AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We’re interrupted when Corbin walks in, carrying a big platter of fried fish. “That looks amazing,” Maren tells him. “Do you need any help?”
“Everything’s done. You can grab your sweet tea,” he suggests.
A few minutes later, we’re all sitting down to eat. The table is covered in mouth watering options. Along with the catfish, there’s cornbread, collard greens with bacon, thick cut French fries, and coleslaw. A pitcher of sweet tea gets passed around and we fill our glasses.
“Are you playing poker tonight?” Maren asks, making conversation.
Corbin nods, reaching for a piece of cornbread. “Later, once Baxter’s momma picks him up. He’s on the rampage today because his frog is missing or something. I don’t know, but he’s a little terror right now.”
“It’s not missing,” I chuckle. “Baxter snuck outside earlier when Archie was asleep. I found him near the pool, looking for the time capsule he buried yesterday.”
Maren lays her fork down and looks at me, “No…”
“Yes. That is one dead frog.”
“Poor kid. Did he have it long?” she asks Corbin.
“No, he found it in the yard a few days ago. You know they’re all over this time of year. Archie will catch him another by the time he visits again.”
Ronnie shakes his head in amusement. “That boy’s not right.”
“He’s five,” Maren defends.
Corbin shares a look with Ronnie. “He also about drowned himself trying to see what underwater smells like, so…”
Maren covers her mouth with a napkin to catch her laugh. “You’re making that up!”
“I swear! Coughed up water all over the living room rug!”
When the meal is almost over, Maren glances from Ronnie to Corbin. “So, the guys know you two are together? How did that go?”
Ronnie sits back in his seat. “Hector swore he already knew, and Archie was offended that neither of us has ever hit on him, despite him being straight.”
“The ego on him,” Maren scoffs, grinning.
The conversation comes easy, and the food is delicious. It’s good to see Maren smiling and laughing with her family. After dinner we sit outside, enjoying the warm spring night. Kids run around, playing, and quite a few neighbors wander over to talk for a few minutes before moving on. It’s not what anyone would call peaceful, but it’s nice.
Once it gets later, Ronnie and Corbin leave for their poker game, and Maren peeks up at me. “Do you want to stay with me again tonight or do you miss your bed?”
“Your bed or mine, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re in it.”
She leads the way inside and I can’t resist running my hand over her ass. “About this no sex thing.”
“Forget it. You have six days until your post op check up. There’s no way I’m going to take you to the emergency room with a rupture because we couldn’t wait.”
“They’d take one look at you and understand.”
Despite the roll of her eyes, she blushes and leans in to drop a kiss on my cheek. “Flattery will get you nowhere. Try to behave. I’m going to take a shower. Do you want to find us a movie to watch?”
I didn’t expect her to change her mind. It’s nice to have someone worry so much about me. Before she can walk off, I pull her back to me. The way she melts in my arms never gets old. A soft moan rumbles her throat when I suck lightly at her neck. “I’m going to be counting down the days, sweetheart.”
“Not your…” Her automatic response to the endearment trails off and she turns her head to look back at me.
“Yes you are.”
A small grin inches across her lips and she nods.
“Sorry, I’m going to need verbal confirmation.”
