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1064 Words
He grabbed the back of my head to deepen the kiss. And he wasn't kissing me like our house was filled with company. He was kissing me like we had just gotten back from a gala where we both had too much to drink.
"I remember," I whispered.
I could feel his smile in the kiss. I could feel every emotion when our bodies were intertwined like this.
"What on earth are you two doing on the floor?" Ellen said as she came into the apartment. "James, you're going to throw out your back again."
"We were just getting up," he said and slapped my ass.
"Ellie!" Scarlett yelled as she ran into the foyer. "The ice cream is here!"
"Ice cream!" Axel and Sophie yelled in unison.
"Do you really think that's a good idea?" I asked James as I got up off the floor. "They're going to be wired up all day."
"You try telling them no. It was three against two down here for a couple of hours. But now that you're up at least we won't be outnumbered."
I watched the kids run into the kitchen after Ellen. "Thanks for saving me a banana."
"Mhm." He placed a soft kiss against my lips as he pulled me back into his arms. "Ellen said she'd grab some more at the store too."
"Did you know you were still wearing this?" I asked and touched the silly pink necklace.
James laughed. "No. Do you like it?"
"I've never seen it worn better. So they're still refusing to learn the actual rules of Pretty Pretty Princess? It's just a free-for-all with jewelry?"
"They have no idea how to play, but Scarlett and Soph insist that it's their favorite game. I think they just like torturing Axel."
"Speaking of Axel. What did he whisper to Scarlett to calm her down? She's an extremely sore loser and I know she was about to throw a fit."
James laughed. "That kid's a bad whisperer. He said that she was the prettiest princess he ever saw."
"No way. Did he really?"
"That's a direct quote."
"Aw," I said. "That's the most adorable thing I've ever heard."
"Tyler can joke around all he wants about Scarlett being in love with his son. But that boy is just as smitten with her."
I laughed. "I think they make a cute couple."
"They're only three and a half."
"Exactly. And they're already perfect for each other."
James shook his head. "They're practically cousins. Axel calls us Uncle James and Aunt Penny. And Scarlett does the same with Tyler and Hailey."
"Oh, the forbidden nature of it all. Like that hasn't ever intrigued a girl?"
"They're three and a half," he said again. "I don't think they even know what forbidden means. Besides, Scarlett isn't allowed to date until she's 30."
I laughed. "If she was more like me you wouldn't have to worry so much. I didn't even have my first kiss until college."
"But then you started sleeping with your professor. You're a terrible influence."
"Me? I'm the one saying I'd be happy if she ended up with a boy we already know and love."
"Now that I know what it's like to have a daughter, I'm lucky your father didn't kill me. I'm going to want to murder anyone who even kisses Scarlett." He pulled away from me and reached up to unhook his necklace. "I'll be right back. I need to de-princess myself." He winked at me and disappeared back into the family room.
Thursday
I picked up the last slice of pizza and took a huge bite. "Today was way better than the beach. And honestly, I was craving this pizza, not Grottos."
"Really? Did you finally just admit that Grottos is second best to Totonno's Pizzeria?"
"I was just in the mood for it."
"You, Mrs. Hunter, are officially a New Yorker."
"I am not. I'm a Delawarean." But I smiled at the thought of truly being a New Yorker.
James laughed. "Do you ever want to go back?"
I set my slice of pizza down. "You know, I thought I would. Especially once we had kids. But our whole life is here." I looked into the other room where the kids were bouncing around the room giggling. They were addicted to this game where an elephant shot butterflies out of its nose. They had to run around catching the butterflies in their nets before they hit the ground. It was one of the only things that could entertain all of them for at least an hour, so it was one of my favorite games too. "Suburbia wouldn't really feel like home anymore," I said and turned back to James. "I do wish my parents visited more, though."
"Your mom has been threatening to stay with us for a few weeks after the baby is born. So we'll be seeing plenty of them soon enough."
"Why does the thought of my mother staying here bother you so much? You really don't have to put them up in a hotel every time they visit. We have plenty of room."
He leaned forward slightly. "The thought of your parents hearing us make love doesn't exactly get me going."
I laughed. "We're not going to be having s*x after the baby is born. For awhile anyway."
"Don't remind me." He put his chin in his hand and stared at me.
I lifted up my slice of pizza again.
"You know, I wouldn't mind if it was a boy."
I stopped chewing mid-bite. That was the first time James had ever said that. The whole time I was pregnant with Scarlett he insisted it was going to be a girl. And he had been doing the same this time. "Really?"
"I don't know. It might be fun to have another guy in the house. And I could teach him how to throw a football. And hit a baseball." He grabbed the piece of pizza out of my hand and took a bite. "It wouldn't be all bad is what I'm saying."
I couldn't even believe my ears. "You want a boy."
He laughed. "I didn't say that. I said I wouldn't mind if it was a boy."
"No, you totally want a little boy. If it was a boy, what would you want to name him?"
"I don't know."
- Writer
