Misadventures with a Manny

by Toni Aleo

  “Yeah. I can’t be seen with you guys.”

  That makes me laugh as I shake my head. “We’ll talk later,” I say, kissing his head. When I go to reach for my purse, Lincoln is holding it, along with a peanut butter bagel.

  “I’ll carry this out for you.”

  My lips curve. “How nice. Thank you.”

  Together, we walk out, and when he shuts the door, I glare at the sidewalk. “Stupid Simon. I hate him.”

  “I know,” Lincoln agrees as we head down the walkway. “I don’t understand his deal.”

  “I don’t either. It’s wrong to put all that on our boys.”

  “It really is, but you can’t say anything.”

  “He’s one lucky asshole for that,” I sneer, throwing my door open. I sit down as he hands me my stuff.

  “Hey, don’t let this ruin your day.”

  “Oh, no,” I say dryly, and he glares. “It’s not like I have anything else to worry about. My oldest wants to date, my youngest is worried his dad will hate him if he likes you, and I have a huge meeting today. Yup, nothing to worry about.” I know he is trying to help, but I feel like his feelings are hurt in a way. I know mine would be. So I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’ll text you when I get to the office.”

  “You sure?” I nod as he bends down, holding my breakfast sandwich to me. “It’s gonna cost you.”

  I grin before looking to the windows. When I don’t see the kids, I give him a quick kiss.

  “I want more than that.”

  “Well, you’re gonna have to wait.”

  “What if I can’t?”

  I laugh. “The struggle is real.”

  He laughs as I shut the door once he is out of the way. Watching Lincoln as I pull out, I wish I could tell him I am also worried about what is going on with Phillip.

  But he doesn’t need to know that.

  And he sure as hell doesn’t know I’m calling him.

  When my brother-in-law’s voice comes over my speaker, I don’t give him time to say anything before I ask, “So why can’t Lincoln and I date?”

  He pauses, and it’s almost like I can hear him thinking. “Are you sure you want to know?”

  I don’t hesitate. “I do.”

  “Fine.”

  But everything he says is far from fine.

  And I’m not sure how that makes me feel.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Lincoln

  I am dying for her.

  Sitting on Jenny’s couch, I inhale hard as I take in the photo that Vera just texted me. She is wearing the same shirt she left in, but of course, she unbuttoned a few buttons just for me and put a little kitten grin on her face as she looked at the camera. She is stunning, and I’m utterly blown away.

  You won’t take the shirt off, huh?

  LOL! No!

  Come on, I haven’t had you in over a week.

  The boys leave this weekend. You can have me all weekend long.

  I grin, though I know she can’t see me.

  So you still want me?

  What kind of question is that?

  You’ve been a little standoffish.

  Oh? I didn’t realize. I’m sorry. Let me hump you in front of my boys.

  I snort in laughter, which earns me a nasty look from my working sister.

  You know what I mean. Usually you at least flirt with me.

  I’ve done no such thing, but nonetheless, yes, I want you. I’ve just been stressed. You do remember I took my son on his first date. It was painful.

  I laugh out loud, and this time Jenny glares at me. “I’m on the phone!”

  I mouth sorry before looking back at my phone.

  Hardly. He had a great time and got himself a kiss at the end of the night.

  Thank you so much for that reminder. Remind me of this when I’m going down on you this weekend. SO I DON’T!

  I fight back my laughter.

  You wouldn’t hold out on me.

  Maybe not, but still. We’re good, aren’t we?

  I hope so.

  We are.

  Setting my phone down, I can’t help but feel like something is off. It isn’t that I don’t think she digs me anymore. I know she does, but it’s like she’s walking on eggshells, or maybe it’s that she’s not as into me as she was. But we have both been busy as hell this week. I don’t know, maybe it’s just my insecurities, but one thing is for sure—I want to get her in bed. I want to get her naked so we can really talk. The sex is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but talking to her, feeling her against me, that’s what I crave.

  Us. I crave us.

  “Still fucking your boss?”

  I look up to Jenny, popping Lincoln to the second power’s pacifier back into his mouth. I nod. “I am having sex with my girlfriend, yes.”

  She rolls her eyes. “You’re so dumb.”

  “Why is that?”

  She holds my gaze. “Is Phillip still not speaking to you?”

  I look away, shrugging. “No, he isn’t.”

  “So you chose ass over your best friend?”

  “No, I want ass and my best friend, but Phillip is being a jerk.”

  “For good reason. He’s right.”

  I shake my head. “He isn’t. Vera is great.”

  “I don’t doubt that, but she’s older.”

  “She’s only three years older than me.”

  “And she already has kids.”

  “So? Doesn’t mean anything.”

  “It means everything, and you know it.”

  I roll my eyes, tucking my phone into my pocket before picking up Lincoln. “I’m not having this out with you,” I say, going to her and laying him in her lap. “I gotta go get the boys.”

  She just gives me a dry look. “All fun and games until someone gets hurt.”

  I don’t even entertain her as I kiss her head. “Love you.”

  “Love you too,” she sings. “But you should call Phillip.”

