Page 73 of This Feeling

“Nope, not her.”

I sighed. “As much as I want to junk-punch, Sean, I still hope it was Caroline.”

Declan’s smile turned into a grin. “Yep. It was her—and they were doing some stuff on the sofa when Mom decided to use the house key Sean had given her to let herself in.”

“No! Oh my God!”

Tossing his head back and laughing hysterically, Declan nodded.

I couldn’t keep myself from joining in. “She walked in on Sean and Caroline?”

Declan wiped at a tear. “It. Gets. Better.”

Stunned, I asked, “How doesthatget better?”

Declan was now laughing so hard he could hardly breathe. Which, of course, meant I was laughing just as hard. Once we both got ourselves under control, Declan stood.

“Whoa, man, I must have needed that laugh.”

“Obviously. But tell me how it got better.”

He laughed again but managed to keep himself in check. Clearing his throat, he tried to keep a straight face. “Well, I guess Caroline is into some…stuff.”

Frowning, I asked, “What kind of stuff?”

Declan laughed again but quickly recovered. “She had…she had Sean tied up—and she was spanking him!”

It took five seconds to let Declan’s words sink in. “I’m sorry…what did you say?” I asked with a choked laugh, as Declan lost it again. “Did you say she had him tied up?”

He nodded.

“And she was spanking him?”

Another nod and wipe of tears. “It gets better again!”

Stunned, I asked, “How is that possible?”

His laughing was out of control, and man, was it infectious. I couldn’t stop laughing with him.

“She was…she was…!”

“She was what, Declan?” I cried out, as I reached out and hit his leg, trying to get him to stop laughing so he could speak.

“She was using a pink pickleball paddle. Mymother’s…pink…pickleball…paddle!”

I stared at Declan as he flopped onto the couch and doubled over with laughter. How had henotlost it on the phone with that bit of information?

“My mother…my mother…” He was speaking between gasps of breath. “Said she’d never be able…to play…pickleball again!”

Now we were both in a fit of laughter. My stomach hurt and I could hardly breathe. Finally, after what felt like forever, we calmed down. I wiped the tears from my face and took a few deep breaths. Declan did the same.

“Whew,” he said, trying not to lose it again. “That is the funniest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Wait, I have a question.”

Declan looked at me with wide eyes. “You have justonequestion? I have like twenty.”

I chuckled. “What was Sean doing with your mom’s pickleball racket?”

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