"Michael is fine, Dad. He's having the time of his life, I swear." I sit at the deck by the pool, my legs are in the water. My son is running around, throwing his toys in the water while I watch him with a calm demeanor. I found my zen two years ago. I don't think there are a lot of things that can piss me off when it comes to my son. If he does something bad or rude, he knows there will be consequences. Throwing toys into the pool is definitely not on the list. "Your grandson can't wait for preschool to start again. He misses his friends."

"Really? Or is it you who can't wait for preschool to start?" Dad laughs and I roll my eyes.

"Me too," I say, waving to my son to get his attention. He has Smokey pressed to his chest, and my cat looks more than just weirded out. He won't appreciate Michael throwing him in the water. Neither will I. "Put him down."

"He wants to swim." He comes closer and stops by my side, his big brown eyes twinkle with playfulness.

"Who told you that?" I arch an eyebrow, and Michael lowers the cat on the ground. The next moment we know, Smokey is back in the house. "Somehow I don't see his excitement, honey."

"But he loves spending time with you when you're taking a bath." He frowns, pouting his lips. "I thought he loved water."

"Nah, baby, he doesn't. Most of the time, he just sleeps on my clothes while I'm enjoying my time in the bathroom." I tap on his nose, and he smiles. "We're going to have dinner in twenty minutes, so I suggest you go play some more."

"Okie-dokie." Michael giggles and runs away to the house.

I shake my head and press the phone back to my ear. "Sorry, Dad, I needed to save Smokey from being thrown into the water."

"Well, next time tell your husband not to take the cat into the pool and your son won't be trying to do the same." Dad chuckles, and I sigh exasperatedly. How could I forget? I was ready to kill Colton when I saw him putting a totally bewildered Smokey on the air mattress and pushing it to the middle of the pool. Now we know that our cat can swim, but also? He freaking hates it. "Michael told me you're going to visit Isla and Ian tomorrow."

"Yeah, Bella invited us to a barbeque at their place. Drake is coming too. We're trying to help him get used to a new city, meet new people, show him our favorite places, you know. So far he likes everything. Except his neighbor." I snort, remembering how exasperated and annoyed Benson was when we got back from his house. I don't think he will forget Evangelina any time soon. "He says he hates her."

"Sounds familiar. I remember finding you in the kitchen all those years ago, when you told me about Colton and how much you hate him."

"I still do when Colt acts like an insufferable moron." The second these words leave my mouth, someone shoves me in the water. I raise my hand with my phone and turn around, boring my gaze into my husband. A cocky smile plays on his lips, as he and Drake stand by the pool with their sports bags draped over their shoulders. They just came home from the practice, and the best idea Colton had was to push me into the water. "Sorry Dad, my husband just proved why I hate him. Tell Pen I said hi, honestly can't wait to see you two next week. Love you."

"Love you too, kid. Bye."

Dad ends the call as I swim to the edge of the pool, throw my phone on the grass and pull myself out. Drake is still trying to keep a straight face, while Colt grins at me like a Cheshire cat. Damn him! I bend down, take my phone and stomp inside the house, hearing Benson and Thompson burst out with laughter. Jerks!

Drying my hair, I stand in front of the mirror in the bathroom and smile at myself. My dad's words about the night when I talked to him about Colton for the first time brought my memories back to the surface. Not sure I ever hated him though, but he definitely annoyed the fuck out of me on more occasions than I could count. All because he had no idea how to express his feelings... a total opposite from how my husband is now. He has a way with words that makes me weak in my knees, and I honestly am a hot wet mess anytime he whispers in my ear, calling me a good girl. The passion we share flares up any time we are alone, leaving me wanting more. Always.

Walking into the living room, I see Michael and Drake sitting on the couch and watching Loud House. Somehow seeing my childhood's friend watching cartoons with my son doesn't surprise me. All big and bulky, but Drake is a real teddy bear inside, and it shows when he's around kids and his closest people. I shake my head and edge to the kitchen. Dinner has been ready for a long time, I just need to reheat everything and set the table. Working from home has its perks, especially when you're self-employed.

