my ass, making me laugh. “Stop.”
“I can’t.”
“Try.” I smile against his mouth then wiggle free from his hold and walk backward until I reach the hall for the bedroom, listening to him laugh. Grabbing my cell off the bedside table, I send July a text telling her to call me when she has time as I head into the bathroom to get dressed.
“Hey,” I answer my phone when it rings with her name as I’m tucking my shirt into my slacks.
“I got your message. What’s up?” she asks, and I look at my top in the mirror then smile. One of my favorite things about teaching younger kids is that I have a reason to purchase clothing that would otherwise look ridiculous on a woman my age. Like today’s navy blue long-sleeved button down that has tiny colorful hot air balloons all over it. “Hello, are you there?” July calls.
“Sorry, yeah, I’m just in the middle of getting dressed for work,” I reply, sliding a thin red belt through the loops of my navy slacks. “Anyway, Gareth’s ex got the boys a dog, and I just wanted to see if you had time to check him out today.”
“What kind of dog is it?”
“A big one,” I say.
She laughs. “That’s helpful.”
I roll my eyes. “I honestly don’t know what kind of dog it is. Beth didn’t leave any paperwork or anything. All I know is he’s big and looks like his skin is melting off.”
“He could be a Shar Pei. Did she say what pound she got him from?”
“No, just somewhere in Nashville.”
“All right, tell Gareth he can bring him in anytime today and I’ll fit him in.”
“Thanks, I owe you.”
“You can pay me back by coming out to have a drink with me and the rest of the girls Saturday. We all want to know what’s been going on,” she says, making me feel guilty.
The last few weeks, I have been consumed with Gareth and the boys. Not that I’m complaining. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but with them. Still, I’ve hardly talked to my sisters.
“I’m sorry. It’s just been…”
“Crazy,” she finishes for me.
“Exactly.” I sigh. “What time Saturday are y’all meeting?”
“I think nine, unless we have dinner before; then it will be a little earlier.”
“All right, I’ll meet you guys. Just let me know when and where.”
“Cool, and you should know Mom’s beyond excited about tonight.”
“I know. I’m just not sure if she’s excited about meeting the boys or going to dinner at Flame.”
“The boys,” she assures, and then asks, “Can Gareth hook me up with a reservation for Flame?”
I laugh. “I’m not sure, but you can ask him when you see him today.”
“All right, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good day at work, and tell Gareth I’ll see him later.”
“I will. Love you, and talk to you soon.”
“Soon, love you.”
I hang up then slip on my flats and grab my bag. When I walk into the kitchen, the boys are eating, and Sloth is lying on the floor next to the back door like he came back in and gave up moving any farther. “July said you can take Sloth in anytime today and she’ll make time for you,” I tell Gareth, going to his side and taking his cup of coffee to have a sip.
“Is July your sister who’s a vet?” Max asks, and I nod. “Why is Sloth going to see her?”
“He’s a dog. He has to go to the vet,” Mitchell says, and Max looks over at him. “It’s normal after you get an animal that you take him to get checked out. It’s not a big deal.” He shrugs then goes back to eating, and Max looks at me for confirmation.
“He’s right. It’s normal.”
He nods then asks, “Is your sister going to be at dinner tonight?”
“No, tonight, you’re just meeting my parents, but you’ll meet my whole family on Memorial Day. My parents have a huge pool party and barbeque every year, and all the Maysons, along with tons of friends, show up. It’s always a lot of fun.”
“Awesome.” He grins.
“It is awesome.” I grin back then glance at the clock and take one more sip of Gareth’s coffee before I hand it back to him. “I need to stop at my place to pick up some stuff before I go to work, so I need to run.”
“I don’t know why you don’t just move in. It’s weird that you’re always here and still have an apartment,” Mitchell tells me,