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“You won’t. You’re as much a part of all this as the rest of us. Come on; it will be great. I’ve missed hanging out with you.”
Michelle smiles and nods, accepting the invitation.
On the way out of the building, I stop to let Natalie know I invited Michelle for the barbeque, too.
“Oh, that’s fine,” she says. “Noah asked me if he could invite Rooster too, so it will be a bash.”
“Perfect,” I say and wave at her, telling I would see her later.
When I get back to the apartment, Ava is watching television.
“I can’t get her away from it,” Noah says with a chuckle. “She died when I put Fairy Marla on and the picture is five times bigger than at your place.”
I laugh.
“Mommy, we need one like this,” Ava says, twisting where she’s seated on Noah’s couch.
“It won’t fit in our apartment,” I say.
Noah slips his arms around me, pulling me closer.
“We’ll just have to get a bigger place,” he says and kisses me.
I melt against him. I want him, but we have to behave in front of Ava. I would like nothing more than to be wrapped up in bed with him. But we can do that later.
Right now, I need a shower, and then we’ll head over to Natalie’s place.
When we drive out to the suburbs and park in Natalie’s driveway, we’re the last to arrive.
Natalie herself comes out to meet us.
“You must be Ava,” she says. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Ava holds out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” She cranes her neck to look around Natalie. “Is my cousin here?”
Natalie laughs. A moment later, Kylie appears at the door. She squeals and runs to Noah, jumping into his arms.
“There you are,” Noah says. “I missed you!” He exaggerates a frown. “I told your mom to stop feeding you; you’re growing too fast!”
Kylie bursts out in giggles. “I’d bewaytoo hungry if she did that.”
Noah sets her down and introduces her to Ava after Kylie gives me a quick hug, too.
“Do you like Fairy Marla?” Ava asks, pointing to Kylie's shirt shyly.
“Iloveher,” Kylie says. “I have a Fairy Marla doll. Do you want to see it?”
Ava nods and glances at me.
“You can go,Cherie,” I say, and she smiles at me before she runs after Kylie, following her inside.
I glance at Noah, who’s grinning ear to ear.
“Kylie’s been waiting for tonight, counting down sleeps for weeks now.”
“They look like they’re already hitting it off,” Noah says.
We all walk into the house. Noah introduces me to Rooster, the NFL team coach he worked with until recently. He’s six-four with a charming grin and an attitude that suggests he knows just how much women must like him.