What started from my desire to support indie authors turned into something really great, and what is more important - helpful. I have two more girls that I met being a part of the booktok community, working with me as PA agents, and we continue growing and extending our business to the next level. Some authors work with us exclusively, some order only some services like creating content, helping with promotion, dealing with ARC teams. I love reading books and discovering new authors, and I'm beyond happy I was able to turn it into my career. My smutty stepmother is incredibly proud of me, and without her support... I'm not sure I would have had it in me to continue when Michael was born. It felt as if I was failing everyone as I was busy with my son. So she stepped in, and not only helped me to keep going, but also landed me two new contracts... with authors who fucking turned the world upside down and became New York times sensations. The indie authors world would never be the same, for sure.

"How is Dax? Penelope?" My husband's voice takes me by surprise, but I masterfully hide it. I'm not angry with him, but I want him to stew a little. And make him all worked-up. He deserves it. "Ava?"

I continue cutting tomatoes for a light salad, when a hand wraps around my waist from behind and my back is pressed to a solid chest. "Dad said he's going to give you a long lecture about how you treat your wife."

"He wouldn't." Colt murmurs, bending his head down and grazing my ear with his teeth. "Dax knows how much I love you."

"Seems to me you love making fun of me just the same." I falsely scoff, enjoying the warmth of his body.

"Definitely not." His big calloused palm covers mine and I stop. I put the knife on the cutting board and turn around, looking up at my husband's face. He has a beard now, and it adds a thousand points in his favor at once. His dark brown eyes are peeled to my face, and I see the reflection of my own feelings. Love. Lust. And also happiness. I lower my gaze, down to his chest and my eyes linger on his wrist. He has tattoos, covering both of his arms from his shoulders to his wrists, but there is one that is incredibly special. A matching tattoo to my own, that I have on my lower abdomen. Our secret.

"Hey." I murmur, standing up on my tiptoes and kissing his full lips. If it weren't for Drake and Michael, I would have dragged him upstairs and let him have his way with me. I really can't wait for Sunday when it will be just the two of us once Michael goes to sleep.

"Hey babe." Colt sighs, pressing his forehead to mine. "How was your day?"

"Good. A little bit less productive than I hoped, but overall? Everything is fine," I say, winding my hands around his waist. "Michael was well behaved, and I even took a nap with him for an hour."

"Took a nap?" He arches his eyebrow, and I giggle.

"I started a book, but it bored me to death and literally lulled me to sleep. I don't know why I'm still trying to give stories with childhood crushes' trope a chance. It's one of the most unrealistic things in the world, and you will never change my mind." I exclaim, seeing him staring at me in amusement. "What?"

"So books with a reverse harem are realistic?" A smile blooms on my lips, tenderness filling my bones. The amount of books I read with him is huge, or more like... the number of chapters and excerpts we role-play. Colton is up for everything, except letting another person in our bedroom. It doesn't even matter, woman or man, the answer will always be no. From both of us.

"Reverse harem is not my favorite genre, but it has its appeal. And it's very entertaining, and educational. Your sex life became a lot richer because of it, so you're not allowed to complain."

"Was I?" He snorts, kisses my forehead and takes a step back. "Need some help with dinner?"

"No. I have everything under control." I turn around and toss tomatoes into the bowl. Colt doesn't leave, leaning his back on the kitchen counter and watching me. "What?"

"I talked to Clay."

"I talked to him a few days ago as well. Did something happen?"

"He knows about Drake's transfer, about him staying at our house." He chews on his bottom lip. "He asked about Layla. Clay thinks she's visiting too."

"Colt, do you really think it was a good idea hiding Layla's pregnancy from him?"

"Ava, do you remember the last time we hung out together? How he hoped to win her back and she showed up with Eli? I've never seen my best friend more heartbroken than that day. Even when she ended their relationship after his graduation, he wasn't like that. I don't want him to have his hopes up, for her to come back into his life and ruin him again."

"She's-"

"As soon as her jerk of a boyfriend shows up, she will run to him as if nothing happened. As if he didn't abandon her with their daughter because he got bored. Even Drake thinks that." Colton frowns more, smacking his lips into a tight line. "I love your best friend. I'm all for supporting her. But on my list of priorities, my best friend's well-being is way more important than a girl, who couldn't realize what a piece of shit she fell in love with. Clay was perfect for her. He would have done anything for Layla, and she just ripped his heart out of his chest and smashed it into the wall."

"Did you tell him she's with Eli?"

