Page 126 of From Nowhere

“Now I can sleep. It’s like a warm blanket and a kiss on my forehead.”

“If I were with you, I’d kiss you good night in far more intimate places than your forehead.”

“When you press your lips to my forehead, it’s very intimate. In fact, I don’t think a guy kisses a girl on the forehead until he loves her. It’s like a parent kissing a child on the forehead to see if they have a fever. It’s alovinggesture.”

Brynn used to kiss Lola on the forehead all the time. And last winter, when I wasn’t feeling well, Lola tucked me into my bed and gave me her favorite stuffed animal while kissing me on the forehead.

“We’re both right,” I say. “If I were with you, I would kiss you in so many places, but before you fell asleep in my arms, I would kiss your forehead.”

“I know. Good night. And I love you too,” she says before ending the call.

“It’s Lola’s dad!” Kai yells before opening the screen door.

“Hey, Kai,” I say.

“Where’s Lola?” She cranes her neck to look past me. “I haven’t seen her in forever.”

“She’s at her grandma’s house for the night.”

Kai frowns as Diego comes around the corner, wiping his hands on a dish towel.

“Sorry. Dinner’s over,” he says.

“I ate.”

Kai spins on her bare feet and heads up the stairs without another word.

“Ozzy.” Cheyenne steps around the corner with her hand on her pregnant belly. “Good to see you.” She hugs me.

“You too. And you look amazing.”

She takes a step back and rolls her eyes. “I’m a mammoth.”

Diego hands her the towel and kisses her cheek. “You’re carrying our baby. That makes you a goddess. I’ll be out in the garage with Oz.”

“Then you’re rubbing my feet.” Cheyenne tosses her long black hair over her shoulder. “And my back.”

He nods toward the door. “I’ll rub everything.”

I step back outside, and he follows me to the garage.

“I’ve gotten myself into a pickle,” I say.

“A pickle, huh? Well, who doesn’t love a good pickle?”

“Tia and Amos are leaving if I don’t drop to my knees, beg for forgiveness, and vow to stay single for eternity. And while not having help might be fine this summer, I’m screwed when school starts.”

Diego retrieves two beers from his fridge and hands one to me.

“Is this about the blow job woman?” He takes a swig of his beer.

“Let’s call her Maren.”

He smirks. “Is this about Maren?”

I nod. “She asked me and Lola to move in with her.”

“Why don’t they like her?”

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