Page 79 of Gifts

Only my eyes move to her. “I did.”

In slow motion, a huge grin takes over her face and she finally exclaims, “I’m so happy for you!”

I look back at Asa who’s glaring at his ex-wife in my backyard. As fucked up as this situation might look from the outside, I can’t help but admit, “I’m happy for me, too.”

“Keelie.” She pushes me again, turns off the water I was half-heartedly washing dishes with, and throws her towel at me. “I want details. Was it good?”

“Look at him.” I throw a hand toward the window. “How could it not be? It sort of just happened, but yeah, it was good.” I look back to her and widen my eyes. “Really good. The best I’ve ever had.”

Her grin shrinks into a smile. “Yeah? Well, are you gonna give me details?”

I wipe my hands and take a breath. “Since there’re seven kids who could barge in at any moment, not to mention Asa’s ex-wife standing in my backyard—no. But I will tell you, he didn’t hold back, he wasn’t gentle, we did it twice, and I came four times.”

Her eyes go big. “Wow.”

“And he gave me another orgasm this morning before he left my bed,” I add.

She smirks. “He’s a giver.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

She nods slowly. “I’m so glad you didn’t have sex with Stan.”

I feel my face screw up. “Holy shit! I’d never have sex with Stan-Stan, the sweater-vest man. Ew!”

She returns my ew face, but makes a valid point. “Yes, but you never would’ve met sexy-jeans out there had it not been for us setting you up with sweater-vest man.”

“Hello? I’m his kids’ counselor. I met him the following week.”

She shakes her head and points out the window to my new lover. “I’m totally taking credit for that.”

I roll my eyes and flip the water back on. “Whatever.”

Per usual, Stephie is unaffected by my brush-off. “So, you’re telling me that in the last forty-eight hours, you’ve been shot at, hit by a bullet, got stitched up in the back of an ambulance by an ex-marine, a man and his kids are living in your house, got drunk, had sex for the first time in more than two years, and then offered the ex-wife of your new lover to stay at your house while she’s in town?”

I frown. “What was I supposed to do? She’s worried about her kids—I get that. And I had sex twice, thank you very much.”

She widens her eyes and takes a step back, holding her hands up. “Damn, sorry. Didn’t mean to slight you a notch on your bedpost.”

I shake my head and look back out the window to find Asa stalking toward the house. He’s pissed and if I’m not mistaken, he’s muttering something under his breath.

“Looks like someone might need to work out some angsty-energy tonight.” I look over and Stephie is grinning big. “What? Just thinking you should have another cup of coffee so you can keep your energy up. Or maybe hit the bottle—get your freak on.”

“You’re crazy,” I mutter and scoot around her to put dishes away. I can’t help but be a little antsy about tonight—not to mention thankful Asa is getting his ex-wife a hotel room. Who am I kidding? Offering Danielle a place to rest her head was a regret the instant it popped out of my mouth. As much as I empathize with her, I never would have been able to sleep with her under my roof.

Or do anything else for that matter.

Chapter 20

Alive

Keelie

“Asa, please,” I beg for something—anything.

The moment he made sure my kids and Emma were asleep and Levi was settled, he came to me. After locking my bedroom door, he had me out of my clothes and in my bed in record time.

But he still has his clothes on and he doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to move things along. I have an issue with both.

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