Love Sex & Other Games: Part 3 Read Online Free Page A

seated at my mom and dad’s dining room table after I was summoned for dinner. Mom said she was worried about me, which after the reception incident and ignoring her bi-weekly phone calls, I understand. So I very grudgingly left my bed and dragged Em along with me to offer the only other woman in my life some reassurance.
    I assumed it would be my parents and us, but as I examine the two extra place settings, a terrible feeling takes root in the pit of my stomach. Em notices too, shooting me a panicked look, followed by a scowl when all I can do is shrug. I didn’t know. I should have—Mom likes to pull crap like this—but I really didn’t.
    Now it occurs to me that she wasn’t just worried about me. She was worried about my relationship with Miles and his new bride.
    Oh, Mom, if you had any idea…
    “Who else is joining us?” I question, not bothering to conceal my annoyance. “You made it sound like it would just be us.”
    Mom sets a large, covered roasting pan in the middle of the table, shifting the salt and pepper shakers to the other side of the table, farthest from Dad’s seat. The doctor said he needs to cut back, but Dad insists he’d rather die sooner and happy, then live longer and miserable. Mom prefers the latter.
    “It is just us,” she says, lifting the lid to reveal her famous pot roast, my all-time favorite meal—after Em. I’m momentarily distracted because the aroma hits me and it smells amazing. Which is probably the reason she did it.
    “What are those plates for?” I ask, pointing directly across from where Em and I sit.
    “For your brother and Roselyn.”
    Yeah. That’s what I thought. “You said it was just us.”
    “Yes, us. The family. Your dad, me, Miles, Roselyn, you, and Emerson.” She beams at Em when she says her name. It’s been a while since I’ve brought a woman home. The fact that Mom’s known this one all her life—and she’s her daughter-in-law’s sister—is a bonus.
    “You should have told me,” I complain.
    Mom fixes me with her mom-stare. “You wouldn’t have come if I told you.”
    “Exactly.”
    “Cooper, I can see that you’re happier and I’m glad,” she states, her voice firm, but mom-soft at the same time. “And now that you are, you and your brother can start to heal your relationship. The best way to do that is to spend some time together. Let’s start with dinner, all right?”
    Right on cue, the doorbell rings.
    Mom leaves to answer it, yelling for Dad to get his ass to the table on her way.
    “Well, this should be interesting,” Em breathes. “Want to make it fun?”
    “How?” I honestly cannot imagine how that’s possible—unless we leave.
    “Let’s play a game.”
    Okay, maybe I was wrong. I raise a brow, my lips forming a lecherous smirk. “What kind of game?”
    “No, not that. Not at your parents’ house, you perv. I was thinking more like we have to do something every time Miles or Rosie look like they feel awkward.”
    “Like what?”
    She shrugs.
    “Okay, how about every time Miles looks like he’d rather be at the dentist having his teeth drilled, I have to feed you. And every time Rosie looks like she wants to run out the door, you have to break out in song.”
    A burst of laughter puffs from her lips. “What? No way. Mine is way more embarrassing. Trade.”
    “Fine, on one condition,” I yield as everyone files into the room. I put my lips against her ear, so only she can hear me. “When we leave, I get to finger you in the car—all the way back my house.”
    She swallows forcefully. “Agreed.”
    “Game on,” I whisper. And then to everyone else, “Who’s ready to eat?”
     
     
    ~*~
     
     
    Emerson
     
     
    I did not foresee how weird it would be to feed Cooper in front of his family. I wanted to back out as soon as I took one look at Miles and Rosie and realized the entire damn night was going to be one long, awkward nightmare.
    Not only that, but it never occurred to Coop or I that we would be