Page 45 of Lost in Love

Oh good. It’s wine.

“There’s no way he’s going to give you his phone,” I tell her, fighting back laughter. It feels good to laugh like this with friends. It’s been so long since I’ve felt a part of anything aside from loneliness in my grieving.

With a look of determination plastered on her face, Kate stares at Noah standing in the backyard with Jason, her hands flat on the counter. “Which is why I’m going to steal it. He has one hand in a cast. I think I can take him.”

Charlee pours herself another glass. “This I gotta see.”

Kate starts out by trying to flirt with Noah, which she fails at because Noah catches on and puts his phone in his front pocket when she tries to reach into his back pocket by grabbing his ass.

Noah’s eyes narrow at Kate. He smiles and winks at her, chuckling. “I know what you’re doing.”

One hand goes to her waist, the other, palm up and expecting. “Then just save me the trouble and give me the phone so I can see it.”

“Why would you want to see it?” he challenges.

Jason pipes up with, “If she gets to see it, I do.”

“Me first!” Bonner screams, holding his beer up and practically dumping it on Fin’s face. She’s taken a liking to him. Poor Noah. She wants nothing to do with him but takes to a complete stranger.

Noah’s eyes dart from Kate to Bonner, and then he frowns. “No one is seeing it. I deleted it.” And then he shoves his phone down the front of his pants inside his underwear looking like he’s one-upped them.

Kate snorts. “Um, I’m not afraid of going fishing, dude. I’ll stick my hand right down there.”

Jason winks at Noah. “She’s serious.”

Charlee leans into my shoulder. “She is serious.”

I’m laughing so hard now it’s hard to keep from falling off the barstool I’m on. “I know she is.”

The kids think it’s funny when Kate tries to arm wrestle Noah and eventually, she comes close to getting her hand down the front of his pants, but doesn’t succeed. Then she attempts to involve me.

“Kelly, get your husband’s phone. Right now.”

“I’m not doing it,” I tell her when the kids disappear for a water fight with a limping Bonner and Ashlynn.

Gretchen points to Ashlynn’s white T-shirt and smiles at Jason, who’s still standing next to Noah. Probably because he too wants to see the video. “Do you think the white shirt is by design?”

Jason laughs and lifts his beer to his lips. “Oh, yeah. And you better believe I’ve paid my boys to shoot up her chestle area.”

“Chestle isn’t a word,” she tells him.

“It is now.”

With the kids distracted, Kate senses her chance. “Kelly, help a girl out. It’s not even about the video now. It’s about proving to him I can get that damn phone from him.” She pauses, rethinking her plan. “Okay, it’s about the video too, but get the fucking phone from him. He’s being stingy.”

“Why would I get the phone from him? I don’t want anyone seeing that. I look awful on it.” From the glimpse of the video I saw, I wasn’t impressed with how my ass looked from behind and no way I want our neighbors seeing my vajayjay.

“Oh, please,” Jason groans. “Judging by your ass, I bet it’s amazing.”

Noah’s quick to jam his fist into Jason’s stomach. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” Jason coughs, doubling over in pain. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Kate stands determined next to me. “He’s distracted. Get the phone.”

I blame the wine, but Kate and I team up, and we tackle my husband to the ground by tickling him. He’s so ticklish it’s ridiculous. Touch his sides and he’s squirming around trying to get away from you.

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