So where to start this chapter? I'll just get this out of the way. My rekindled affair with Erin was burning as hotly as possible. Since red had cleaned up during the awards season, we were both on cloud nine, and celebrating regularly and carnally. At my house.

 

 

At her place.

 

 

In a fancy hotel room.

 

 

One time we even went to check out some modern art at the Myshuno art gallery and got hot and heavy in the top gallery room when we realized we were alone.

 

 

But while this was going on, Aiyana was getting closer and closer to her due date.

 

 

And, well, we finally made a decision. We were making it official. Ring and everything. And she and the kids would be moving in with me. Which required some remodeling of the ranch.

 

 

Also, I said she could bring her horse. So I built a small stable.

 

 

During a night out drinking, I broke the news to Chad and Pedro (who was in town on "business"), and they ribbed me pretty good.

 

 

But Chad also promised that the bachelor party was going to be epic.

 

 

"Keep it small," I told him. "Just us. Maybe you can invite Devon, too. He'd probably be down."

 

 

"Dude," Chad said. "I'm already booking the cabin."

 

 

About this time, I also got two pieces of news. First, Maggie invited me to catch up.

 

 

She said she was finally being transferred out, and she was definitely being rewarded for her years of service in Magnolia. Military attaché to the embassy in Bellacorde. Her assigned housing was, shall we say, luxuriant.

 

 

"Congratulations," I told her. "I think you earned it."

 

 

"I do, too," she said. "Now, let's go upstairs so you can give me a proper goodbye."

 

 

So, of course, I did exactly that.

 

 

Then, shortly after that, I got an intriguing update from Brooke.

 

 

She said this politician she had contacts with (read: fucked) was suddenly in public with a serious partner.

 

 

Dancing, drinking, hitting all the public spots.

 

 

Brooke said this guy was a real sleaze. Fucked whatever was in front of him, and everything he did besides getting his dick wet was to further his political career. But she thought this was him combining the two. See, Representative Louis Short represented a district that included most of Willow Creek, and he was very active with the philanthropic community, but this Mickey Harvey he was suddenly dating had huge connections with charities statewide, and even across state lines.

 

 

She figured since one of Magnolia's Senate seats was opening up in 2010, and the incumbent was retiring, he was about to announce his campaign, and then use that as a springboard for a Presidential run in 2012. And he needed to pump up his image as a family man. Plus, it didn't hurt that Miss Harvey was hot as hell, so this was no hard labor on his part.

 

 

So to speak.

 

Anyway, I told her to keep a close eye on developments.

 

That's how the middle of the summer was going in 2009, but if you're still reading this tome, get ready. Next up is the wildest bachelor party you'll ever read about.