After the Climb

by Kristen Ashley

  And yes, after warning Hale I was going to do it, and getting his approval, I threw that bitch right under the bus when she tried to do the same to the father of my children (this, after soothing his fury that his mother made passes at my husband and the dad of the only real family Hale had ever known).

  Thus I shared her interview was due to the fact she had frequently made advances to Tom Pierce, which were always rebuffed, we were taking her interview as an act of petty vengeance against Tom, and we could not stand silent about it considering what it meant to our family.

  Duncan and I, Mindi and Sheila, on a conference call, decided the rest.

  That the things Samantha said about he, Corey and I were “private matters and personal history that will not be discussed.”

  This, we knew, translated into “she did not lie about that.”

  But we didn’t make that statement to protect Corey. We did it for the exact opposite reason.

  The fallout of all of this was seeming to be that the world was Team Duncan all the way and Team Tom, since everybody loved him and wanted him happy. So now, if he was brought up, it was discussing potential women he should date.

  So I guessed I had something to thank Sam for.

  But I was not going to rush to my personalized stationery.

  The feeds were clogged with a variety of unkind memes featuring Sam and even Elsa, taking stills from the interview or other photos to make fun of them.

  I could not say this made me happy.

  I could say that it I didn’t care much that it probably would not take me long to get over it.

  I was cuddled up with Duncan (and Killer) in his big chair, steadily becoming more and more inebriated.

  But as yet this had not touched the fact that I was infuriated that a happy day that started with Duncan fucking me and should have carried on with us spending time with our kids, ended like this.

  Even if Sasha was having the time of her life repeating the conversation I’d had with Tom in the hallway.

  “And then there was the part where she shared Hale was off to find out what was up his mother’s ass,” Sasha said. “Though, my favorite was when she threatened to eviscerate them all.”

  “Righteous, and I don’t even know what ‘eviscerate’ means. Still sounds righteous,” was Gage’s reply.

  “Baby, I don’t know why you’re in a bad mood. That was totally badass,” Duncan whispered in my ear.

  “Huh,” I huffed Chloe’s favorite refrain, and socked back more gin.

  The dogs lost their minds (again) and raced to the door, including Killer, who took a flying leap from where she was lounging in both our laps.

  This caused Cookie to scatter from where she’d settled in the crease of Gage’s outstretched legs (she’d defected from me, but I wasn’t too torn up about it, she’d come back) and Tuck to rush from his perch on Sasha’s hip (he’d defected too, it was love at first sight, both ways).

  Bounce, wisely, was hiding under a table.

  “I’ll see who it is,” Sully sighed, and pushed up from his place on the floor.

  “You do know, when everyone’s gone or asleep, I’m shoving you in my car and driving you down to your condo, then barricading us in for at least a month, don’t you?” Duncan asked.

  I looked to him. “That’s the second-best thing I’ve heard all day, behind the first-best thing which I cannot discuss in company.”

  He gave me a sexy smile.

  “Yo!” we heard.

  It was Sully sounding like he was calling out to someone.

  In order to call them to a halt.

  We looked to the entryway of the great room, and within seconds, Chloe stormed through it, Sul hot on her very high heels.

  “Simmer down, hot guy,” she snapped to Sully, then to me, “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, darling,” I replied.

  To Duncan, “Are you okay, Bowie?”

  “I’m fine, honey, are you okay?”

  “I…am…not,” she bit.

  “You didn’t have to drive all the way up here,” I said. “We’re—”

  “I didn’t?” she snapped. “Bitchface Wheeler declares war on my family and what? I’m supposed to head out to Straight Up at the Adeline and have a smooth whiskey?”

  “Sullivan, Gage, Harvey, Beth, this is Genny’s oldest. Chloe,” Duncan introduced.

  “Figures,” Gage grunted.

  “How do you do, kind people. And Heddy, love your face,” Chloe stated and then to me, “Motherrrr, we need to be on Insta, riding horses and looking beautiful and being happy and rich and making that bitch squirm.”

