Shannon’s Reviews > Mistakes Were Made > Status Update

“Don’t think this is getting you out of a serious conversation,” Mom called after me. I was absolutely going to run out of the courtroom and hide from my mother for the foreseeable future.

“Speaking of Gage,” she continued, cupping her face in her hands and batting her eyelashes at me. “We weren’t,” I pointed out. “But we are now,” she said cheerfully. “Unfortunately, we need to table this part of the discussion until later, because you have an interview,” I said… “But I don’t wanna talk to real people. I wanna hang out with the fictional ones in my head.” “Tough shit.”

He put his drink down and leveled me with a look. “Who told you you’re too hard to love?” I laughed. “Well, my parents for starters. When your own parents find it too difficult to love you, you know you’re the problem.” It was strange to think that now there was a reason, a label for what had been wrong all these years. “The more I hear about your parents, the less I like them,” he said.

“Stop wasting your time berating yourself for not doing things you can’t do. You know how many things I can’t do? Do you see me having a self-worth crisis because I can’t change the oil in my car or make a damn pie crust from scratch? No. Because I’m fucking great at a bunch of other things, and that’s where I’m going to spend my time and energy.”

“Sweetheart, just because I’m the good guy when my clothes are on doesn’t mean I go to bed that way.” “If you want sex, say the word, I’m willing to risk your heartbreak to find out how good you are in bed.” I let my hand coast over her ribs until it fit under one full breast. “I want more than sex. A lot more.” She looked smug and relaxed, but her heart hammered “That’s a shame,” she said

His eyes were fixed on me that deep forest green holding me immobile as he took another half step forward into my space. We were standing too close for it to be innocent, I fantasized about what would happen if those last few inches disappeared. “Zo” he said on a gravelly rasp. “Yeah?” I squeaked. I cleared my throat. “I mean, yeah?” I said in a lower octave. “You sure you’re not the one?” he asked.

How goes the wife hunt?” she asked… “I’ve been too busy making sure my new tenant doesn’t get crushed by her bookcase to do much hunting.” “Better get on that. Those sperm aren’t getting any younger,” she teased. Sperm wasn’t exactly a sexy word, but hearing it come out of Zoey’s mouth while we were lying on a bed together was too close to the line. I was playing with fucking fire here.

She let go of my hand and ran a victory lap through the entire apartment before throwing herself at me and wrapping me in a one-sided, violent hug. “Thank you thank you thank you, Gage!” She released me and danced off to inspect the kitchen. “What the fuck have I done,” I whispered to myself.

“You know your sons are going to that bonfire tonight,” Levi said the second the boys were out of earshot. “You know your niece was making out with a boy, right?” Laura shot back. All three uncles looked pained. “I liked it better when they were over five and under ten,” Gage complained. “Back when they thought we were cool,” Cam said wistfully.

Levi nodded sagely, then took another bite of his sandwich. “Good talk,” I said. He grunted.