Page 136 of This Woman Forever

Told about what? “I—” Oh. I flip a filthy look around the bar to whoever’s opened their big mouth. Could be anyone, really. “A few.”

“You’ve told everyone, haven’t you?”

Pretty much. “I might have.”

“Jesse,” she sighs.

I jut out my lip, hoping she’ll go easy on me. “Can we visit my in-laws this weekend?” I suppose they ought to know too.

“Well, yes.” Ava laughs. She’s finding me quite amusing today. Better than annoying. “We’d better before news travels and makes it to Cornwall before we do.”

Look at her being all willing. We’re both flexing. “You make me a very happy man, Mrs. Ward.” I crowd her with my body and my mouth.

“That’s because I’m letting you trample all over me at the moment.”

“No, it’s because you’re beautiful, spirited, and all mine.” I leave out stubborn, unreasonable, and possessive. I’m done arguing for the day.

Sam splits us up and takes Ava in, up and down. “I can tell,” he says, and I suppress a cough, praying for him. “You’ve got that healthy glow about you.”

“That’s funny,” Ava replies, removing herself from Sam’s grasp and finding Kate. “Because I mostly feel like shit.”

For the love of God. “Mouth, Ava.” Especially now. I don’t want our child hearing such terrible language. I frown as Ava claims Kate and leads her to a quiet corner, probably to wring her for information. Not gonna lie, I’m quite curious myself. I turn to Sam. “What gives?”

“Yes, I want to hear this too.” Drew muscles in. Where the fuck did he come from? I look him up and down. “What?” he asks, smoothing a hand through his hair. “What are you looking at?”

“You have a hair out of place.”

“Fuck off.” He goes back to Sam. “What gives?”

“A fiery redhead gives?—”

“Good head.” Drew says.

I cough over my water, and Sam nearly knocks his teeth out when his beer bottle hits them. “Not cool, Drew,” I say, ready to hold Sam back.

“I’m messing.” His hands come up. “Sorry, habit.”

“Well, break the fucking habit,” Sam hisses. “Or I’ll break your fucking legs.”

Drew presses his lips together, hiding his knowing smile. He’s thinking what I’m thinking. Sam’s falling. Or he’s already hit the deck. “We’re exclusive,” Sam says.

“Like exclusive, exclusive?”

The poor, clueless twat frowns. “There’s more than one kind of exclusive?”

The laugh that erupts from Drew is rare and infectious. “You prick.”

“What?” Sam asks, looking a bit worried.

“Exclusive is exclusive,” I clarify. “That’s it.”

“Oh. Good.”

“So what the fuck are you doing here?” I ask.

“We can be exclusive here too, can’t we?”

“Sure. You can be whatever you want to be. Just make sure it’s clear to other members.” I look at Drew, and he points to himself, like... what, me?

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