  “I think I’ve made her squirm enough for one day,” I said to my daughter, quite pleased that none of the words were slurred.

  “Hardly,” she returned. “But good call on the big fat lie. I approve.”

  I sighed.

  She turned to Sasha. “What? You don’t see me since Coachella and now I’m invisible?”

  “I try not to get too close when you’re in full snit,” Sasha said, pushing up from her place on the floor and moving to her sister.

  Chloe looked her up and down as she did and said, “My God, please let me style you. This Free People stint is lasting too long and it…is…agony.”

  “Shut up,” Sasha replied, wrapping her sis in a big hug.

  Chloe hugged her back, hard, and long.

  “Have you talked to Dad?” Chloe whispered.

  “Yeah,” Sasha whispered back. “You?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He okay with you?”

  “He’s pissed but hanging in there. You?”

  “Same.”

  “You know, you’re both insanely hot, but that’s not the only reason we can all hear you,” Gage shared.

  The girls broke apart and they both looked to Gage.

  But unsurprisingly, it was Chloe who spoke.

  “Of course, you’re Bowie’s so you’re impeccable.”

  “I’m what?” Gage asked.

  “Impeccable. Flawless. Perfect. Sinfully handsome. A heartbreaker. Obviously, I’m going to have to get you in hand.”

  Harvey grunted in amusement.

  Beth swallowed a giggle.

  Heddy snorted.

  Gage looked to his father, and he proved his instincts were sharp, because he didn’t hide the fear.

  “Honey,” Duncan started while pushing out of our chair, “how ’bout I make you a martini and you sit and chill out and not terrorize my sons?”

  At that, she turned her attention to Sully and said, “I haven’t even fully taken you in yet. Good God, your father’s genes are practically criminal. You’re veritably illegal.”

  “Could say the same about you,” Sul replied, strolling in to resume his lounge on the floor.

  “Touché,” Chloe murmured, lips quirking.

  “Pretty sure Judge feels the same way,” Harv chimed in.

  Oh no.

  Chloe’s gaze snapped to Harvey.

  But Gage got there first. “Judge?”

  Harv jerked his head at Chloe. “Him and this gal practically shouted the shoe and boot display down at the store. Got that on camera. We’ve all watched it about a hundred times. And it’s got no sound, it’s still awesome.”

  “Her and Judge?” Sully asked, not hiding his shock.

  “He’s vermin,” Chloe sniffed, picking her way through dogs and people to my chair so she could perch on the arm.

  Killer came with her and perched on my lap.

  “I so totally see him and you hooking up. I mean, Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock were a thing, weren’t they?” Gage asked.

  “Dude, you’re so right,” Sul agreed.

  “He does not look like Ryan Reynolds,” Chloe stated, though she did not deny she bore resemblance to Sandra Bullock.

  Gage ignored her. “And they say opposites attract. Right?”

  “Oh my God, she’s gonna send Judge around the bend. And he needs it. He just snaps,” Sully snapped his fingers, “an
d the babes come running.”

  “Ma mère bien-aimée, make them cease speaking,” Chloe demanded.

  “Darling, Momma’s had a bad day. Fight your own battles,” I begged.

  “Who is this Judge?” Sasha asked, excited, as ever, that her sister had a crush, and all that excitement centered around having fodder to give her sister stick about said crush.

  “You are not to go anywhere near him,” Chloe said quickly, then added as cover, “As I said, he’s vermin.”

  “Don’t worry,” Sully put in smoothly. “She’s gorgeous, but she’s not his type. I think his last girlfriend did the weather or something. I don’t remember. But she was on TV down in Phoenix. He goes for those swanky types.” Pause, and then with faultless timing, “Like you.”

  Dear Lord.

  Duncan was handing Chloe a martini.

  Then he shoved in again beside me (and Killer).

  Whereupon I whispered, “You didn’t mention that part.”

