Page 100 of Our Lips Are Sealed
Chapter 31
EviesatwithSimoneat the kitchen table, their untouched coffee steaming in front of them as they whispered over their cups.
“And the second I turned my back, Jamison had run off with him and never returned,” Simone said. “When I panicked, Annabeth texted her, and your sister replied with one of those eggplant emojis.”
The front door slammed shut, and Jamison came strolling into the kitchen adorned in leggings and the oversized t-shirt Samuel had purchased Liam the day before. “Morning.”
Simone’s mouth hung open at the naked woman on Jamison’s shirt. “What in the hell are you wearing?”
“A product of Samuel’s poor sense of humor,” Jamison replied, scratching Katniss behind her ears. “Is Annabeth up yet? I want to tell her about my night.”
Evie turned in her chair. “Can’t share the details with us?”
“Sure.” Jamison slid forward, leaning on the kitchen island. “I’ll start by saying Bob’s talented tongue is no match for Agent William Cohen’s prolific penis. In fact, my single night orgasm count is much higher than yours now.”
“Liar!”
Simone wagged a finger at them. “Lord Jesus, I would have thought y’all would’ve learned by now not to test me before my coffee hits,” she scolded. “It’s too early for talk of tongues and penises.”
Turning back around, Simone picked up her cup, muttering a prayer for their promiscuous souls to the caffeine gods. “Jamison, go get Annabeth out of bed. She stayed up too late.”
Concerned, Evie rose to go with her. “Is she alright?”
“One of those police officers asked for her phone number, and they were texting each other well into the early morning.”
Jamison gasped and darted out.
“Don’t let her spill any juicy details without me there. Text if I need to come up and listen,” Evie yelled after her, then covered her mouth with a hand. “Oh, I hope I didn’t wake up Ben or the boys.”
“Abe is at his place, and Selah is out there locked in his cottage,” Simone replied, watching through the open kitchen door at the police changing shifts. “Benjamin left early this morning when I went to bed. I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”
Evie chewed at her bottom lip, debating on how to approach the subject of Ben. Samuel might be under the impression that Simone knew nothing of Ben’s attempt to end his life more than a decade ago, but Evie thought otherwise. Not much got past the woman, especially when it came to her family.
“He’s blaming himself for what happened.”
Sipping at her coffee, Simone didn’t respond. Toby and CeCe might not have been her flesh and blood, but they had been children of her heart. Losing them had hurt the whole family, but none more than her.
“What did you think when you saw my baby on the lawn by herself?” Simone asked, moving on as she always did. A coping mechanism she’d mastered to ignore the pain. “A little sunshine in the storm, wasn’t it?”
“Has Samuel told you about his plans?”
Simone said he hadn’t, and Evie explained about the bookstore. “Samuel says if Annabeth is interested in having a side coffee shop to go along with it, he can expand on her square footage and make it work.”
“That boy might be his father’s son, but he has his mother’s heart.” Simone leveled her gaze at Evie. “You best be careful with it.”
“It’s safe, I promise.”
Annabeth ran in, skidding over to the kitchen table in breathless excitement. “Ask me about him.”
“Sit,” Evie ordered, pulling out the chair next to her. “Jamison, start prepping for omelets. I’m freaking starving.”
“And put some music on,” Simone added. “It’s too damn quiet in this house.”
Jamison switched on the music as she headed outside to ask Cohen if he wanted an omelet, and Annabeth told them of her police officer. His name was David, and she’d already invited him to the house for dinner.
“Let me know when, and I’ll make myself scarce,” her mother said with a wink. “But please, try to play a little hard to get.”
Annabeth rolled her eyes and rose to fix herself a coffee. “I’ll do my best, Mother.”
