Page 45 of Takeover

I roll my eyes at him. “Alan left it here, so I took it. Don’t tell me you’re the jealous type.”

“I was ready to throw a man over your balcony. What do you think?”

“Whatever. You can leave that male macho crap at the door.”

Ethan turns the shower on for me and gestures for me to get inside. I ignore him and take my time putting on my shower cap.

By the time I finish showering, he’s out of the bathroom, but when I step outside, I hear his voice in the living room with the rest of my family. Vickie is talking, but her voice is muffled. Everyone laughs at whatever she says. After taking one last look at my reflection in the mirror, I adjust the white shirt tucked into my blue jeans. I fluff my new bangs and add lip gloss. I smile back at the woman looking back at me. She seems happy. I slide on a pair of riding boots and join my family in the living room.

“There she is,” my dad says. “Let’s go before this old man dies of starvation.”

“The evil one doesn’t feed Dad either,” Vick says.

Ethan helps me with my coat, and we follow my family to the elevator. When we step inside, he puts an arm around me.

“What the hell are you doing?” I try to move away from him, but he’s much too strong.

“Putting my arm around you.”

“Why? Are you trying to choke me?”

“Not in front of witnesses, Tar Tar.”

“I see things haven’t changed that much between you two,” my dad says. “Relax, Tar Tar,” Dad teases. “In most societies that’s considered a sign of affection.” We all pile into Ethan’s car and he drives us to the same breakfast place we went to all those months ago. Bernie is there waiting for us. The place is already full for a Saturday morning, but they find us a table in the corner.

“Such a gentleman, isn’t he, evil one?” Vickie asks. My stepmother smiles while Ethan helps me with my coat. He pulls out a chair for me and places a hand on top of mine.

“Well, well, well. Things certainly have changed since I saw you two last. Though, a blind man could have predicted this. The heat between the two of you, I swear to God. Even now, you two are sizzling.” Bernice leans back in her chair and fans herself with her hand.

My dad turns his head toward Bernie so fast. He narrows his eyes at her and says, “Enough of that now, Bernice.” Dad clears his throat and sips his water.

Cheryl does her best to stifle her laugh, but it escapes.

I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. The rest of breakfast is fun, and Bernice tells the story of the first time I met Ethan and the dressing down Dad had to give me for being rude.

“She’s just awful,” Ethan says, but he grabs my chin, turns my face to his, and bumps my nose with his.

“Excuse me,” my dad says. “My daughter is not awful.”

“Oh, relax, Johnny,” Bernice says. “It’s just part of their playful banter. How on earth did you get two women to marry you?

Dad ignores Bernie’s jab and says, “Is this how you young folks do it these days?” Dad asks.

“Ethan’s almost forty, Dad. He’s not that young,” I tell him.

“He’s going to make you pay for that tonight,” Bernice says, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Tell us, Tar, does he bite or spank? Or does he do both? You lucky girl.

This time Dad elbows Bernice in the ribs, and she elbows him right back.

“Ouch,” Ethan says, putting a hand to his heart. “But I’m not almost forty. Iamforty. New Year’s Eve baby,” he says.

“Really?” I ask. “I’m dating someone in his forties. I’m not even thirty.” Ethan grins, leans down, and kisses my cheek.

“No takebacks,” he says.

“Now you can plan his next birthday, Tar Tar,” Vickie says.

I sip my coffee while I ponder Vickie’s words. I turn my head to look at Ethan and imagine decorating his apartment for a party.

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