Evie leads the way down the hallway toward our rooms. She stops in front of her door, and turns toward us. “You better get ready to do whatever I say tomorrow. When I win Iwillbe taking advantage of every single opportunity of control...” A mischievous smile spreads over her face before she opens her door and slips through.
“You’re in trouble.” Josie lightly chuckles as she takes my hand and continues on into our room.
“Puh-lease.” I shoot back, “there is no way she’s going to beat me. She doesn’t know the five rules to dodgeball as well as I do.” My chest puffs with confidence as we begin to get undressed for bed.
In the bathroom we work side by side to brush our teeth and do our business. I pull back the blankets and crawl into the bed, resting my back against the headboard. I watch Josie as she takes her lotion and begins rubbing it on her body.
She takes her time as she runs her hands over her soft skin, the smell of warm vanilla floats through the room. Relaxing into the headboard, my eyes following her movements.
“How are you feeling about going out tomorrow night?” I ask her, pulling the blanket back for her. Crawling in she quickly gets comfortable on her side, resting her elbow on the mattress.
“I don’t know to be honest. It’ll be nice to go out with everyone and not have to worry about the kids.” She starts, tracing her fingers along the mattress.
“But…” encouraging her to continue.
She nibbles on her lip, like she is contemplating her next words. “But, I’m also nervous.”
“What’s making you nervous, baby?” reaching forward, I grab the hand she was using to trace the sheets and intertwine our fingers.
“It’s just- fuck. I don’t know.” I squeeze her hand in encouragement, her eyes connect with mine, and I can see the slight turmoil swirling. “I’ve been feeling this pull toward Evie, you know? I am so thankful for her over the last six months. She’s so good with the boys, but then we have those moments alone, when I’m in between appointments and Shiloh’s in school. Even at the end of the day the three of us relax and sit in the living room joking around.”
“I feel it too.” telling her what’s been in the back of my mind for a couple weeks now. “She feels as if– I don’t know, as if she’s the missing puzzle piece almost. A piece we didn’t even realize we were missing until she was there. It’s like the pull I’ve always felt for you. Knowing when you enter the room, and when I get my eyes on you my breath stalls.” I raise ourjoined hands together and briefly kiss them. “We agreed that we would always be honest with each other. That if someone came into our lives that we think would fit we would talk about opening up again to that opportunity.”
Josie’s head nods along with what I’m saying. Telling me she’s thinking the same thing I am, and that’s something we’ve always been good at.
“I think it’s time we talk about it.” She starts, her eyes locking with mine. Her body language tells me what she’s thinking before she finishes her thought. “We work well because we are honest with each other. I know you’re attracted to her and I am too.”
“I think she feels the same way too.” I add, and she’s right. Josie and I have always worked well together because we’ve never hid how we felt. Throughout our relationship, whenever we have added someone to our home. At the end of the day I have always picked Josie. Anyone else we’ve let into lives to that capacity was fun, but I never saw anything more.
I always saw more with Josie.
With Evie though– I see so much more. I see the three of us working together as a team. I see her with us for all the big events. For birthdays, graduations, watching the boys grow, it’s all painted so clearly.
“I think you’re right, but I also don’t want to mess up the dynamic we have now. This isn’t a relationship but there are still the boys to think about. Shiloh has taken a liking to her, and Hayes is familiar with her too even despite the fact that he’s still so young.” She rolls onto her back and stares up at the ceiling before she continues. “I think we should see how tomorrow goes. See what happens during dinner and dancing, you know? It’ll be our moment without the kids to see if there is something there beyond our normal dynamics.”
“Tomorrow then.” I agree, circling my arm around her midsection and pulling her towards me. A squeak leaving her as she gets readjusted.
“Yes, tomorrow.” She turns her head towards me and I lean down and press my lips to her. A hum of approval comes from her, and I place another kiss before I reach behind me and turn off the light.
Once I get comfortable and listen to the quiet surrounding us, I think about the possibilities. My eyelids begin to get heavy, and a yawn leaves me but not before I say the last thing that’s on my mind.
“At least when I win the dodge ball game, she’ll have to say yes to anything I say.” I mumble, burying my nose into her neck. I hear the soft chuckles coming from her before I drift off to sleep.
ChapterTwenty
Evie
Six Months Postpartum
Airwooshespastmyhead as I bend down to grab another ball.
“Fuck!” The timbre of Monty's frustrated voice sends a zap of excitement through my body.
“Language!” A teenaged staff yells from the sidelines.
“My bad!” Monty replies as he dodges my attempt to hit him.
The staff grumbles something under his breath, but I don't focus on that. No, I’m on a mission right now.
