Mrs. Robin's Sons by Kori Roberts (free children's online books .TXT) 📗

one, no matter how much I’d like to at times.” Nick could hear the hurt in Rylee’s voice through the phone.

“I know, babe. And I’d never ask you to give up either one.” No matter how much he so desperately wanted to at times. “It’s just that I wish we weren’t so far away from you.”

“You were the one who told me that distance wouldn’t be an issue.” Nick grimaced at Rylee’s reminder of his earlier words when they’d first met.

“And it still isn’t an issue. I won’t let it be an issue.” His voice was adamant. “But I also won’t deny that I’d give anything for all of us to be together on a more regular basis.”

“Me, too.” Rylee sounded as frustrated as he felt. “I…I just don’t know what to do about it.”

Nick didn’t have any answers at the moment, either. But, he decided to drop the subject because he didn’t want Rylee to be any more upset than she already sounded.

“Listen” — he tried to keep his voice light — “we’ll talk about it more when we see each other later, okay?”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “I can’t get to Wisconsin fast enough.”

“Are you sure you don’t want Noah and me to visit you in Chicago instead? You’ve been working a lot of hours, angel. I know you have to be tired.” Concern laced his words.

“We can be there by the time you get off work this evening.” “No, I really want to come,” she assured him. “Your place is so much more peaceful than here, and I always feel so relaxed when I’m there with you and Noah.” She laughed softly. “Besides, your mother’s already planned a dinner party for Noah’s birthday, and I don’t think she’d appreciate him not being there for it.”

Shit. He’d forgotten all about that. Nick sighed. “Okay, angel. Go on and take care of your hotel, so you can come and take care of Noah and me later tonight.”

“I can’t wait to see both of you,” she said.

“Yeah. Same here, babe.”

“Give Noah a kiss for me.”

“Give Noah…” The sound of laughter filled his ear. “Be careful, angel. Saying things like that will get you spanked.”

“Ooh, you promise?” She sounded a little too excited at the idea.

“On second thought, scratch the spankings. You just might enjoy them too much.”

“You just might be right.” She laughed softly.

His voice turned serious. “I love you, angel.”

“Love you, too, Nick. I’ll see you tonight.”

Nick hung up the phone, and the smile slowly slid off of his face. He sat there for several long moments, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure out a way for the three of them to be together permanently. One thing was for certain, in spite of how he tried to reassure Rylee otherwise, Nick knew that he couldn’t take having her as a weekend lover for much longer.

*

“Thank God for weekends.” Drew sighed and stretched a little. “Oh, my back is killing me.” “Your back?” Mya snorted. “Try carrying around another person for nine months. Then you’ll know what real back pain feels like.”

Rylee looked at Mya, her face flushed and glowing, her belly round and full, and she tried to ignore the twinge of envy that flared within her.

“Well, you look beautiful,” Rylee told her, and Mya beamed at her words.

“So, what are you doing for the weekend?” Rylee asked.

“Baby stuff, and more baby stuff. You know — the usual.” Mya sounded exasperated, but the sparkle in her eyes told a different story.

“What about you? What are you doing this weekend?” Mya got a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Or, should I say, who are you doing?”

“Well, that’s a no-brainer,” Drew chimed in. “Damn, Rylee, your boy toy must really be something for you to voluntarily spend so much time in Wisconsin.” He shuddered.

“Although I can’t imagine any dick being good enough to distract me so much that I wouldn’t notice the smell of cows all day.”

“Don’t call him that. And he breeds dogs, not cows.” Rylee scowled at him. “Smartass.”

“Dog shit…cow shit.” Drew’s nose wrinkled in distaste. “It stinks all the same.”

“Besides, they keep me so well occupied that I don’t have time to notice any smell.”

Rylee realized her slip as soon as she’d finished speaking.

“They?” Mya’s eyebrows shot up.

“You’re doing both brothers, aren’t you?” Drew’s tone was accusing. “I can’t believe you, Rylee! What are you thinking?” he scolded her and shook his head. “Do you purposefully look for relationships that are going to cause you heartache?”

“Rylee, honey.” Mya’s voice was a little calmer, but no less disapproving. “Please tell me you’re not —”

“So what if I am!” Rylee snapped, suddenly feeling defensive and not appreciating it one bit. “You think that gives either of you the right to sit here and lecture me?”

She looked between her two friends. “I would think that of all people, you two would understand what it’s like to be in a relationship that’s outside of what most people consider traditional. And you have the nerve to try and judge me?”

“Rylee —” Drew started.

“No!” she cut him off angrily, “Nick and Noah are very special to me. I’m thirty-six years old, and these two incredible men make me feel things I’ve never felt in my life.

Together, they make me happier than I’ve ever been before.”

She looked at them, her eyes dead serious. “And I refuse to make excuses or feel bad for finally finding happiness.”

Mya and Drew stared at her in shocked silence for several long moments.

“Oh. My. God…you’re actually in love.” Drew spoke first, his voice filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Mya nodded her head in agreement. “I never thought I’d see the day,” she murmured.

“What are you two talking about?” Rylee said in irritation, feeling so done with the entire conversation. “Drew, you tell me all the time how I love men too easily.”

“Not love, sweetie — in love,” Drew corrected her. “There’s a world of difference between the two.”

Rylee looked