Page 4 of Reconcile
Dang.
I watch Piper climb into her town car, complete with the driver who picks her sister and her up from school every day before Cole and I climb into our car.
Samantha has a car of her own, and Spence is in college, so it’s only Cole and me riding to our house where our French tutor is probably already waiting.
I look out the window, wishing I could be like the kids I see playing in the park we drive past.
Wishing I wasn’t a Ross.
3
SAWYER
“Swearer! Catch me!” Baz soars through the air and jumps into my arms as I walk through the gate to their backyard.
“Oomph!” I catch him and laugh, “You’re getting huge, little man.”
He giggles at that and then runs off as Asher walks to me, laughing, and hands me a beer. “He’s tough.”
Ash watches Baz with admiration as he plays on his swing set, hopping all around. “Yeah, I don’t know how the hell he has so much energy.”
“I think he feeds off ours,” Viv says as Ash and I join her at the patio table.
“You’re probably right about that.” I take a seat and look at the food they’ve spread out over the table. Grilled chicken and salad. It smells fucking good, and I’m glad I accepted their dinner invite.
Baz is now running around in circles in the yard while Viv tries her best to get him to come sit down to eat.
“He’ll come when he’s hungry,” Ash says as he grabs her hand, encouraging her to take the seat next to him.
You’d think this would be awkward as hell, considering our past, but it isn’t. Viv was always Asher’s, and I’m just happy to be here now. “So, how was my version of hell today, Ash?”
He rolls his eyes and takes a drink of his beer. “You’re so fucking dramatic. It’s kindergarten. Not hell.”
I laugh because I still can’t believe my best friend—a Sterling—is a kindergarten teacher. But the truth is that he’s happy. Viv smiles and leans a little closer to him. “Yeah,Mr. Sterling. How was today?”
He shifts slightly in his seat, and I’m guessing this is a game they like to play. “I really don’t need to know what kinks you guys are into.” Asher’s eyes flash with a playful warning as I smirk into my beer, unable to resist. “I mean, unless you’re going to let me play too.”
“Fuck you,” Ash says with absolutely no conviction. “Kindergarten was great today, thanks. How was the corporate grind with Linc?”
“Fan-fucking-tastic.”
Viv gives me a warning look as Baz finally tires himself out and plops down in the chair between Ash and me. “Baz is here now, Swearer. Watch your mouth.”
I almost make a quip about how she used to like my dirty mouth but think better of it since I don’t feel like getting my ass kicked today.
Baz tugs on my arm, and I give him my full attention. “Swearer, I don’t like salad. It’s just leaves.”
I crack a smile and shrug. “You’re right.”
“No, he isn’t.” Viv shakes her head as she shovels salad on Baz’s plate. “It’s good for you. You want to grow up big and strong, right?”
Baz looks at me and then at Ash, shrugs his little shoulders and then eats his salad. I notice Viv is drinking water and recall she also did the last time we had dinner. “You off wine, Viv?” I ask coyly.
Baz, with a mouth full of food, speaks up, “Mommy has a baby in her tummy. I’m going to be a big brother.”
I saw it coming. They’ve been married for a year, and why wouldn’t they want another Baz? Asher sighs and shakes his head. “We also said it was still a secret.”
“Oh no,” I lean across the table toward Viv. “Is it a secret because Ash knows he’s not the father? Did you tell him about us?”
