Being part of an Olympic skating pair should be excitement enough for one life, but for Erika that's only the beginning. Her skating partner, Tom Alan, is her ex-husband, who fell in love with former British ice dancer Milo, and all three of them live together and raise her daughter, whose father is Erika's ex-boyfriend, Bill, a rabid hockey fan who is old friends with Milo. Whew! As if that's not enough, Erika still loves Bill, loves Tom Alan, and might just love Milo, too. Add a couple of troubled teenagers to the pile, and suddenly training for the Olympics is the easy part. But Erika's never been a fan of the conventional, and one way or another the four of them will find a way to make their strange tangle of love, sex, and family work.

Transitions

“‘Out of sight out of mind, out of his pants, Booger,’” Tom Alan said.


“I still can’t believe you ever called me that!” Milo took Etsuko, who insisted on joining him down on the floor.


“Someone else did.” Tom Alan gave them each a nuzzle. “I just agreed with them.”


“And it was accurate.” Billy tapped Milo’s knee playfully with the toe of his sneaker. “Once upon a time, you were quite the man whore.”


“Shh. Little ears are listening,” Erika said.


“Peanut’s first word was f-u-c-k.” Peanut was Billy’s baby brother, Burgess. “I taught it to him.” He seemed so proud. “Dad thought it was hilarious. Mom, not so much.”


“That’s a different story,” Erika said. “People might giggle if a toddler curses. No one’s going to laugh if she calls someone…” Erika lowered her voice. “A butt monkey or a man whore.”


“Got it. No naughty words in front of the princess.” Milo loudly smooched Etsuko on both cheeks and her forehead then took Tom Alan’s hand.


Chapter 20