“At least the semester’s over, right?”Mr.Monroe pushes his treadmill into a light jog.
Yes, and thank God.Ever since PJ’s birthday party, when I got lost on the way to the bathroom and accidentally walked in on PJ fucking Mr.Monroe with his hands around his throat, it has felt super awkward to sit in his class.Trying to focus through a lecture on Toni Morrison’s second novel when you’ve seen your teacher’s O-face?I’m glad that’s done.
“Which reminds me.We’re doing a cookout next weekend, Mr.Monroe, if you and PJ want to come?”
“I’ll talk to PJ,” Mr.Monroe says.“My brother invited me to go bowling, but things between him and PJ are still pretty tense.Every time I think they’re finally tolerating each other, one of them blows their stack.PJ would probably love to come as long as he can bring his friend Evans.”
Maybe that explains why Mr.Monroe is planning on working out with his brother while PJ’s not around.The, uh, stack-blowing thing.
“Evans is welcome.The whole escort group is invited.”Brennan too.Hopefully he and Liam can manage to get along.“We built this whole entertainment area on the back of the house.Brick patio, swimming pool, and a fire pit.The weather’s supposed to be cool, and the pool is heated, so we’re going to do it out there.”
I ignore Liam’s grumbles about how the whole thing was a waste of money.If I can’t use my millions for something fun, then what’s the point?Besides, he grumbled a whole lot less when I batted my eyelashes and told him how happy it would make me to have a place to hang out with my friends.
I did try at first to give the money back.He wouldn’t let me.
Liam finishes up his leg workout and groans as he leans down to pick up his own water bottle.I’d get it for him, but I feel like this is a good reminder for him about taking things easy.
Adam pulls his phone out of his pocket, frowning at the display.Then he nudges Adam.“Your blood sugar’s a little low.Let’s go grab you a smoothie, huh?”
I’m selfishly really glad Adam’s not checking his blood sugar the old-fashioned way anymore.It was only a little drop of blood, but now that he’s got a glucose monitor, I don’t have to see it.Why it doesn’t bother me when Liam tortures someone, I don’t know exactly.Except, it never bothers me when it’s a bad guy.Liam only ever bleeds the bad guys.
“We’re taking off too, I think.Going to the grocery store.”I do a little hand clap.Grocery shopping is fun.All the bright colors and stuff.
Adam laughs.“Awfully excited about that, huh?”
I shrug.“I like doing couple things.”
“He likes it when people look at us funny in public,” Liam grumbles.
“He’s right.I like that too.”The last time we went out to eat together, the waiter, who was on the older side, asked if I was Liam’s son and then asked if I wanted the children’s menu, so I may or may not have told the dude to get an eye exam before climbing into Liam’s lap and making out with him.
Now Liam says we can’t eat there anymore, which is fine.Mama Elisabetta’s is too stuffy for me.
“Oh, also, I get to draw Liam tonight for my art portfolio.”
After spending most of the semester barely staying afloat in my science classes, now I get to do something I actually enjoy.I’m looking forward to the spring when I can show my portfolio to my new advisor.
Besides, I know what my mom really wanted was financial independence for me.Being married to a struggling art professor wasn’t easy for her.But between Liam and me, we’ve got enough to be able to do whatever we want.Mr.Monroe even said he’d put me in contact with some art gallery friend of his.
Adam and Troy snicker, probably about the portfolio thing.
“Cool, cool.Well, you two crazy kids have fun,” Troy says as he tows Adam out of the room.“Don’t do anything we would do, Rav.We’ll see you this weekend.”
“You know,” Liam tells me as we walk toward the gym exit, “I was thinking instead of the grocery store, we could go home, get showered, and watch a movie.”
“But we’re out of those things you like.”
“Mm-hmm.But InstaDelivery recently expanded their delivery radius, so if you order everything you want to get on the drive home, I can tie you up when we get there and try out that thing you wanted to do.”
Ooh.“Clothespins?”
It sounded decidedly unsexy at first, but after some research I think I see the appeal.
“That one.”He leans down to put his lips to my ear, giving me a shiver.“Sex is a couple thing too, you know.”
Right in front of a gaggle of tennis players who just came streaming in from the outdoor courts, I turn to give him a kiss.
“Okay then.Take me home, Daddy.”
