Page 98 of Hot Summer Nights

“Tonight. I’ll call in sick to the cleaning company. Just let me know where.”

With that, she hangs up the phone. Part of me wants to call her back and tell her that she can have the money without spending the night with us. That it doesn’t have to be like this. We just want to take her out and get to know her more.

The other part of me though has been dying for this for months. I know that she feels something for us too and maybe tonight is how we show her how good we can all be together.

I open up my messages and send her a quick text with our address. Then I send her another one telling her we will send a car for her. She responds almost instantly with a thumbs up emoji and then her address.

I look up at Flynn and he looks like he’s about to lose his mind.

“Was that Aspen? Is everything ok? Why was she calling?” He lists off his questions in rapid fire.

“It’s on. She’s coming over tonight. She had to schedule Adeline’s surgery for this Thursday and she needs the money before then.”

As soon as I tell him, I push back from my desk and begin to gather my things, quicker this time.

“Get your things. We have to get home and make sure everything is perfect for tonight.” I order.

I look up and see Flynn grinning at me.

“It’s finally happening. She’s going to be ours. Our one.” He says with the dopiest smile on his face.

I’d make fun of him but I can feel the same gleeful smile stretching across my face too.

NINE

Flynn

We race homeand start to frantically clean the house. Roman runs to the fridge to see what we can make for dinner but we haven’t been shopping recently and there aren't a lot of options.

“We’ll order food.” I yell as I run past him with the vacuum cleaner.

He starts washing the few dishes in the sink as I vacuum the floors. We have a cleaning lady who comes in once a week but her day isn’t until Wednesday and the house could use a quick clean. We want everything to be perfect for Aspen.

I pick up the clutter as Roman shoves dirty clothes in the washer.

“It’s 4 pm.” He says.

“She’ll be here at 5?” I double-check.

“Yeah. I’m hopping in the shower now.” He says.

“Ok, me too.” I call as he starts to head up the stairs.

I take one last look around to make sure that the place looks ok. When I don’t see any messes or embarrassing things laying around, I turn and make my way to my room. I shower quickly, pulling on a clean shirt and a pair of jeans. I decide to leave my feet bare since we’re not going anywhere and I brush my hands through my hair as I look over myself in the mirror one last time.

“I ordered Italian. Should be here at 5:30.” Roman says from the doorway.

“Sounds good.” I say as I turn to look at him. He’s dressed similarly to me in a pair of black jeans and a plain white t-shirt.

I follow him out into the hallway and as we pass outside the master bedroom I pause and push the door open. Roman stops next to me and we both look in.

This is it. This will be our room, as long as Aspen will have us. I stare at the bed and I can see it. I can picture the three of us cuddled up in it on chilly nights and tangled together on steamy ones. Waking up next to her every morning and getting to fall asleep next to her every night.

I want that. I know that Roman wants it too. Now we just need to make sure that Aspen wants it as well.

The doorbell rings and my eyes whip to Roman’s. He gives me a small nod and we practically sprint to get to the door. We don’t want to keep Aspen waiting. We’ve waited long enough already.

TEN

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