AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Surprise!” James shouts. “We picked up your mom for you! She’s here!”
“Mom!” I shout as I run as fast as I can to her. She opens her arms and I run into them. “I missed you so much.”
“It’s only been a little over a month.” She hugs me tighter. “But I missed you too.”
“I can’t believe Peyton convinced you to take off work.”
“I know. She’s very persistent.” She sighs. “I was reluctant because of the cost of the flight and missing those days. But it was fully covered. I felt bad accepting the offer, but I wanted to see you so badly. Even if it’s just for two days.”
Offer? My eyes dart towards Peyton and Thomas. Peyton throws her hands up in defense as if to say it wasn’t her and Thomas shakes his headnoright before he tips his head towards Marc.
Did Marc pay for her flights to have my mom come in for the weekend?
Marc smiles and tips his head down before James is pulling him outside.
My heart pounds in my chest.
This man.
* * *
“Do we have any more cheeseburgers left?” Logan asks as we all sit around the fire pit.
“Logan,” Emiline snorts. “You ate three already! How can you possibly fit anymore in that stomach?”
“I’m a growing boy, Shortcake.” Logan winks.
This is the first time since our trip to the shore for Thomas’ birthday that we have all been together. This time Oliver and my mom are here.
My mom left Vermont early this morning to catch the first flight out, so she couldn’t stay up any longer and went to bed. She is staying in Peyton’s guest house at the back end of the property and tomorrow, we are going on a mother-daughter shopping date in the city.
When Peyton and Thomas first got together, I don’t think any of us expected to gain such an amazing friend group. Not only does Emiline fit in perfectly with us, but Thomas’ brothers and Logan just add to the dynamic that we all have with each other.
Thank God that PTA mom wasn’t into any of the guys here today. She was very engrossed in playing with the kids. Peyton was right… no one here was really her type. She made no passes at anyone and left surprisingly early. She was sweet and nice. And she didn’t try to get into my man's pants.
My man? Stop it.
There has been too much sangria here today.
As if he can read my thoughts, Marc walks out of the house with a whiskey in one hand and a glass of white sangria in the other. Despite a full day of running around in the yard chasing James and rolling in the grass, he looks devilishly handsome. He’s wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a sage green polo that compliments his tanned skin tone. The short sleeves of his shirt barely hang where they are supposed to because of his hard bicep muscles. And seeing Marc's arms exposed like that, just does something to me.
I want to claw at his biceps, and have his thick corded forearms protrude while he has his hands wrapped around my neck.
I can’t tell if that’s my vagina talking or my brain at this point. Maybe it’s both.
“I got you another glass of sangria,” Marc says as he takes the seat next to me by the fire.
“Thank you.”
“How’s the daycare coming along?” Oliver asks Peyton.
“It’s going.” She exhales a long breath. “It’s a lot more work than I ever expected. I am excited to see where it goes, though. We have had tons of applications for enrollment already despite not opening until the new year.”
“New year?” Kali asks. “I thought you’d be opening sooner.”
“I thought so too. But with the permits and renovations, it’s taken longer than we expected. I wanted to wait a few months post wedding before the big grand opening.”
“How’s the planning going for that?” I ask.
