“You can’t be this stressed out over this feature,” Nicole says as she sits at my table.

She has no idea. I’ve been working on my rough draft while Noah’s in California, and I’m on version number six. All of them suck.

“You try writing a huge article about a guy you’re dating and not talk about the size of his dick.”

It’s pretty much impossible. Draft number two wasn’t half bad until I started talking about the number of orgasms Noah is able to deliver when he concentrates. As much as I’d love to brag, I’m not sure I need to give women any more reasons to fall for him.

“Feel free to tell me about it.” She smirks over the rim of her mug.

“You’re the last person I’m telling.”

She nods sagely. “That’s probably a good decision.”

Nicole stopped by, saying she had big news and couldn’t wait to tell me. Little did I know it would be about her sleeping with a guy I dated in high school—and his twin brother. With most situations regarding Nicole, I’m never quite sure of the appropriate reaction.

One part of me thinks it’s kind of cool that she’s so adventurous. The other part says she needs to be careful because she’s going to get hurt. These guys aren’t worried about her well-being as much as they’re concerned with getting off.

“Can I read the latest version?” she asks.

I don’t remember being weird about my articles before, but I’m super protective about this one. I haven’t shown anyone this. It’s Noah. It’s the man I’m in love with and am about to share with the world. Well, all ten thousand followers of the blog.

“Not until I’m done.”

“Kris.” She gives me a look. “How much do you have written?”

“Some.” I glance at the paper that is sitting between us. The one with all of two sentences written.

She sees my eyes go to it, and we both lunge. Nicole is faster and grabs it. “Kristin!” Nicole shrieks. “You wrote your names! That’s it! You need to write . . . words and all.”

“I know.” I tear the paper from her hands. “I’m working on it, but my crazy ass friend showed up and started talking about anal. Things deteriorated from there. Can’t really write when you’re talking about getting it in the ass with my ex-boyfriend and his brother.”

Nicole sits back down with a sheepish grin. “Please tell me you’ve let Noah stick it in your butt.”

“If I didn’t let my husband of fourteen years do it, what the hell makes you think I let him?”

She shrugs. “Because Scott probably liked it in the ass. I mean he always acted like something was shoved up there.”

“I wish you hadn’t put that image in my mind twenty minutes before he’s supposed to drop the kids off.” I laugh.

Scott has the kids for their Wednesday night dinner. I thought I’d get some work done since my deadline is coming and Noah had to go to L.A. for a callback. I haven’t seen him in three days, and I miss him terribly.

“Speaking of Asshole, did he say anything about Jillian when he picked them up?”

Danielle let Heather and Nicole know about the incident last week. None of us were overly surprised, but they were all still as disappointed as I had been. I always hoped I was wrong regarding their relationship. It was easier to delude myself than seek the truth. Then I’d have no excuses left, and I would’ve needed to decide.

“He just said she wasn’t going to dinner with them. Finn was relieved, and Aubrey couldn’t care less.”

Nicole laughs. “I swear, she shits sunshine and farts glitter. That girl is the happiest person I’ve ever met. I’m going to beat whoever it is that makes her the slightest bit sad.”

Aubrey is really her own source of anti-depressants. There’s very little that makes her sad, she finds the good in everything. “It’ll be a boy,” I tell her.

“And I’ll kill him.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

Nicole points back to the paper. “You better get to work.”

I groan and drop my head on my arm. “I hate this. Nothing seems interesting because he’s so much more than I can put into words. He’s sweet, loving, has this big heart, and I love him.”

“Doesn’t hurt that he’s well equipped in the peen department.”

That would be what she goes back to. However, she isn’t wrong. “Truth.”

My phone dings, and I’m sure it’s Scott telling me he’s on his way.

I smile at the fact that he’s thinking of us.

I start to type back a response but can feel Nicole’s eyes watching me. “What?” I ask her.

“Nothing. It’s cute watching you get all starry-eyed when he texts you. Do you guys sext? Can I see?”

“No, we don’t sext!” I shake my head with a laugh.

“Why the hell not?”

She’s insane. “Because I’m not seventeen.”

“Your loss. Just ask him for a dick pic then.”

Sometimes it’s best to ignore her.

I look back to the screen, wanting to ask him a million questions. Since our night together, we’ve barely had two minutes to catch up. He’s been in back-to-back meetings, and the three-hour time difference has done nothing to help with the lack of communication. Really, there’s only one thing I want to know. The rest we can figure out when he gets here.

