Page 104 of Moms of Mayhem
Shannon raised a brow. “Did you think we were going to do planks while discussing our feelings?”
“I did bring my water bottle,” Tate muttered.
“That’s so cute,” Shannon said. “You’re hydrated and full of hope. You’ll fit right in with these two.”
Stevie snorted, then dipped a chip into the queso. “Give her a break. She’s new.”
“I’m not new,” Tate said. “I’ve known Emmy since I was a kid. I’m just selectively social.”
I grinned as I put a few new toys in the playpen for Harper. “Well, I’m flattered to have made the selection, then. We’re fun, I promise. I roped Stevie in with margaritas and moral support, and look at us now.”
“I make a good margarita.” Shannon poured the blender contents into mason jars. “And by good, I mean you will be admitting your deepest, darkest secrets by the time you leave.”
“I’m breastfeeding.” Stevie held up a hand. “So, I’ll just have two.”
We all laughed, and even Tate cracked a smile as she took a cautious sip from the jar Shannon handed her.
“Oh.” She blinked. “That’s… wow.”
“Right?” I flopped onto a reformer and stole a chip. “Hits like a puckto the ribs.”
Stevie pointed at me with the chip bag. “I’m going to add that to my Yelp review about your studio.”
“I think you’re supposed to actually take a class before leaving a review.” Shannon climbed over the playpen fence to sit down with Harper. “Sleeping through them doesn’t count.”
Tate looked around at all of us—the mess of snacks, the baby babbling, the blend of sarcasm and soft friendship—and her shoulders relaxed. “Okay, I get it now.”
“Good.” Stevie scooped up queso with a chip, hand hovered under it as she brought it to her mouth. “Now tell us what the deal was with Mason Conway proposing to you at the rink a few weeks ago.”
“He’s still doing that?” Shannon said from the back of the room, her mouth full of chips.
“Oh, this is an ongoing thing.” Stevie rested her chin on her fist, one leg crossed over the other. “I forget you’re all locals, so give me the gossip. Tell me the story.”
I laid down on the reformer next to Tate, putting my feet on the bar, and slowly pushing the shuttle away. Tate took the subtle invitation and did the same.
“Nothing to tell, really,” she said, sliding back and forth on the reformer. “I’ve known him my whole life. He used to do it for attention in high school, just to make everyone laugh. It’s not like it means anything. He’s not serious.”
Shannon let out a sharp laugh, and I leaned across the reformer to help Tate move into the next stretch. She did what I said, but Stevie wasn’t going to let this drop.
“So, nothing’s ever happened between you two?” She took a sip of her mason jar, then shook her head as it went down. “Shit, Shannon. You driving me home tonight?”
“Well, you know I’m not letting you drive if you drinkthose.” Shannon looked down at Harper. “What do you think, Harper? Should I drive you and Mommy home?”
Harper clapped her little hands on either side of Shannon’s face, then leaned in to give her a sloppy kiss.
Sensing Tate’s distress over discussing Mason, I switched gears. “Beckett took me to Elkhorn Point on Friday night.”
Tate’s movements stuttered, and her head swiveled over to look at me. “I didn’t know anyone still went up there.”
“Who cares where you went,” Stevie said through a mouthful of cheese, then pointed a chip at Tate. “They’re fucking, by the way. She’s adorable. He’s hot as hell. It’s great for all of us.”
A laugh ripped out of me, and I sat up on the reformer. “How is my sex life great for you?”
“Are you kidding me?” Stevie wiped at her chin with the edge of her T-shirt. “You’re so happy, it’s making me happy. And every time you tell me about it, I want to bang my husband. Luke is so happy with this turn of events, he started doing thelaundry. He’s makingbreakfast.He fixed the hole in the wall that’s been there since Wyatt decided to attempt a slap shot in the kitchen. He even got a babysitter for Valentine’s Day.”
“It’s me.” Shannon raised her hand in the air. “I’m the sitter, since your new sex life has not, in fact, helped me. Tate, are you single?”
Tate looked Shannon’s way, her brow scrunched. “Yes, but I am unfortunately attracted to men.”
