Page 57 of Unexpectedly In Love

“Ma ignores me, and the man is like no mam I never had one. She looks at him and says I have one you can eat.” Sage mouth is open like she is still shocked. Cassia is doubling over laughing, and Rosemary has tears running down her cheeks as she laughs.

“The man blushed, he gave her his number too.” Sage wipes her eyes as she is crying from laughing.

“Meanwhile you are upset because you are pregnant and hungry,” I cackle covering Kai ears with my hand and chest.

“God I can’t breathe,” Cassia presses her hand against her green spaghetti strap top.

“I don’t know Mom turn 62 and she is just so liberated,” Rosemary chews on some nuts.

“Liberated, she is for the streets!” Cassy screeches.

“The man was a hot mess. She had him blushing. If she pinched his ass, I wouldn’t have been shocked,” Sage states.

“She has been super busy. Every time I call around nine p.m., she has to call me back in the morning,” Rosemary adds she takes a scrunchie off of her hand and wraps her hair up into a bun.

“I text her most times. When I call, she is moving and shaking somewhere. I love that she is active.” When Dad died, all she did was take care of us; she deserves some happiness and freedom.

“Let Mom cougar in peace. If she is for the streets, she is for the streets,” Cassia states.

“I wonder if Mom is on Tinder?” Rosemary asks out loud.

We all stop and think about it for a second.

“You know, I wouldn’t be shocked,” I reply.

“Neither me. She would just be on the app. Asking grown men if they want a salt and pepper cookie,” Sage adds.

“Some grown man should answer, you got the cookies, I got the Milk RAHHH!” Cassia throws her head back and roars.

“Oh gosh no!” Sage screams and hides her hand behind her face.

“It’s so ridiculous I can see it.” Rosemary digs into the brie with a cheese knife.

“I can see it. I’m going to drop Kai upstairs to bed. I will be right back.”

Kai is growing so much, his legs are long and strong, even though he is crawling he hasn’t started to walk yet.

I pass near the tv room, and I can see the kids all focused on the TV. Everyone has their caddy and blanket. They are comfortable. As I climb the stairs and enter Kai’s room, I place him on his bed, grab the baby monitor, and turn off the lights.

* * *

ERYX

“No, the question is are you happy?” Zac says. I should have never done this, having Anise brunch at my house.

I just wanted to repay her for what she did with Nikos. As much Zac is one of my best friends, this new happy well fucked Zac… I feel like I want to choke or kill him.

He is a family man, in love now he wants everyone to join him. God save me from this.

“No seriously Eryx are you happy?” Zac rests the steaks on the grill.

Cid is sitting spread eagle on the brown rattan sofa, busy swinging his komboloi. Kyros sits on the arm of Cid’s busy texting away.

“Happiness is temporary and fleeting. I’m focused on other things,” I reply as I base the calamari with a pastry brush on the grill.

“Other things like becoming Don Vito Corleone.” Zac turns over the steaks, the grease from the fat slips through the grill gate, the fire blazes under it.

Khaos chuckles as he folds the dough for the Tsouknidopita, on the stone tile counter next to the brick oven.

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