Soon sucks. I want him here now. However, I’m not going to make him feel bad when he clearly has to work.

I giggle at the fact that his name really is Joseph.

I put the phone down with a huge grin. I never in a million years thought I’d be in love like this. I didn’t know it even existed. Now, I don’t ever want to be without it.

“You’re as bad as Heather now.”

“You’ll find a man who makes you feel like this, and then you’ll understand.”

He’s out there. She just has to find him.

She flips me off in typical Nicole fashion. “So I can be like you two? No thanks. Heather took a leave of absence to follow him around. You’re over here practically glowing from a text message, and I’m getting double time with twins . . . who is living the life?”

As much as she likes to play the single and loving life card, I remember not all that long ago when she was broken. I take her hand in mine. “I love you, Nic. I think you’re the bravest woman I know. Not many could go through the hell you have and still be standing, but love isn’t a weapon. Real, true, honest love is precious and can heal the damage others have done. Don’t give up on it.”

The iron curtains she works so hard to hide behind shift, and I catch the pain in her eyes. As quickly as it appears, it’s gone. She pulls her hand back and looks away. “I’m better like this.”

Nicole wants to be loved. No matter what she says, that need is engrained in us. It sucks that the one time she took a chance on it, it broke her.

“You’re perfect no matter what,” I reassure her.

She nods. “Damn right. Now, let’s get your article written before you miss your deadline.”

I chew on my lip as I read through the final draft one more time. It’s due to Erica in the next thirty minutes, and I want it perfect. After I realize I can’t nuke it any more than I already have, I send the file and pray it doesn’t suck.

“What is that, Mommy?” Aubrey asks as I press send on the email, handing the article off to my editor.

“It’s my article about Noah.”

“I like Noah,” she tells me.

I pull her on my lap and kiss her cheek. “Me, too.”

“He hasn’t fed my animals, though.”

“Because he’s not here,” Finn answers her as he walks in the living room. “Too bad Jillian doesn’t disappear like him.”

He really hates her, and I know I can’t encourage his attitude, but I don’t blame him. Not because she deserves anything, but because her presence is making their visits awful. The more Finn pushes her hand, the worse it’ll get.

“I know you don’t like her, but your dad is going to marry her.”

Finn huffs. “I hate her.”

“Why do you hate her, Finn?”

He looks at his feet. “Because I don’t know her! And Dad is just going to marry her? He’s supposed to love you!”

Oh, my sweet boy. I can’t imagine that there isn’t some small part of him that hopes for this grand reconciliation, but it’s never going to happen. “Hating Jillian isn’t going to make your father and I get back together, buddy. You will always have your dad, but he loves her, and she isn’t going anywhere.” Even if we’d all like to see her take a dip in a vat of battery acid. Nothing says asshole like enjoying being a homewrecker.

Although, I’m sure it was all my fault.

I couldn’t keep him happy. I couldn’t keep the house the way he wanted. I was shitty in bed and all the other crap he probably said. Lucky for Scott, he had his assistant ready to service him and his tiny pecker.

Of course, I don’t get to say any of that.

“Why does Daddy love her?” Aubrey asks, turning her head so she can see me.

Because he’s an idiot who thinks with the wrong head.

“He just does. Sometimes we love people for no reason.”

Lord knows I can’t seem to find a redeeming quality in her.

Aubrey twirls my hair. “She said you’re not Daddy’s wife anymore.”

This shit is going to stop. I’m tired of the kids coming home and telling me the things she tells them. It’s clear she doesn’t like my children, so she should stop talking to them and me. Scott is going to get an earful. I won’t hesitate in taking him back to court and getting full custody. I bet he’ll love having to pay more money for child support.

My kids are not going to be poisoned or made to feel uncomfortable because he’s moving on. I’m doing the same thing with Noah, only I’m not shoving him down their damn throats.

I touch the side of Aubrey’s face. “I’m not. But I’m still your mommy and he’s still your daddy.”

“That’s good.” She smiles. “You’re a good mommy.”

“I’m glad you think so.” I tickle her side.

“Is Noah coming back still?” Finn asks.

“I think he’ll be back tomorrow, why?”

I tread carefully because Finn is one of those kids that can take words and twist them. He’s going through a lot, and I don’t need to walk into a trap.

“There’s a Harry Potter marathon on.” He scratches his head and looks away.

