Page 37 of Learn Your Lesson

Livia did a little dance in her chair with that comment, her tongue out and hips thrusting as Maven and Grace laughed and chastised her.

I couldn’t help the little twinge of possessiveness that came over me when I watched her do it, but thankfully, it receded as quickly as it had come, and then the conversation moved to Grace — to where she was off to next, which happened to be Spain.

It was a magical evening, one filled with bottle after bottle of wine, conversation rich and deep and easy, and laughter that made my stomach hurt. I was perfectly content to sit on the sideline and just listen to them talk, but they always made sure I wasinvolved, asking me questions about school, about my mother and grandmother, about how the hell I put up with a classroom full of kids every day.

By the time the boys showed up and Jaxson offered to drive me back to Will’s, I was buzzed and smiling ear to ear.

Because for the first time in my life, I felt like I’d found a group of girls I could be friends with.

Will and Ava were both already asleep when I got home, and I no sooner made it back to the pool house and greeted my cats before my phone pinged.

Maven:Welcome to the group text, Chloe!

Livia:Beware of NSFW images at random.

Grace:No, seriously, beware of that. I was with my mom the last time Livia sent a picture of her latest toy. My poor mother is still scarred.

Livia:Or is she curious…

Grace:EW.

Maven:Love you all so much. Thank you for your help tonight. And by help, I’m talking to Chloe only. The rest of you were useless.

Livia:And you love us still. HIRE AN EVENT PLANNER. Goodnight, bitches.

Me:Thank you for inviting me. I had a lot of fun.

Grace:Good, because you’re stuck with us now.

Maven:*kiss emoji*

Livia:Feel free to send us photos of that fine ass daddy, too.

Maven:LIV

I laughed, plugging my phone in to charge and dragging my smiley, tipsy ass into the shower.

You Don’t Count

Will

It smelled like a goddamn lemon orchard in my house.

The sweet, tangy scent invaded my senses as soon as I walked in, a candle burning in the entryway and soft voices streaming in from somewhere in the house. I shrugged off my coat, hanging it by the front door before investigating the sound further. When I rounded into the kitchen, I found it spotless — dishwasher running and pans drying on the mat while a podcast of some sort played on a speaker.

I frowned.

Arushi had asked for the weekend off. She had family in town. I’d let Chloe know as much and left money for pizza. But the evidence pointed to her cooking, instead.

“Daddy, look!”

I whipped around to find Ava waddling toward me — and yes, she was waddling, because she was dressed head to toe in full hockey gear.

Her curly hair was hidden under a mini helmet, herlegs shielded by thick pads, a jersey just a tad bit too big for her swallowing her slight frame.

My eyes shot wide, and then slid to where Chloe was standing at the bottom of the staircase. She covered her smile with one hand, but I swore her eyes were a bit glossy as she watched my daughter teeter over to me.

“Whoa!” I said when she dropped into a low stance in front of me. She had one of my old hockey sticks in her hands, one I’d given to her after a winning game last season, and she stuck her tongue out as she pretended to skate toward me, tapping the stick side to side.