Page 50 of Takedown

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“Adam!” Uncle Finn yells while he walks across the room. “What is this? A funeral? I thought you invited me here for a party. You need some music.” Alex puts a hand to her chest at my uncle’s loud voice, and my mother shakes her head from across the room.

“It’s fine, Uncle Finn,” I say.

“Wine? I can’t mix wine with the whiskey I’ve been drinking. I’m Irish, Adam! I don’t do wimpy drinks like wine.”

Mellie giggles, and I wrap my arm tighter around her.

“Oh, and Adam, before I leave, I want you to help with that dating profile we talked about. I’m sick of being single.”

“I can help you, Uncle Finn,” Ananda volunteers.

“Kelp? What kelp? She’s meshugana, that one,” he says, jerking his thumb in her direction.

“She said she’ll help,” I yell loud enough so he can hear. I hope he takes her up on it because I don’t want to bother.

“Thank you, lovely. I’m gonna take your offer. Adam,” he says. Like always, he says my name louder than necessary. “He’s been putting me off for months. I think he likes having Uncle Finn at his beck and call. No more, Adam. I’m getting a lady friend, so you’ll have to learn to share.” He turns back to Ananda and asks, “Do you dance because these hips don’t lie?” He starts to gyrate in the middle of the living room. She nods slowly, eyes wide almost as if she’s afraid of what Uncle Finn is going to do next. He pulls out his phone and walks away. Ananda exhales, but seconds later, loud salsa music fills the room. Uncle Finn walks back, takes Ananda’s hand and leads her to the middle of the living room, and spins her around. I pray that Ananda can keep up with him. He’s like a savant when it comes to dancing.

“Whoa.” Mel’s jaw almost hits the floor at the sight of Uncle Finn dancing around the apartment. Luckily for Ananda, she can keep up.

“Yeah.”

Uncle Finn dances away from Ananda, holding rhythm the entire time. He grabs Jennifer’s hand and pulls her away from William.

“Two ladies at once,” Uncle Finn yells, and everyone laughs. I wrap my arm around Mel and pull her back into my chest.

“How about you, love? You feel like dancing with your husband?” I put my hands on her hips and move them to the beat of the music. She pushes her hips from side to side, and each time she moves, her ample ass hits my dick.

“If you’re anything like Uncle Finn, I don’t know if I can keep up.”

I lean down and kiss the top of her ear. She shudders and tries to pull away, but I nip her ear lobe.

“I know for a fact you can keep up.” The music changes and a song with a slower temple comes on. I spin her around, pull her body flush with mine and we move our hips to the sound of the music.

“Adam!” Uncle Finn yells from two feet away. It’s about the hundredth time he’s yelled my name tonight. “My friend here set up a dating profile for me. She says I’m a silver fox!” Everyone laughs at my uncle, and I shake my head.

“Just like Kevin Costner,” Ananda practically yells in his ear.

“She’s meshugana, that one. And Kevin Costner wishes!”

I ignore my uncle and look across the room. My mom is laughing with Mel while her mom looks on. I can’t read her expression, but Jason walks over there, and a smile lights up her face.

I turn away and put out more chips for our guests. They ate the tacos we got for dinner, and I ended up ordering pizza. So far, no one has left and the simple housewarming has turned into a party.

“Mellie seems happy,” William says, walking up to me. “I almost fell over when she called and told me she got married.”

“Yeah, it was sudden,” is all I say.

My wife is across the room talking to my mom and Jennifer, gesturing wildly with her hands. She’s oblivious to the stares coming from Diane.

“How do you like your mother-in-law?” William asks.

“I don’t.”

Almost as if she knows she’s the subject of our conversation, she walks over to us. Jason sees and follows quickly behind her.

“William,” she says, her lips pursed. “You look well. Maybe a little ridiculous chasing around that young woman. I’d appreciate it if you would not besmirch my name to Adam.”

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