My chest lightens, and I suppress the smile trying to work its way onto my lips. My son is thinking of Noah. Last night I was on FaceTime with him, and Finn talked to him for a few minutes. It was so cute how the two of them chatted about Hollywood. Finn is fascinated by everything related to film. Noah is more than happy to tell him about it.

I sat there and watched my son’s face light up when Noah told him he had dinner with his favorite actor.

I laughed when Noah seemed miffed that he wasn’t his favorite.

“I’m sure if Noah’s back he’ll watch. If that’s okay that he comes over . . .”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Finn looks confused.

“I don’t know, you don’t seem to like Jillian around, I wasn’t sure how you felt about Noah.”

Aubrey hops off my lap and spins in the middle of the room. “Noah has to come over.” She giggles. “He’s my zookeeper.”

Yes, that is the most important thing to my daughter—her fake zoo and the stuffed animals that reside there.

“Noah isn’t like Jillian.” He sneers her name, and I don’t disagree one bit.

“He’s nice,” Aubrey says and starts spinning again.

They have no idea how good that makes me feel. Noah is important to me, but we’re taking things slow with the kids. We both want them to be comfortable with him before we throw things in their face. That’s the one thing about Scott I don’t understand. Why rush? Why does he have to marry her? If they love each other so much, why not wait even if there is a baby involved? It’s not the fifties where you need to get married if you’re pregnant.

I love Noah. I love him for more than just today. I’ll love him tomorrow and the next day. That’s why neither of us feels the need to push things quicker than they’re going.

“Besides, I heard them yelling because Dad said he wants to wait,” Finn snickers.

I’m not above a little gossip. “Wait?”

“Yup,” Finn responds while watching his phone. “He doesn’t want to marry her. I heard them fighting. Something about me and being okay with it.”

That’s interesting. Scott has been trying with Finn since their fight. They’ve been talking more often, which makes me happy. That’s his son, and I want them to all get along. I don’t have to love him, but I want my kids to think he’s the best man there is. Every child needs the love of their parents.

“Are you happy about that?” I ask.

Finn shrugs, giving me his typical ten-year-old response. Heaven forbid I interrupt his video of a grown man yelling at his computer.

The doorbell rings, stopping our conversation, which was apparently over anyway. Aubrey runs to the door, and I’m right behind her.

“Noah!” she screams and throws her arms around him.

“Hey, cutie!”

Noah hoists Aubrey into his arms, and my heart races at the sight. It’s been seven days since I’ve breathed the same air as him. Seven days of longing to touch him, and he’s standing in my doorway. However, we have an audience, so as much as I’d like to kiss him breathless and possibly naked, I can’t.

“Hi.” I smile and lean my head on the edge of the door.

“Noah! Guess what?” Finn comes barreling toward him. “Harry Potter is on all day!”

“No way!” Noah grins. “Can I watch it with you?”

“Duh! That’s why I’m telling you,” Finn says as if Noah’s missing the point.

I guess my boyfriend got taken away from me—by my kids. Aubrey takes Noah’s cheeks and forces him to look at her.

Her eyes go big, and she squishes his face. “You have work to do, Mister.”

I giggle, and Noah tries to talk with her still pushing his cheeks. “I do?”

“Yup! The animals are hungry.”

“Aubrey, they’re stuffed animals! They’re not real!” Finn grumbles.

“Okay, guys.” I put a stop to the fight that is about to begin. “Let’s let Noah in the front door.”

He puts Aubrey down, and she props her hands on her hips, staring up at him. “I’ll go get them ready for their feeding.”

Noah squats, taps her nose, and smiles. “Sounds like a plan. I wouldn’t want them to be hungry.”

I roll my eyes as she sways her hips. Such a flirt even at six. After she runs off, he moves closer to me, looking even better than I remember. His hair is shorter, but his beard is much thicker, and I like it. Noah shifts his weight at the same time I do. My pulse is racing, making it so I have to grip the door in order to stop myself from attacking him. “Hi.” I breathe the word.

“You said that already, Mom,” Finn says from behind me.

Damn it. I forgot he was here.

The corners of Noah’s mouth lift. “She did,” he agrees. “Maybe her memory is slipping in her old age, huh, Finn?”

“Probably!” Finn laughs. “The other day, she couldn’t find her keys for an hour. They were in the fridge.”

“Traitor.”

Noah laughs and brushes his fingers against mine. “We’ll say hi again later.”

Oh, he’s damn right we will.

He’s the gift you’ve prayed would be sitting under the tree on Christmas morning. He’s what I want to unwrap and play with, but I have to wait.