Page 80 of Changing Lanes

“Oh…my god. I’m not supposed to be listening to this.” Angela swats my arm and I feign pain. A little compassion goes a long way in my opinion. Unfortunately, she sees right through it so I drop the act. “What’s wrong with you? You’re such a pig talking like that.”

“Sorry.” But, like not. I’ve got nothing to be ashamed about going down on Paige. I probably wouldn’t go around claiming that shit with anyone else but I don’t mind the guys, and Angie, knowing I gave Paige oral. If anything, I’m proud I gave her multiple orgasms already without any reciprocation in sight. It’s no small accomplishment, especially for me, and I kind of want to try again. Maybe I’ll go for more next time. Us overachievers never rest.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing? What about-”

“It’s fine,” I say, cutting her off. I don’t need the fact that I have nightmares shoved in my face. I’m all too aware, hence my original no sleepover rule. “It’s not like we’re dating or anything. I think she might’ve heard some of one already.”

Coty rears back. “Really? What happened?”

A harsh chuckle escapes me. “Chick broke my fucking door down.”

Angie widens her eyes and glances at Coty while Marc laughs his ass off.

“That’s what happened to it?” I nod as he continues more seriously, “What did she say?”

Popping a shoulder, I tell them honestly, “Nothing really. She didn’t see much.” My gaze lingers on both my boys. They know what that means. More than Angie anyway. She may have heard one, too, a long time ago, but she didn’t see the aftermath.

Coty nods in understanding but Marc, he looks away sharply. What was that?

“Is that why you two were late tonight?” Angie asks hesitantly and I smirk, shaking my head.

“I took her up there.” I jerk my chin up to the property halfway up the canyon Coty specifically chose to plant his and his future family’s roots.

“Are you considering buying it?”

The uncertainty on her face doesn’t match the hopefulness on both my boys’.

“What are you so eager about? That’s your property and you know it,” I tell Marc.

He rubs his chin with his fingers and thumb. “The fuck it is. I left that one for you. I can’t believe you haven’t snatched it up yet.”

My eyebrows sink. “What do you mean you left it for me?”

Confusion rolls off both Coty and Angie so I know they’re as lost as I am.

“Who do you think bought the other lots?”

“That was you?” Coty asks him.

Marc just looks at us like we should know that he went behind our backs, making major moves without telling any of us. But, how was anyone supposed to know that? That’s boss ass shit right there.

And here I thought he resented his family’s good fortune. Maybe he’s not allergic to spending some of that money after all.

Angie shakes her head, grinning at each of us. “I should’ve known I’d never get rid of you two.”

Marc, Coty, and I all parrot back to her at the same time with “Never.”

All around Coty’s acreage is long grass, blowing gently from a breeze. With summer in full swing, it’s starting to die off, turning brown like the dirt beneath it and the surrounding sagebrush. Swear there’s more sagebrush here than Arizona. We went there once and felt right at home with the muted tones of neutral on neutral on neutral.

It’s all I’ve ever known though and I’ve never even considered moving away. This part of Washington is a great place to start a family. Lots of open space to roam, low crime rates, extended summers for all the outdoor recreation you could ever want. A family of my own is like far, far on the horizon. So small I can barely even make it out in the distance. A mere blip on the radar really. But that blip, there’s nowhere else I’d rather it happen than right here, next to my original starter family.

I’m fucking in.

“Well, it’s settled, cupcake. You’re getting your wish,” I say to Coty. “Looks like I need to find myself a realtor now.”

Marc lifts his fingers off the table and for a split second I swear I see a sliver of sparkly polish there, but…nah. Must be the sun. It’s fucking brutal out here without any buildings or trees or structures of any kind to block that shit.

“Call mine. He’s had it on lock for the last year anyway, waiting on your slow ass.”