  “Sorry, baby, don’t keep track of Judge’s love life. I didn’t know that part. All I’ve seen is women throwin’ themselves at him, not the ones he’s caught. The boys, though, are tight with him. When they’re not in school, they’re both team leaders for Kids and Trails.”

  “Hmm,” I hummed.

  He grinned.

  “No reply, Coco?” Sasha teased.

  “I’m ignoring anyone who didn’t bring me a martini, which means the only person in this room is Bowie,” Chloe replied.

  Sasha giggled.

  Sully and Gage grinned at each other.

  “I’ll bring your next one, gal, ’cause you’re a goddamned hoot and I wanna know you,” Harvey said.

  “All right, I’m not ignoring you either,” Chloe allowed.

  Harvey boomed with laughter.

  “This is why I don’t care,” Duncan said in my ear.

  I turned to him, and due to all the goings-on in that room, did it smiling.

  “Sorry, honey?”

  “This,” he tipped his head to the room, “is why all that shit doesn’t matter. Because we have this. In some form, we’ll always have this. And your ex, he also has this, and when you guys sort shit out, he’ll have this with us. So all that other, Genny, it doesn’t matter.”

  He was very right.

  I told him that by touching my mouth to his.

  He got my message, if the sweet, warm look in his eyes I saw when I pulled away was any indication.

  “I’m not sure I get this, Sash, you and your sister couldn’t be more different, in looks and like, everything,” Gage noted.

  Before Sasha could answer, Chloe said in a dangerous tone, “Sash?”

  My youngest looked to my oldest and crowed, “You got Duncan and the Bowie story. But I got the boys and the Bitchface Wheeler drama.”

  Chloe’s eyes narrowed.

  “Oh dear,” I whispered.

  Duncan chuckled.

  Harvey had all daughters, so he knew precisely what to do.

  “I could use me a jalapeño popper. What about you all? Could anyone use a popper?” Harvey asked.

  “I can always use a popper,” Gage stated.

  “I’m guessing that’s my cue,” Beth said, also having all daughters, she didn’t hesitate rising from the couch.

  “I’ll help!” Sasha cried, jumping to her feet.

  “No offense, lovely lady who’s about to feed me, but I’m enjoying my martini. Bowie makes me the best martinis I’ve had in my life. I’ll help with dinner,” Chloe chimed in.

  Sasha threw her sister a look.

  I sucked back more gimlet.

  Duncan again chuckled.

  Tuck followed Sasha to the kitchen.

  “Et tu, Tuck?” Chloe asked the cat.

  Tuck ignored her.

  I grinned.

  Duncan chuckled more.

  “Babe,” Heddy called.

  I looked to my friend.

  “I love your family,” she declared.

  “I do too, Heddy,” I replied. “I totally do.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The Day

  Duncan

  Duncan put the mug of coffee on Genny’s nightstand, but he did it watching her face.

  She pried her eyes open and aimed her eyeballs at him but otherwise didn’t move.

  So he was chuckling when he seated himself in the crook of her body.

  “Mornin’,” he greeted.

  “Bluh,” she moaned, rolling to her back with her forearm over her eyes.

  He leaned over her, both hands in the bed at her sides.

  “I think you’re feelin’ that fifteenth gimlet,” he teased.

  “Bluh,” she repeated, blanching.

  “Advice, honey, don’t try to keep up with twenty-year-olds.”

  Shamelessly, she shifted blame. “Your boys are enablers.”

  “My boys? Your girls were with you drink for drink and eggin’ that shit on.”

  “Don’t say ‘egg,’” she groaned.

  He grinned. “As always, you’re a cute drunk, but favor next time, baby. Put the kibosh on it before you get so hammered we can’t have wild drunk sex because you’ve passed out.”

  She tossed her arm out to the side away from him and turned her head that direction. “Ulk, I missed wild drunk sex with Duncan.”

  “We’ll reenact that scene without the celebrity drama and gimlet thirteen, fourteen and definitely fifteen, but probably eleven and twelve too.”

  “Ugh.”

  He started chuckling.

  Then he kept giving her shit.

