I thought Blair was talking about the tiny tomatoes on our salads, but it was an inside joke.She looks at me as she explains.
“We were at a farmers market a couple summers ago and this vendor ...”She cringes and smiles at the same time.“Jules had nothing in her hands.She was just existing and we were looking at the produce on a table, and this guy—he picked up a huge cucumber and held it out to her, and he was staring at her chest while he said,‘Those are some ripe tomatoes.How do you like the size of this?’”
“No.”Mara groans from the other side of the table.“Tell me you flipped the table.”
“Jesus,” Carter says.“He’s why women expect men to be creeps.”
“The entitlement some men have,” Coach Turner says, shaking his head with disgust.“I want to drop by that guy’s produce table sometime and shove that cucumber up his ass.”
“Babe, it was forever ago,” Jules says.“And if you fought every guy who made a comment about my jugs, you’d be really busy.”
Coach smiles wryly at her.She arches her brows, reading his thoughts.
“Yes, I do have to call them jugs.We’re all friends.I also reserve the right to call them fun bags.”
“Or tatas,” Suki says.
“The twins,” Talia adds.“Melons.Titties.Hooters.Snack holders.”
Mara takes over.“The senoritas.Knockers.Christmas hams.”She turns to Leo.“What are some other ones?”
He shakes his head, his eyes darting to Coach Turner.“I don’t use slang words to describe women’s bodies.”
Mara laughs heartily.“Okay, good to know.”
“This is a social thing,” Coach says.“You boys can relax.”
“Thanks, Coach Turner,” Carter says.
They’re all smart, and so am I.I’d stab myself in the nuts before I used words like “titties” or “jugs” at a table where he, his daughter, and his fiancée are sitting.
Dinner is served, and it’s beef Wellington with steamed vegetables.Blair and I keep talking, and I find myself more and more drawn to her laugh.Her smile.Her neck, with a little curl of hair at the nape.
Since I got to Cleveland, I’ve admired Carter’s relationship with his wife.All the couples at this table have the kind of relationship I hope to have one day.They and their partners genuinely enjoy each other’s company.They have intimacy, but also respect.
My father was devoted to my mother until his sudden death from a stroke ten years ago.We all felt his loss deeply, and less than two years later, Elin’s injury knocked us flat again.
Dessert is a fancy chocolate cherry thing that looks like a work of art on each plate.
“I kind of hate to mess it up by eating it,” Blair murmurs.
Mara’s frowning at her plate.“There are two people in this chair, but only one dessert.”
Leo passes her his with a wink.
“Are you sure?”she asks.
He shrugs.“You’re growing our kid.You deserve it.”
She gives him a dreamy look.“Reason number sixty-eight why you still get laid even though I’ve reached the waddling stage of pregnancy.”
“I’m not doing it.”Leo fights a laugh.
“Yes, you are.”
He closes his eyes, laughing.“Babe.No.”
“Come on.”
