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Alta sits apart, as far away as she can be and still technically be part of the gathering. I’ve never been bothered by my aunt’s indifferent attitude. In my book, cold and unfeeling is better than fake and phony. At least you always know where you stand with Alta. There’s a guarantee you won’t stand anywhere good, but whatever.
The Cyclones will have the ball first. It’s always wild to see Conner up there on the screen. He’s serious about the game, both steadfast and focused. On the first play he fires a bullet straight into the hands of a wide receiver who runs it up the field for another twenty yards.
Matilda jumps up to cheer and nearly dumps her glass of wine on her husband’s head. Gage claps loudly and Dani kisses him. Total decides he’d like to occupy my lap. I hope he doesn’t opt to take a piss while he’s there.
Charlotte is unsure of the rules of the game. I’m don’t mind explaining. When I sneak a glance at Tess, I notice she’s watching us.
Total is comfortable enough to help himself to a nap. For a little dog, he sure snores like a bastard.
Conner and the Cyclones dominate throughout the first half. Charlotte begins yawning and leans her head on my shoulder. When Henley sees this, he stands and announces it’s a school night. Charlotte needs to get to bed soon.
A scowl of irritation crosses my mother’s face but Henley wins this one. One feather in his cap is that he’s not a rotten father. He picks up the sleeping Total and Charlotte makes me pinky swear that I’ll come over to see her again real soon.
Kills me every time, the fact that she gets so lonely. I’m grateful to Dani and Gage for staying here in the neighborhood to help look out for her.
Alta has barely said a word as she sits on the periphery and scrolls through her phone. But she doesn’t leave so I guess she’s where she wants to be.
Now that I’m not hosting kids and puppies any longer, I’m free to let my mind wander.
Tess occupies her chair like she’s at a business meeting. Spine straight, legs crossed at the ankle, hands in her lap.
I’d like to wreck her makeup, mess up her hair, shove that prissy dress up to her tits and push my face between her legs.
In the middle of the third quarter, Dani is dismayed to see that the chip bowl is empty. She rises to go get another bag from the pantry but Tess volunteers to get it herself. Dani smiles at her best friend and snuggles close to Gage.
Tess steps through the patio door and the ball is snapped. Conner sends a bomb into the end zone where it’s promptly caught.
No one pays attention when I go inside, acting like I’m heading for the bathroom.
Instead, I take a detour to the kitchen.
The pantry is the size of a bedroom. Tess stands in the middle with her hands propped on her hips as she scans the floor to ceiling shelves.
She flinches, instantly flustered, when she sees me. “I’ve never seen a color coded pantry before.”
“Courtesy of my OCD cuz.” I point behind her at a high shelf. “There’s what you’re looking for.”
She turns, spots the red and white bag of barbecue potato chips and rises on her toes to reach it. “Did you have a good week, Micah?”
Listen to her talking all casual like I didn’t taste her pussy last weekend.
“Sure. Did you?”
“Yes.” She can’t quite reach the chips, even on tiptoe in her heels. “Just busy.”
I move in and reach over her head, plucking the bag off the shelf with ease. I drop it into her waiting hands.
We could waste an hour making polite conversation or I could just get to the point. I put my hand on her, flattening my palm on her stomach.
She inhales with a shudder.
Then she stiffens when my hand goes lower, straying between her legs.
“And how isshe?” I bend my head to breathe in the vanilla scent of her hair while I stroke her through her dress.
Tess leans back, giving in to my control. Her voice is a breathy whisper. “Missing you.”
I press closer, right into her back, showing her how I’m hard enough to bruise her skin if I want. “Let’s fix that tonight.”
