“I do believe I can fix that for you, ma’am.” His lips land on mine.
“Ew, keep your kinky shit to yourself.”
At the sound of Chelsea’s voice, Reed doesn’t let go of my hands, but he does pull his other one out of my shirt.
“Way to kill the mood,” he says over his shoulder to her.
Chelsea laughs. “I like you. Now get out of the bathroom. I gotta go.”
Reed lets go of my hands. “We’re going to get the kids anyway.” He walks out of the room and down the hall.
“Well, aren’t you guys just like June and Ward Cleaver?” she yells down the hall at us.
“I don’t think June bites Ward,” Reed says without even turning around.
“HA! She said she was a biter.”
“And I have the scars to prove it,” Reed and Chelsea continue their banter until we reach the kitchen.
“We’ll be right back. Getting the kids.” I wave to my mom and Hannah who are admiring the job Chelsea and I did on the cake. I let her help a little, but she’s going to need to have her own kids if she wants to do it again.
Reed and I head down the sidewalk, holding hands, the crap from earlier pushed to the back of my mind, as I choose to focus on Jade’s birthday.
“So, Pete’s coming tonight?” Reed asks, which I knew was coming.
“He’s her dad.”
“I know and if this is going to work, we’d have to face him together. The bubble was nice for a while though.”
I nod. “The bubble was indeed very nice.”
We round the trees and the courtyard is packed full of parents. Darcie and Georgia along with all the other moms stare over at us with judgment in their eyes.
“Why does it seem like everyone’s staring more than usual?” Reed asks.
“Because Pete told them last Friday that we have an open relationship and pretty much eluded to the fact that we all sleep together.”
“All?”
“The three of us. You, me, and him.”
“Pete’s totally not my type,” he jokes and I’m thankful he doesn’t take it seriously.
“Mean Moms were being nosy, and he thought it was funny. But he would since he gets to go back to L.A. and we’ll be here.”
He looks around. “I’m surprised people believe it. Then again, most people will believe anything.”
We wait patiently while Darcie gives us the stink eye and a few moms look Reed and I up and down like we’re in the market to open our bedroom and taking resume’s.
What feels like a lifetime later, the bell rings, the doors open, and Jade and Henry run out.
Jade’s got a birthday crown on her head.
“YAY!” She runs right into me and I pick her up. “Happy birthday!”
I saw her this morning, made her pancakes with sprinkles, but now she really gets to celebrate.
“Happy birthday, Jade.” Reed holds up his hand in a high five.
“Thanks.”
The four of us walk down the street and it strikes me how much we must resemble a family. One girl, one boy both of whom are fighting for dominance over which one gets to tell us about their day first, Reed and I sharing a look every so often.
The warm sensation in my chest crystallizes to ice the moment I catch sight of the car outside my mom’s house—Pete’s sports car that he couldn’t bear to part with when we moved to L.A. He’s been storing it at his parent’s place since. It’s expensive and tends to stand out like a quarter in a sea of pennies in this neighborhood.
“Look at that car!” Henry says and points to it.
“That’s my dad’s car,” Jade says proudly.
“Is that my birthday girl?” Pete stands from where he was sitting on my mom’s porch and holds out his arms.
My sweet Jade abandons us and runs into Pete’s awaiting embrace.
Henry follows, and I initiate the hand hold with Reed, needing the support.
Pete spins her around in a circle and she squeals. Same old, same old.
“Hey, Henry,” he says in a louder than normal voice. “You enjoying that sand?”
“I showed my grandpa.”
“I bet he thought it was pretty cool,” Pete continues to gloat, glancing our way to see my hand in Reed’s.
“He said it probably came from Lake Michigan.”
I laugh because I envision Ned telling Henry it’s no different than the sand right down the street.
“That’s pure California sand.” Pete looks to Jade whose head is already nodding in agreement.
Henry looks to Reed and shrugs.
The conversation stalls once Reed and Pete’s eyes meet.
“Bug, go inside,” I say. “Chelsea and Hannah are in there and I think they have gifts.”
She squeals and wiggles until Pete lets her down and then she grabs Henry’s hand, pulling him into the house.
“Reed,” Pete puts his hand up in the air. “How the hell are you?”
Reed’s hand stays firmly in mine as he reaches out and shakes Pete’s. “I’m great. You?”
A huff leaks out of Pete, but no one acknowledges it. “I saw your performance in court the other day. Hell of a case.”
“Thanks.” They drop hands and we stand. Reed and I a united front with Pete on the other side.
“I was telling Vic, Chicago won’t be able to afford you.”
Reed squeezes my hand. “So, I heard.”
“Just want her to be prepared for when you leave.”
Pete’s smile says he’s toeing the line and hoping Reed’s the first one to cross.
“I’m not leaving.”
“Okay, well, let’s go have pizza and cake,” I say, wanting out of this awkward encounter.
“Sounds good. Remember eight years ago, when you were screaming like a hyena.” Pete chuckles and follows us into the house.
“I was squeezing a walnut out of a pinhole,” I say between clenched teeth.
I hadn’t thought about the fact that not everyone else knew Pete until we walked in and Chelsea and Hannah’s eyes zeroed in on him.
“Oh, shit, he’s back,” my mom grumbles.
“Jade,” I mouth, and she glances around.
“Jade’s showing Henry her room. Would you like a drink, Reed?” she asks, purposely not asking Pete.
“I’d love one, thanks, Ms. Clarke.” Reed follows my mom.
“Please, call me Diane.”
“Thank you, Diane.” Reed winks at me and then heads into the kitchen.
“That woman might hire a hitman one day,” Pete says and then steps forward into the room, his arm extended. “I’m Pete Keebler.”
Hannah shakes his hand. “Hannah Crowley.”
“Crowley?”
She smiles. “The one and only.”
I’m surprised he doesn’t perch a seat right next to her. Everyone knows the Crowley name in the Chicago area, but Pete steps to the side to shake Chelsea’s hand.
“The cookie elf?” She shakes his hand briefly and then wipes her hand on her slacks.
“Funny,” Pete deadpans.
“I’m glad to be done with those jokes.” I laugh, heading into the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink?”