"Yes. He became moody, but quickly snapped out of it. He knows better."

"Will Drake tell him the same?" I grab a bowl with salad, staring at my husband in the eyes.

"He already told him the same. Rodgers is his best friend too."

"If he asks, I will tell the same." I exclaim and saunter out of the kitchen. "I love Clay too."

🏒✨🏒✨🏒

I've never really thought about it before, but I believe I have some kind of a radar. The radar which helps me to find my people. People who are close to me, mentally and emotionally and who have the same interests, the same values. If someone ever gives me bad vibes from the start, nothing good will come out of it. It was like that with Jordan. It was like that with Baker. Even Grace. I didn't really like her, because I was jealous thinking she wanted to steal my best friend. Then Colton happened, and I was more than careful around her. And not without a reason. In her third year, Layla walked into the room on her roommate giving a blowjob to my best friend's boyfriend. A snakey Grace showed herself in full glory. It's safe to say, Layla always tries to listen to me... but only when it doesn't concern her love life. Sadly.

Sitting at the table on the terrace of Bella and Xander's house, I can't help but smile. Colt and Drake are arguing with Xander and his best friend, Drew, trying to decide what soccer club is better. What could be better for hockey players to talk about with football players? Apparently, nothing is better than soccer. They've been going on and on about it for an hour already. My husband says it's Real Madrid, while Drake claims it's Juventus. To add more havoc, Xander loves and supports Liverpool, and Drew is one big fan of Bayern Munich. Four different championships, four different countries... but who cares? Their voices become louder and louder with each minute.

"Why can't they just agree to disagree?" Kelly, Drew's wife, mutters, taking a sip of her wine.

"They all are a bunch of stubborn mules, nothing else." I say, and Bella bursts out laughing.

"Couldn't have said it better myself." She slowly stands up and looks around the terrace. The kids are all huddled together a little bit farther away from the table. They asked to go play as soon as they ate, and didn't come back to us even once. Their laughter and loud chattering are the best indicators of their good moods, and it really warms my heart. "Thought so."

She pushes herself from the table and strolls to the kids. A moment later, I see her shooing their dog, Milo, away. I snort, watching as this corgi slowly drags his feet to the house. He's on a very strict diet, while the kids took some sweets with them from the table. The dog probably hoped they would give him something, and Bella totally shattered his dreams.

Bella's phone is on the table, and it dings with a new message. She comes back, takes it and quickly checks it. Her face lights up with a smile as she turns her head to me. "You will never believe what I just got."

"What is it?"

"It's a new book from your favorite author." My eyes widen, as I gawk at her in bewilderment. "I got an ARC."

"You and your books." Kelly smirks, standing up from the table and heading to the kids, leaving Bella and me alone.

"How the hell did you get it?!" I demand, fishing my phone from the purse and not seeing any new emails. Dammit!

"Do you remember Eva?" She murmurs, and I nod my head, my eyes instantly traveling to Drake. He said his crazy neighbor was home when he moved in this morning, but he hadn't seen her. He left his newly purchased Lexus RX Hybrid parked near her car. 'A rich spoiled girl is going to know I also have money to buy myself an expensive car.' I honestly slapped him upside his head for his words. His irritation and annoyance toward her turned him into someone I didn't recognize, and I didn't like it.

"Yup, what about her?"

"She actually loves reading too, and if we see each other we often talk about books. She knew I wanted to read this book, so she helped me get it."

"But how? I submitted my request months ago!" I huff, and Bella pats me on my back.

"Eva's mom is an editor, and she worked on this book, so..."

"Ugh, kinda hate you right now."

"Don't. My lips are sealed so you won't hear any spoilers from me. I swear." She smiles, and I roll my eyes, still smiling in return. We talk some more about books, but then Ian shows up and makes her follow him inside the house. I shift my gaze to the kids and see Michael running after Isla, and they both giggle, enjoying each other's company. As always.

Feeling someone's gaze on me, I sneak a glance at my husband, and our eyes instantly lock on each other. He's smiling from ear to ear, watching me. I raise my glass in his direction and take a sip, barely holding the drink in my mouth because of his next action. He spreads two of his fingers and wags his tongue at me, quickly balling his fist as if he didn't do anything. He didn't... Oh my fucking God! Damn you, Colton! My revenge is going to be very sweet... I promise.