“Here, buddy.” I reach for a shortbread and hand it to him. “Have this one.”
He happily takes it and shoves it in his mouth.
“So we’re all having amazing sex,” Claudia announces. “Cheers to us.”
We all break into laughter, and bring up our mugs and clink, and I wonder, for the umpteenth time, what I would do without these girls.
* * *
“Hey, little buddy,”Weston sits down next to Ethan. “What are you working on?”
Ethan smiles up at him. “Blocks.”
Ethan reaches for a nacho on the coffee table. Once he’s eaten it, he resumes his play.
Weston hands him a red block. “You like building?”
Ethan’s tower is making good progress. I watch them intently. The sight of them together is so sweet.
“I build buildings,” Weston tells him. “Really big ones.”
Ethan’s eyes widen, and a second later, he’s back to his project.
“Well, I’m finally ready,” I announce. “What’s the verdict?”
They both turn to me. “Dress,” Ethan cheers.
Weston’s mouth hangs and he’s speechless.
“Well?”
He smiles. “The verdict is great,” he says. “You look stunning, Gretchen.”
I like when he says my name. Sure, my monikers are fun and cute, but nothing arouses me more than hearing my name on his lips.
I stare down at the long skirt of my chiffon dress, and my expensive Chanel heels. “Claudia should be here any minute,” I tell him as I reach for my phone. I fish it out of my new bag. I still can’t believe I own a Chanel bag.
Just as I’m about to call her, the doorbell buzzes. I hurry to go greet her, and when I swing the door open, her jaw drops to the floor.
“Oh my God… you look a-mazing!”
I smile. “Thank you.”
“That dress!”
I pull on my black cardigan. “I know, right?”
“Hello, again,” Weston says as he offers her his hand.
“Hello,” she sings. She gives him an unapologetic once-over. “Damn.”
Weston smiles politely.
“Don’t mind Claudia,” I say and turn to her. “I’ve written down all the instructions you need. They’re on the kitchen counter.”
She nods. “You two have a great time, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Well, that leaves a lot of options then,” I joke.
