Tempting Fate by Jane Green Read Free Book Online Page B

And I’m never going to get into my size six clothes again. I’m not even going to manage size eight. I can just about squeeze into size ten, but only when they’re stretchy. Oh God. When did I turn into such a fat, frumpy mess?’
    ‘First of all, you’re not a fat, frumpy mess, and second of all, even if you were, you’re my fat, frumpy mess, and I love you exactly as you are.’
    ‘No, you don’t,’ grumbles Gabby, as Elliott sits down on her side of the bed. ‘When I was thin you always used to say how sexy I was.’
    ‘You’re even sexier now,’ he says with a smile, pullingthe covers down and reaching a hand to cup one of her full breasts. ‘You never had these when you were thin, and I don’t want to have to say goodbye to these.’ Gabby rolls her eyes. ‘And apparently I’m not the only one who thinks you’re pretty damn hot,’ Elliott reminds her, astonished to see her blush.
    ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she says, embarrassment rising, because she knows exactly what he’s talking about.
    ‘Whoa Relax. I just meant that you were a hit last night, right? Some young guy? Whatever insecurities you may have, and however much you refuse to believe me, you’re still beautiful. Even Claire said it. How did she describe you?’ He laughs. ‘A MILF! See? You’ve still got it.’
    ‘Maybe,’ Gabby concedes. ‘But only for about five more minutes.’
    ‘That’s okay. I’m not going anywhere – not when my wife is so gorgeous.’ And he unbuttons her nightie then tips his head to kiss her right breast.
    ‘DAD!’ The door handle is rattled. ‘Open the door! Why is the door locked? Mom?’
    ‘Jesus,’ Elliott hisses through his teeth, rolling off Gabby, who pulls the covers back up. ‘In a minute. Go back to your room. I’ll be there in a minute.’
    ‘Why is the door locked?’ Alanna persists, rattling the door back and forth. ‘Mom? Will you come and say goodnight? Let me in!’
    ‘She’ll be in in a minute,’ Elliott says. ‘Go, Alanna.’
    ‘But just op–’
    ‘NOW!’ Elliott barks, and they both listen to Alanna’s footsteps stomping down the corridor. ‘Whose idea was it to have children?’ He turns to Gabby, reaching for his shorts as Gabby smiles and pulls on her robe.
    Elliott pauses by the bedroom door. ‘We’ve lost the moment, haven’t we?
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘I mean, you’re not going to want to finish what we started. I know you. You’ll get back into bed and grab your Kindle, and there’ll be no more passion tonight.’
    Gabby grins. ‘You’re the one who always refers to the children as passion-killers.’
    ‘With good reason.’
    ‘Actually, I think tonight you may get lucky.’
    ‘Really?’
    Gabby moves towards him and pulls him down to kiss him deeply. ‘Meet you back here in ten minutes.’
    She can’t say no to Alanna’s request to have her mother tuck her in, not when Alanna wants so little to do with her these days.
    ‘Is everything okay?’ Gabby asks, sitting on the bed as Alanna climbs in. ‘Want me to snuggle?’ This was never their thing, always hers and Olivia’s, but, to her surprise, Alanna nods.
    Gabby lies down and draws her daughter close, burying her nose in Alanna’s hair, feeling the small bodysolid against her own as she wraps her arm around her and holds her.
    ‘Is there anything you want to talk about?’ she whispers, sensing there is something going on for Alanna to be so affectionate, but Alanna simply shakes her head wordlessly, shuffling back to fit perfectly into the safety of her mother’s body.
    Gabby knows there is something wrong. She suspects Alanna is struggling with middle school, but she also knows there is nothing she can do unless and until Alanna chooses to share it with her. As hard as everyone warned her it would be, Olivia had sailed through middle school, despite being their more challenging child. So there was no question in Gabby’s mind that Alanna, easy since the day she was