I looked up from the papers on my desk and found the couch empty and the TV still paused.
How long did it take for one child to take out the trash?
After walking toward the back door, I turned the knob and stuck my head out, looking for signs of Noah. The faint sounds of laughter whispered through the wind, and I immediately perked up, stepping outside as my eyes danced around the backyard.
I snuck around the edge of the house and then came to an abrupt halt. Under the cover of night, Noah and Liv were huddled together. The moonlight cast a soft glow on her face, illuminating her smile, as she looked down at my son.
“You’re going to TP our house?” Noah asked.
“Well, we were.” She laughed quietly. “Do you…maybe want to help us?”
“No way! Could I?” he asked.
I shook my head in disbelief. Traitor.
“Of course you can! Have you ever TP’d a house?”
He shook his head no, and I saw her smile shine back at him under the moonlight. “Okay then, we need to teach you how to do it first.”
I leaned against the house and watched them.
She was going to TP my house, like a middle school adolescent girl, and now, she was bringing my son in on it. She handed him a large white roll, and he looked down at it, his face lighting up like he’d never seen toilet paper before in his life.
“There’s a certain way to do it?” he asked.
“According to my friend Leah, yes. I’m a first timer as well. Come on, let me introduce you to everyone!”
She took his hand and pulled him along to join her gang of misfits while I continued to lean against the house in amazement.
I had two options. I could follow them, break up the fun, and thus ruin my son’s night. Or I could go back into the house and deal with the royal mess in the morning—and lose to a girl.
I let out a huff as I trudged back into the house.
Liv might have won this round, but it would be her last.
~Liv~
“What is that horrible light shining through the window?” I groaned. Squinting, I pulled the sofa pillow over my head and buried my face further into the cushion.
“That would be called the sun, babe,” Clare replied brightly.
“Someone make it stop!” Mia whined from somewhere across the room.
I lifted the pillow and looked up to find Leah shuffling into the living room.
“I’m seriously regretting that last bottle of wine,” Leah said as she haphazardly pulled her messy blonde hair into a bun. She ducked down to peek out the kitchen window, and a wide grin curved across her face. “But I definitely don’t regret that. Ladies, come look at our masterpiece.”
We all jumped up, even the three of us who were sporting epic hangovers made our way to the window. The Reid house was now a brilliant white spectacle, covered in two-ply as far as the eye could see.
“Damn, we did a good job.” I laughed.
“I can’t believe his kid helped us,” Leah chimed in, shaking her head.
“Helped?” I said. “He was practically the ring leader by the end.”
“He really is adorable,” Clare commented, a warm smile spreading across her face.
“Yeah, he is. He’s really sweet,” I said.
“I can’t wait to hear his dad’s reaction,” Leah chimed in. Someone’s stomach growled loudly and attention quickly turned from the window to breakfast.
I moved around the kitchen, opening several cupboards and pulled out a variety of cereal boxes.
“I’m sure I’ll be hearing from him soon.” I grinned. Maybe he’ll show up shirtless.
“For someone who can’t stand to be around him, you look awfully happy about that,” Mia said, a yawn cutting through her words and making them almost inaudible.
I scoffed, “No, he’s still a jerk. Besides, I don’t have time for annoying Southern boys.”
“Of course not. You have Victor.” Mia rolled her eyes.
“Who’s Victor?” Leah and Clare asked at the same time.
“Her flavor of the month,” Mia said.
“He’s not my flavor of the month!”
“Well then, what is he?” she asked, her eyebrows rising in amusement.
“He’s just a guy I’m enjoying some quality alone time with,” I stated with a slight grin.
“Oh, please!” Leah laughed. “We might all be married, but we’re not dumb.”
“Okay, fine! He’s my flavor of the month. We met in the gourmet cheese aisle at the market. He’s intense and foreign. When he speaks, I can’t understand half of what he’s saying.”
“Bonus!” Mia laughed.
“We have fun.”
“Well, you keep having fun with your mysterious foreign man. Just keep us updated on your hot neighbor, okay?” Clare requested.
“Deal.”
“And one more thing,” Clare added quickly.
“What?” I sighed.
“What the hell is that cereal you’re trying to feed us?”
I looked down at the boxes of all-natural, organic cereals and laughed. “Toast?” I offered.
“Did someone order breakfast?” a male voice bellowed as the front door swung open.
The husbands had arrived.
We all turned to see Logan, Declan, and Garrett walking through the front door, carrying bags bearing the logo of our favorite local café, Phil’s.
“Oh my God, you’re lifesavers!” Clare screeched. “She was about to serve us that weird toast again! I would have starved!”
“Well, we can’t have that,” Logan said.
With a sly grin across his face, he looked up at all of us before returning to Clare. She nodded her head, obviously granting permission for something.
“Gotta keep my girls healthy.” Logan placed a gentle kiss on Clare’s cheek as his hand tenderly cradled her flat stomach.
“Just because you were right about Ollie’s gender doesn’t mean you are a guru at it. We could be having another boy.”
“It’s a girl. I know these things.” He kissed her temple and smiled. “I’m a doctor, remember?”
“You’re crazy.”
“So, what exactly happened next door?” Declan asked, giving his wife a wicked grin.
“Why, I don’t know what you’re talking about, Hot Shot.” she answered sweetly.
“I know my wife’s work when I see it.”
“We might have been a little intoxicated.” She held her thumb and pointer finger close together as she scrunched her nose.