Page 37 of The Last Second Chance
“Good. Now go take your four-legged monster to see Beckett.”
“C’mon, Diesel,” Aurora said, hefting the roly puppy in her little arms.
Waffles, sensing a possible eviction, curled up quietly next to the fire.
“Don’t give the puppy any hot chocolate,” Gia called after her.
“Awh.”
Gia yanked the pocket doors closed. “You and I will be enjoying adult hot chocolate laced with booze,” she announced.
“Are you sure tonight is a good time for you?” Joey asked, skeptically.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Aurora said something about a hole in the door and you seem a little insane.”
“The hole is for the cat door so poor Tripod can escape to the basement when Diesel torments him too much. The insanity is just a side effect of raising children and being married,” she grinned, looking much happier than her words suggested.
The doorbell rang. “That should be Summer,” Gia said, sliding one of the doors open. “Or half of the town council. You never know, living in this house.”
She reappeared moments later with a bundled up Summer in tow. The pocket doors slid shut and Joey wasn’t certain but she thought she heard the snick of a lock. Summer started shucking off layers starting with a purple knit cap and her buff-colored Uggs. She had a white fleecy sweater stretched tight across her rounded belly. The cheery scarf around her neck was next. “I’m so glad you guys called. I spent all day in the office and then all of dinner I divided my time between arguing with Carter and ignoring two sets of beggy eyes.”
“What are you two fighting about?” Joey asked.
“Oh, no!” Summer wagged a finger at her and Joey wondered if the commanding finger was some kind of maternal trait. She’d have to ask her own mother. “I want to hear your news first,” Summer said, easing herself down on one of the armchairs.
There was a thump from the rear set of doors.
“Hold that thought,” Gia said. “Hot chocolate’s here.” She slid the doors open to reveal a tray-wielding Beckett. “There’s my handsome butler.”
He was still in his office attire. Neatly pressed gray pants and a light blue button down. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. “The two mugs on the right are the good ones,” he said, dropping a kiss on Gia’s cheek.
“Thank you, Jeeves,” she said. “Have everything under control?”
“Rora and I are taking the demon hell spawn outside for a potty break, after which we are convening to the third floor for homework and video games. Evan should be home in the next five minutes or he’s grounded.”
“God, you’re sexy when you know stuff,” Gia sighed. She took her husband’s face in her hands and gave him an R-rated kiss.
“Ladies,” he said with a wink as he sauntered out of the room.
The second the pocket doors slid shut, Joey found both Summer and Gia staring at her.
“Well?” Summer prodded.
Suddenly awkward, Joey cleared her throat. She wasn’t very comfortable talking about herself. It was easier to maintain a safe distance if she didn’t go blabbing about herself all the time.
“I…uh…”
“Slept with Jax?” Gia offered.
“Joey shook her head vehemently. “No!”
“Made out with Jax?” Summer tried.
“No, well yes. But no.”
“Definitely coming back to that one,” Summer said, fluffing her blond hair.