  I ignore her as I go out the back door. I know she’s right about Phillip; I miss him, but he is being a baby. If anything, I am more inclined to believe that Vera and I go together great. When we aren’t texting, we’re talking on the phone or sending each other pictures. We are enjoying each other. A lot. And our FaceTime sex is so fucking hot. I thought porn was great, but seeing Vera pleasure herself does nothing but take me back to our first time together.

  I like her. Hell, I may even love her.

  Crazy, I know, but when you know, you know.

  But I find myself dialing Phillip’s number as I head toward my car. I don’t like listening to my sister, but I also don’t like the thought of “choosing ass over my best friend.” It isn’t like that, and I have to make sure he knows that.

  “Hello?” His voice is tight. He doesn’t want to talk to me.

  “Hey, man. What’s up?”

  He hesitates for a second. “Nothing. Just at work.”

  “Oh, well, long time no talk.”

  “Yeah,” he says slowly, and I swear it’s like pulling teeth.

  “So what’s been up?”

  “Nothing. Just getting ready for the baby, hanging with Riana and all.”

  “That’s cool.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Yeah.” I tap the wheel with my thumb. “Listen, dude, I miss you, and I don’t like that we’re fighting.”

  He doesn’t answer right away. “I don’t either, but I stand by what I said.”

  “I understand that, and I don’t blame you, but I don’t want that for Vera. I don’t want to hurt her. I want to be with her. Wholly.”

  He lets out a long breath. “Man, it isn’t that easy. She isn’t ready for that kind of thing.”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  “Well, no, but I know her—”

  I’m over this “I know her” shit. “Listen, until she tells me otherwise, I’m doing this.”

  “But you’re setting yourself up for failure.”

 
“Then that’s on me.”

  “But don’t you see? I’m trying to protect you from that.”

  “I don’t need protecting, Phil.”

  “I know this, but it’s not just you. It’s the boys, it’s Vera, and if you two split, how will that go?”

  I don’t know, so I don’t answer. In my mind, I don’t see an end for us, but what if Vera does?

  “Have you talked to her?” asks Phil. “Have you asked what she wants from this?”

  “Well, no, but it’s only been a little over a week.”

  “It doesn’t matter. If you’re in it for the sex, then be honest about it, but if not, then something needs to be said.”

  I make a face. “So when you and Riana got together, you said, ‘Hey, I want you more than sex’?”

  He scoffs. “No, but then she wasn’t newly divorced with three kids.”

  I think that over. He is right. “I don’t know, but I don’t want this to end.”

  “But you won’t talk to her about it because you know she may only be in this for the sex, and you don’t want to face that.”

  I smack the wheel, and damn it, I don’t want to think about that. That isn’t an option for me. “I don’t think that at all. We have a connection.”

  “Yeah, sex.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Fine, but I stand by what I said.”

  I shake my head. “Fine. I just wanted to let you know, I didn’t choose her over you. You’re my brother from another mother, and I can’t lose your friendship, but honestly, I think I may be in love with her.”

  He mutters a curse, and I close my eyes. Clearing his throat, he says, “If that’s the case, then talk to her. Make sure you’re both going to be good.”

  I inhale deeply, and even though he can’t see me, I nod. “Fine. I will this weekend.”

  “Good.”

  “Great. Want to get a beer tonight at Tips?”

  “Yeah. Six okay?”

  “Great.”

  When we hang up, I’m smiling. I’m not saying we’re good, or even where we are, but he will always be my brother.

  Brothers fight—I know that for a fact.

  But even so, I’m worried that he may be right. I don’t think he is. I truly feel something for Vera, but still, it worries me. What if my fears of her being standoffish are real, and she is only in it for the sex?

  Fuck me.

  Trying to push aside my thoughts, I head to the boys’ school. When I pull up, I watch as Elliot and Louis smack each other while Charlie tries to hold them apart. Leave it to them to make me grin.

  Rolling the window down, I yell, “Cut it out!”

  They separate immediately, looking at me guiltily as Charlie shakes his head. “They’re insane,” he says before getting in the car. “Fighting over a Pokémon card.”

  I scoff. “Hey now, Pokémon is life.” He gives me a dry look as the boys get in. “How’s Crystal?”

  “They kissed!” Elliot chimed in with a big grin on his face.

  “Yeah, with tongue,” Louis adds, and Charlie sinks down lower in the car.

  I just beam at him. “First kiss?”

  “No!” he shrieks, his voice breaking, making the boys laugh harder.

  “Yes! With tongue!”

  “I hate you guys,” he yells, trying to punch them, but I push him back in the seat.

  “I remember my first kiss.” Charlie groans, and I laugh. “It’s something you never forget.”

  “Was yours wet? ’Cause they were drooling all over each other,” Louis teases, and Elliot snorts.

  “He had this goofy look on his face too,” Elliot adds.

  Charlie groans. “Please, stop.”

  The boys and I laugh as Charlie slowly dies in the seat beside me. He looks at me, his face red with embarrassment. I squeeze his shoulder. “We’re just teasing you.”

