Page 192 of Mexico Can Choke On It
Cam:A Ruby sleepover is happening with Auntie Cam the moment Reece and I get back. Mark your calendars for sexy time.
Katie:When I’m home for Christmas, full-on CPK reunion! Matching pajamas and chocolate chip peppermint cookies!
Me:I’m adding matcha to mine, but definitely! Wouldn’t miss it.
I can’t wait for the day we’re all on the same continent again. Who would’ve guessed over one hot mess summer, we’d each find our happily-ever-afters. We may be in different cities and different time zones, but our friendship is the kind that distance can’t touch.
I spot Bryce across the room deep in conversation with both our mothers. He and Judith have been slowly reconstructing their relationship. She learned real quick that her son wasn’t messing around about accepting his new stance on life.
Ruby fast-tracked the peace talks, no question. But nothing prepared me for the day Judith—yes,thatJudith—turned into a babbling, baby-talking idiot over my daughter. It nearly broke my brain. My mom, meanwhile, has gone into full-time grandma mode. She lives five minutes away and doubles as our emergency childcare.
There’s heavy knocking at the front door, so I hand Ruby to Bryce and wade through the partygoers to answer. My face breaks into genuine happiness when I see the familiar figure waiting on my doorstep.
Jim. Still wearing his well-worn army jacket, but his silver hair is freshly cut, and his face looks healthier and more rested than I’ve ever seen it.
“I was told there’d be cake,” he deadpans.
“Jim! You showed up,” I say, hugging him.
“Your husband delivered a personal invitation. Couldn’t ignore such fancy correspondence.”
“Come inside! There’s enough food to—”
He hands me a small wrapped package, and I tear it open to reveal a beautiful leather journal with initials embossed on the cover:P.S.
Petra Sterling.
“For when you start writing closing arguments that make grown men’s balls duck and cover.”
My throat clogs. “I love it. Thank you. Now, go grab a plate. Bryce got enough catering to feed half the neighborhood. You’d be helping me out by making a serious dent in it.”
Jim smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Anything for a friend.”
I slip back inside and search for my husband and daughter. Ruby’s now perched like a princess on my brother’s forearm—her baby fist gripping his tie in a total power move.
Bryce is stuck near the bookshelf, giving polite “uh-huhs” while next-door-neighbor Steve deep-dives into crypto again(it’s all the dude ever talks about).
His body is there, but his soul? Long since tapped out. Literally.Tap-tap-tap.His index finger raps a rhythm against his thigh—the Bryce Sterling equivalent of an SOS.
Time to mess with him.
I pull out my phone, fingers dancing across the screen.
Me:I want to recreate the first night I wore this red dress. I’m getting wet just thinking about how you tied me up.
He checks his phone, perks right up, then searches the room. When his eyes find mine, the corner of his mouth twitches.
Moneybags:You’re evil. I’m trapped discussing Bitcoin while imagining the taste of you on my tongue.
My thighs read the text first and clench.
Me:Poor little billionaire, pretending to care about digital wallets. Bet you wish you could excuse yourself and fuck me senseless.
Me:Also, I’m not wearing panties… thought you should know.
His jaw ticks—another tell. Dave keeps rambling, unaware that his audience is mentally undressing his wife.
Moneybags:Keep texting me filth and I’ll throw you over my shoulder caveman-style in front of everyone.
