Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
He grunted, but I noted the tender smile.
“So, about that stopping on the side of the road?”
“Absolutely not,” he told me. “We are not teenagers who––”
“Pull over, and make sure we’re hidden by the trees. I have lube in my bag, and that back seat is nice and wide to accommodate your long legs.”
“One of these days you’re gonna stop being hot for me,” he said, slowing down so he could do as I asked.
“It’s doubtful,” I purred, unhooking my belt the second he stopped and climbing over the console to reach him. “I’ve had it bad for you for quite a long time.”
“Yes, you have,” he husked, taking me into his arms. “I’m so lucky.”
Turned out, we didn't even make it to the back seat.
That’s it, all. Have a wonderful rest of September, stay safe, take care of each other, and I will see you in October. I can’t wait for fall.
OCTOBER 2025
Hello, all. Welcome to He Said, he said for October 2025.
Now, with things getting crazier and crazier across the country, with my city hit as well, I want to tell you all that you’re in my thoughts. We will get through this horror show together. I have faith.
Turning to Kola’s birthday on September twenty-sixth, which we celebrated on Sunday instead, first we have to talk about Michael and Sandra’s party on Friday for their first anniversary.
“Tell them we can’t go because it’s Kola’s birthday,” Sam grumbled at me when we got the invitation in the mail. “And really,” he grumbled some more, holding the embossed piece of cardstock up, “she can’t text or send an email like everyone else?”
“First,” I began, “I doubt she has any idea it’s Kola’s birthday, and we’re not celebrating on Friday anyway, so we can go.”
“It’s still his actual birthday.”
I was quiet for a moment. “Which has what to do with anything?” I asked, staring at him.
“I dunno,” he grumbled. “I just don’t wanna go.”
“Well, you’re going, and second,” I continued, “I think it’s nice that she still sends invitations in the mail.”
“It’s dumb.”
“To you it’s dumb, but you’re not an expert on good etiquette.”
“Hah,” he said, and then called his mother, putting it on speaker so I could hear it ring. “Ma,” he snapped, the second she picked up the phone, “don’t you think it’s stupid that we got mailed invitations to Sandra and Michael’s party, that’s on Kola’s birthday, in case you forgot.”
“Samuel Thomas Kage, I would never forget your son’s birthday, and we’re celebrating on Sunday, for heaven’s sake.”
“Don’t you feel dumb?” I asked him.
“Oh, Jory, darling,” she said with a sigh, hearing my voice. “You still want me to bring the moussaka for Kola’s party, don’t you?”
“Of course,” I told her, and then it hit me. “Did you offer to help Sandra with her anniversary party?”
“Yes, I did, but she preferred to have it catered.”
“Which is great,” I said diplomatically. “But I prefer, as does Kola, home cooking. Aja’s bringing either mac ’n’ cheese or chicken marsala. I don’t remember what I asked for.”
“Good,” she said, and I could hear how pleased she was. “Now, Sam, it’s lovely that Sandra sends out invitations, though you would think, with us being family, that she would just give us a call, but that’s all right. The invitations are beautiful.”
“Yes, they are,” I agreed.
I had to say, I was a bit surprised at how many people were invited to a one-year wedding anniversary party when we arrived. I mean, it wasn’t a fiftieth. Who went nuts over one year? But I was trying not to be an ass, or a jaded ass, when from the decorations I realized it was an anniversary party, yes, but it was also a celebration for a new job for Michael. It turned out, he had been invited by Abernathy and Kenning, an architectural firm in Boston, to become a name partner. He and Trent Kenning had been friends for years, and now was the time to make it happen.
When I went to find Regina, she looked both happy and stunned at the same time.
“Abernathy, Kenning, and Kage has a nice ring to it,” I said after I hugged and kissed her.
“Yes,” she agreed. “I just wish he didn’t have to go so far away.”
“Is Sandra going with him?”
She squinted at me. “Of course.”
“Are you sure?” I asked pointedly. “My understanding is that she and her ex, Grant, have joint custody of their youngest,” I reminded her. “Will he allow Kitty to go out of state?”
“Oh, Jory, I didn’t even think of that.”
I shrugged. “Hopefully Michael did.”
To the surprise of neither Sam nor I, Michael had not, in fact, thought that far ahead when he took the position at the new place with his name on the door. And I understood him, his reasons, the why. I just wished that he had considered his brand-new marriage when he was deciding where he was going to live.