  He doesn’t look very pleased as he types away on his phone, but it’s part of having siblings. I remember my sisters always giving me shit.

  Hell, Jenny still does.

  I turn out of the school as Elliot asks, “Do you have a girlfriend, Lincoln?”

  I’m a little taken aback by his question, and I’m not sure if I should lie. It seems like the best option, though. “No, I don’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Haven’t found anyone yet.”

  Elliot thinks that over. “Mom is single.”

  “Ell! What the heck!” Charlie groans.

  I smile. “I know, bud.”

  “You should date her.”

  Louis takes in a quick breath, and Charlie’s face scrunches up. “Lincoln doesn’t like Mom!”

  “Why wouldn’t he!” Elliot argues back. “Mom is really pretty.”

  “She is,” Louis says simply. “But she’s Mom.”

  “Yeah, but she should get to go on dates and get tongue-kissed.”

  Oh, Vera would die right now.

  Charlie shakes his head. “Lincoln is like twenty-one. He doesn’t like old women.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “I’m twenty-eight, and your mom isn’t that much older than me. Only three years.”

  Charlie glances at me, his brows pull together. “So you like her?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “But you didn’t deny it.”

  I laugh. “You know how we dropped your conversation? Let’s drop this.”

  “She likes flowers,” Elliot adds.

  “And Reese’s chocolates,” Louis joins in, but I shake my head.

  “Guys—”

  “What, Lincoln?” Charlie says, his eyes teasing. “We’re just teasing you.”

  I shake my head. I love these boys. Truly. But this was not part of the plan.

  Neither was sleeping with Vera.

  Or falling for her.

  But sometimes it’s better to ditch the plan.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Vera

  When I walk through the door after a long day of meetings, I’m met with the twins, bouncing beside me, big smiles on their sweet faces. They must have just gotten home; they’re both drenched in sweat.

  “Charlie kissed his girlfriend today!”

  “With tongue.”

  I make a face. “How wonderful, and not what I needed to hear right now.”

  They both giggle as they run away just as Lincoln comes into the living room. “Guys, shower!” Still laughing, they run up the stairs as Lincoln glances back at me.

  “They’re in good moods.”

  He smiles. “We went for ice cream after practice. Louis scored twice and Elliot once. Charlie scored like a billion times. I stopped keeping count.”

  I beam. “Well that’s nice news.”

  “Did you hear Charlie got his first real kiss today?”

  I moan. “Oh, I heard, and I’m not happy about it.” His laughter follows me to the kitchen, where I set my stuff and reach for the mail. It’s becoming so natural to have him here. To be able to talk to him like this. “I don’t like that he’s growing up.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” His eyes are playful.

  “You’re enjoying this.”

  “Oh, watching you freak out, yes, it’s fun.”

  “Ass,” I accuse, and he just grins. I can tell he wants to touch me—he’s got that burning look in his eyes—but I know he won’t. I had been worried about it, but he’s actually been great around the boys.

  Always the professional.

  But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wanted him just as badly.

  “So more funny stories.”

  I glance at him as I open a bill from my credit company. “Hit me with it.”

  “Elliot decided we should date.”

  My face scrunches up. “Oh really?”

  He laughs. “Yes, because you’re pretty, and I need a girlfriend or something, but Charlie says I don’t date old women.”

  “Wow, thanks spawn of mine.”

  He scoffs. “It is a hoot for sure. They’r
e wonderful kids.”

  “They are,” I agree, opening another bill. “Is that why you’re in a good mood too?”

  “I’m in a good mood because I’m looking at the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  My lips purse as I cut him a look. “Such a flirt.”

  He leans in closer. “Can I take you on a date tomorrow?”

  “To your bedroom?”

  I don’t miss the face he makes, but he covers it very quickly. “Maybe dinner before?”

  I eye him. “I don’t know. I think I’d rather just go straight to bed.”

  His eyes sparkle. “Maybe bed, dinner, bed?”

  “Or bed, take-out in bed, more bed, and maybe some spa tub?”

  His lips purse. “Know how to make me squirm, don’t you?”

  “It’s a talent,” I tease, and he smiles before he looks back, since someone is coming down the stairs. It sounds like Charlie. When he appears, I send him a smile. “Hi, my love.”

  “Hey, Mom,” he says, sitting at the island. “What are you guys doing?”

  I nod my head to Lincoln as I open another letter. “Lincoln was telling me about your awesome goals today.”

  He nods. “Easy peasy.”

  “My superstar.”

  Charlie loves that, his face lighting up as I meet his gaze. “What’s up?”

  “What are our plans for tonight?”

  “Doesn’t matter to me.”

  “Can we have game night?”

  My heart actually skips a beat. He hasn’t asked for game night since Simon left. I slowly nod. “Of course we can.”

  “Cool. Wanna stay, Lincoln?”

  Lincoln cups Charlie’s neck, squeezing it tightly. “I wish, man, but I have a date with your uncle.”

  He makes a face. “You know Uncle Phillip isn’t gay?”

  This time it’s Lincoln making the face. “Neither am I.”