come and get her for dinner tonight.”
“Sounds good.”
I draw faint circles on Sara’s back and think about all that’s happened with the Sabrina and Bethany situation. The way Jess and Foxx talked to Sara and expressed their disdain for what happened to her. Foxx even said more than five words. It was quite a day. And somehow, shortly after that, Sabrina broke up with Gary, her asshole boyfriend, and called Sara to talk. I’m not sure what took place to cause Sabrina’s change of tune, but I’m happy for Sara and Bethany.
Bethany has stayed with Sara once or twice in the past couple of weeks. We’ve picked her up for dinner and even attended one of Bethany’s cheer routines, much to my chagrin.
“Hey, Mom has some fudge hidden in the back of her pantry,” I say. “It’s the good pistachio kind. Want me to go get us some?”
She laughs and sits up. “No. Why don’t you just buy it yourself?”
“Because I can’t just go all adult at once. Mom would miss it.”
“Eh, I don’t think so.”
“She secretly likes it when I borrow stuff from her house. It reminds her of when we were little.”
Sara’s phone starts ringing from the bedside table. “Gimme.”
“I turned mine off for you.”
“And I’ll turn mine off for you—after this call.”
I express my displeasure as I hand her the device.
She presses the speakerphone button. “Hello?”
“Hi, Sara. It’s Damaris. Is my son with you by any chance? I saw both of your cars home.”
I shake my head.
“Yup. He’s right here. He can hear you.”
“Banks Owen Carmichael—why did a box full of plastic spiders just show up at my house?”
I grimace. “Why did you open that?”
“They were falling out from under the tape, and I just picked up the box and almost had a heart attack.”
“It’s a federal offense to open someone else’s mail,” I say.
“Then stop sending your shit to my house. Now come and get this box. I’m setting it on the porch. Those little things look so real.”
Sara’s brows pull together. I wink at her.
“I’ll come. Do you have any fudge left?” I ask.
She sighs. “Bring my yellow bowl back.”
“Maybe.”
“Goodbye, Banks.”
“Goodbye, Mama.”
As promised, Sara turns her phone off and sets it next to mine. “I hope our sons aren’t as rotten as you.”
The thought of Sara carrying my son has me hard again. I roll her over on her back, making her squeal.
“You’re going to be sorry you ever said a word about having my baby,” I say, sliding back into her.
She holds my face in her hands. “I doubt it.”
We lose ourselves in each other, forgetting all about the world.
EPILOGUE
Sara
1 month later …
“Kixx, that couch is downright embarrassing,” Damaris says, marching through the kitchen. “It squeaks when you stand or sit down. It has thirty years of stains. I want a new couch.”
“That’s a slight exaggeration,” Kixx says. “Think of all the memories that thing holds.” He looks up at all of us at the table and winks. “SpaghettiOs. Maddox’s cleat marks. Hell, Banks might’ve been conceived on that couch.”
“That’s downright disgraceful,” Banks says.
The room erupts in a fit of laughter.
For as loud and boisterous as the Carmichaels are, they can keep a secret. As Kixx makes another laundry list of reasons Damaris’s couch is just fine, the siblings all exchange a knowing smile.
Foxx sits down beside me, a toothpick between his lips. He shakes his head at the antics of his family, but I think he secretly enjoys it. But, really, how could he not?
“Did you ever get your key problem sorted?” I ask him.
He shakes his head slowly. “Nope.”
I have a suspicion about what’s behind the key situation, but I’ve not voiced it to anyone. I don’t want to throw out accusations carelessly, but something doesn’t quite add up.
Foxx looks at me, lifting one brow. I think he shares my suspicions.
“Why do I care if peacocks shed their feathers?” Banks looks up from his phone. “I am so sick of these fucking texts.” He looks at Foxx. “If anyone in this room is sending them, and I find out, there’s gonna be hell to pay.”
Foxx takes the toothpick from between his lips, his gaze trained on Banks. “Dammit. For once, I wish it was me.”
“Is it you?” Banks asks.
Foxx sighs as if he’s bored with the conversation already. “Yeah, Banks. I have time to sit around and find fun animal facts to send you throughout the day.” He puts the toothpick back in his mouth. “Get real.”
“Is Bethany coming today?” Damaris asks. “I saw her at the gas station this week. She’s such a sweetheart, Sara.”
I beam. “I think she is too. But, no, she’s not coming. Sabrina is taking her and a friend to a concert in Atlanta this weekend.”