  “Love your girls but you need to have a sit down with them.”

  She turned her head back his way and caught his eyes. “Why?”

  “I like my house the way it is. I don’t need them tearing it apart on a fight of whose name is attached to my guest room.”

  Her lips curved up.

  “Though,” he went on, “good to see they could make up and end up sharing it.”

  “Daughter lesson number one, Bowie,” she started. “When they fight, you let them fight, because they always make up and do it by sharing a bed, talking and giggling all night, which was what they did last night. Or braiding each other’s hair. Though Chloe has never allowed a braid to be plaited into her hair. She taught Sasha to use the straighteners when Sasha was seven, much to her mother’s consternation, considering Sasha burned her fingers. But I think this time in your house is the longest I’ve known where Sasha didn’t have braids in her hair somewhere.”

  He grinned and asked, “Can I kiss you?”

  “My mouth feels like a cesspool so, absolutely not.”

  He grinned bigger and said, “Since their bodies can process alcohol seventy times faster than a mature adult, they’re all downstairs, being bossed by Chloe who’s making crêpes to order.”

  “You’re talking about food again, Bowie.”

  He ignored her. “And they wanna head over to Goldwater Lake and dink around. I take it you’re not up for that?”

  “I am not missing a second of family time when we have both your boys and two of my three children in this house.”

  God, he loved this woman.

  “However,” she continued, “if I should need to take a personal break in order to vacate my stomach in a bush, none of you are allowed to share Imogen Swan does something as base as vomiting. I’ll text Mary to have your NDAs sent to your phones. You can sign them online.”

  He burst out laughing.

  But she was correct.

  They had the kids, including the boys, for another two days.

  Sul and Gage had fixed it with their professors to miss class on Monday (this meant Sully actually fixed it, and Gage was probably going to ditch) and neither had class until late on Tuesday.

  So his sons were leaving at oh-dark-hundred Tuesday morning so Gage could get Sully to Sky Harbor to catch his flight, and then he’d drive down to Tucson.

  Knowing this, and displaying an alarming competitive streak th
ey had to have inherited from their father, Chloe and Sasha were in for that haul in order for them both to lavish attention, affection and their very different, but both endearing, personalities on Duncan and his sons.

  In other words, he was looking forward to what would undoubtedly be a great two days.

  “Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll rally,” Genny said.

  “Take your time, babe. Goldwater isn’t going anywhere.”

  He said this while her phone rang.

  He looked to the nightstand and then told her, “It’s Matt.”

  “Can you give it to me, please?”

  He unhooked it from her charger and handed it to her.

  He also intended to move so she had time with her son, but he didn’t when her hand darted out and her fingers wrapped around his wrist.

  “Hello, darling,” she greeted, pushing up a little in bed. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m good. Are you?” Pause and, “I know, but desperate times.” Another pause and in a sharper tone, “I understand that, Matthew, but to deliberately put a very fine point on it, I believe your father’s debt is paid with losing his wife and having his son practically freeze him out of his life. Something, I would encourage you, this before begging you, to think very long and hard about ending.”

  She was staring at Duncan with an expression that warred between annoyed and worried.

  She spoke again.

  “I’m not defending him. I’m reminding you he’s human and I’m telling you I love you very much. And since I do, I do not want there to be a time, and it will come, Matt, where you mess up, and you do it huge, and you hurt someone, that you look back with deep regret at the time you lost with your father when you were not allowing him to be something he cannot possibly stop being. Human.”

  Oh yeah.

  He loved this woman.

  Duncan reached out and stroked her jaw.

  She turned her head into his touch.

  “Yes, fine,” she said. “Yes.” A pause. “Yes, I know, and no, I’m not mad. I want you to be happy. And yes, Sasha shouldn’t have told me. But Matthew, you know better than that. If you have something you want to keep a secret, you tell Chloe. She’ll take it to her grave. You don’t tell Sasha. She’ll hold it quiet for precisely as long as it takes her to design the billboard she’ll put up, broadcasting it.”