nine simple words:

the blue dress slipped over her head and she tugged down the bottom aware that it wasn't really going anywhere. Miranda checked herself out in the mirror, satisfied, because that was precisely the point.

her boyfriend came into the room and whistled in a low tone. "damn, baby, you look good."

she smiled over her shoulder. "thank you."

"Maaaa!" her daughter moaned from their living room sofa.

the smile disappeared immediately and she sighed. "maybe i shouldn't go out. not with Sanaa feeling so badly."

Eli held her waist and kissed the side of her neck. "she'll be fine, babe. Warren will be here. and we haven't had a night out in a while."

those things were all true, so she conceded with a "you're right. let's just go."

"wow, sound a little less enthusiastic, will ya?" he said, bumping her body gently.

"i am excited, i'm just—"

"Maaaaa!"

"coming, baby," she responded.

downstairs, she saw her best friend getting comfortable on the shorter sofa and waved. "hey, lady," he said, kicking off his shoes. "you look gorgeous".

Sanaa picked her head up from her phone. "he's right, mom. you look hot!"

disregarding their compliments and the swooshing in her chest, she fixed the pillows behind her daughter's head, saying, "thanks for coming over, Ben. i really appreciate it."

he nodded and looked at Sanaa. "for my Squish. anything."

back with her head in her phone, the girl grinned. footsteps coming toward them, made her turn. a shirtless Eli came up to her, holding up his shirt and Miranda grimaced.

"i splashed water on the damn thing. i have to toss it in the dryer and then iron it again." he looked over at Ben. "hey, man." as the two men shook hands, Ben tried to catch her eye, but she just dragged Eli to her laundry room. "what's up?"

"nine simple words."

"huh?"

"i've asked you several times to..." she began counting the words on her fingers to hammer home her point. "'please put a shirt on around my teenage daughter'."

he closed his eyes and tossed his shirt on top of the washing machine, grabbing her waist. "you're right. you're right. you're right," he said apologetically. "you are so right. i completely forgot and i'm so sorry, babe."

she stayed quiet. sorry wasn't cutting it anymore. wouldn't cut it anymore. "this is frustrating Eli."

"i know."

"no, you don't or else you wouldn't do the one thing i've asked you not to do."

he kissed her cheek. "look... it's just a chest," he said with a light chuckle.

"that's not funny nor is it the point."

"i won't do it again."

"i wish i could believe that."

suffice to say, dinner was awkward and instead of going back to his place as was the original plan, she told him to drop her off at home, claiming that Sanaa had texted her though no such thing had happened. Miranda knew her child was fine. and she had a feeling Eli knew as well, but he didn't object and simply kissed her cheeks and lips once before leaving her at the front door, heading back to his car.

in the living room, both her daughter and her best friend were asleep and she sat on the same sofa as the teen, kicking her feet up on an ottoman. Ben stirred. "hey, i thought this was an overnight gig."

"i thought it was gonna be that way, too." she smiled at him and he shot her one back. there used to be a time when his parted lips and white teeth made her body go into such a frenzy. now, it was just so comforting and... homey.

"let me guess... pretty boy wasn't ready to take things to the next level?"

Miranda cracked up and tossed a pillow in his direction. "you know, after almost fifteen years, you're just as annoying as ever."

"you're welcome."

"thank you," she said sincerely.