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“Huh?”

“Popcorn,” she repeats “We want some”

“Oh, yeah We can pop some Go back to your movie I’ll do it”

She pats ot it I knohere the stuff is”

I look around and realize that they’ve paused the movie for a bathroom and snack break

Knowing all I need to know for now, I close the computer and help Kim make the popcorn, then settle in with the kids to watch the last part of the ht here, is what matters I’ve known that since I elve

I set ht with these young people, who are growing up too fast Before long, the oldest kids will be off to college, and it’ll just be Troy and me

I glance over at est brother, just in time to see him steal a handful of popcorn out of Sarah’s bowl

He has his own, he just wants to harass her

And I’e, he’s been protected and loved He’s never seen the kind of shit that I did at his age

He’s a kid

Just as it should be

“Is everyone ready to start it back up?” Mike asks

“Let’s do it,” Miles says and tosses a kernel of popcorn into the air, catching it in his teeth “Let’s see soet hacked to death”

“Don’t tell your parents I let you watch this,” I warn them “They’ll skin me alive”

“What happens at Seth’s, stays at Seth’s,” Layla says with a laugh “It’s like Vegas”

“Can we have strippers?” Miles asks with excitement

“Hell, no” I ruffle his hair “You may not”

Half of the kids are asleep by the time the movie ends The other three yawn and stretch, then turn over and sleep where they are when I turn off the TV I grab empty popcorn bowls, take them to the kitchen, then quietly walk back to my bedroom

My phone’s been on the charger all evening When I check it, I smile when I see a text from Remi

Remi: I hope your day was better today

That’s all That’s the text

I sit on the edge of the bed and think about how to reply I wish she had been here tonight I think she’d get a kick out of the kids

Me: It was much better Tomorroill be awesome because I have a date with you

I set the phone aside but it starts to ring

“I thought you’d be asleep,” I answer

“You just caught me,” Remi says with a sexy, sleepy voice “Also, I could say the same for you”

“I’ers,” I inforuests

“That’s a lot of horh

“Oh, yeah But they’re fun Hoas your day?”

“Good,” she says and then yawns “I hiked a bit Don’t worry, it was nothing crazy”