Page 39 of Beautiful Life
This is the latest thing that’s pissing me off. I have no desire for Leigh to get an apartment. She says she wants to move out of Gabby’s house by the time they get back from their honeymoon, insisting they need the house to themselves without her hanging around once they’re married.
I get that. But we still end up in the same bed every night without discussion. It’s a given. I haven’t pushed things further, but for the past couple of weeks, other than the few days she was on her period, Leigh ends her day with an orgasm I get to give her. And ever since I started ending our days making her moan for me, she melts into me in a whole new way before she finds sleep. A more intimate way, which I didn’t think was possible but it’s fucking amazing. I can’t say it’s not frustrating as hell and all this has led to me taking longer showers with my hand wrapped around my dick, thinking of nothing but Leigh moaning and quaking at my touch.
But I’m patient.
And determined.
I’m also pissed she wants an apartment because I want her with me—in my house and in my bed. I’m just at a loss of how to make that happen with it being her choice.
I’m gathering my files and laptop as I hear my dad call, “Son?”
I look up at my dad. He’s called me “son” my whole life, but never at work. When I look up to catch his eyes—my eyes with many more years of wisdom and life surrounding them—I can tell he’s morphing from my employer into my father.
“What?”
“It’s not lost on your mother and I you spend a lot of time with Leigh.” He’s studying me carefully as he leans back in his chair.
Damn. How do I handle this? I could give a shit who knows my feelings for Leigh, but my family can be overwhelming to say the least. I’ve done my best to keep what she and I have on the down-low for her sake. She’s been through enough, she doesn’t need my family in her face about us and I’ve threatened Gabby and Paige within an inch of their lives to keep their traps shut. Leigh needs time to work through whatever she needs to work through on her own without my family riding her about being with me.
“Leigh and I have always been friends and Gabby’s flying off the deep end about the wedding next week. I told her I’d go with her, it’s not a big deal.”
“Son,” he repeats as he tips his head, that one word holding great meaning.
“What?” I bite.
“I see the way you look at her, that’s all.”
“So?” I’m frustrated with myself because I sound more like a teenager than a grown fucking man.
“So, I know that look is all.” He then blows me away by adding, “It’s the way I used to look at your mother. It’s the way I still look at your mother.”
Hell. I must not be hiding it like I thought I was. It’s not lost on me I grew up with parents who adore each other. As my dad said, they still adore each other. My mom has her own brand of crazy my dad must really get off on. Her crazy is so strong, it was genetically passed down to Sophia and Paige. Charlotte and I are more even tempered like my dad. Regardless, I grew up in a family who loved each other to a fault and would support each other no matter what. I have no idea what it would be like to grow up like Leigh. No father, a drunken floosy of a mom, and a drug-addled, hood-rat sister.
“She’s been through a lot. Too much. I don’t want her overwhelmed by everyone. Not yet. Not now, that’s for sure.” I look to my dad who I know will have my back, half-grin and throw him a bone. “But she’ll get there.”
He shows me he gets me by giving me a head lift. Leaning up from his chair to lean his forearms on the desk. “Well, all right then. It’s yours, and hers, to share. I’ll do my best to be evasive with your mother, even though she can be frustratingly persistent.” That’s when he smiles big. “I guess this means you owe me.”
I shake my head and turn to leave because he’s full of shit. My dad would never make me owe him anything.
I’m about out the door when I hear him call to me again. “Tony?” I turn to look at him and he continues in a quieter voice full of meaning. “Happy for you, son.”
I give him my own head lift back. I need to get the hell out of Dodge before I’m forced to make any more heart-felt confessions.
*****
Leigh
“What’s wrong with this one?” I bite my lip to suppress my grin because I don’t think he appreciates I find this even a little amusing.
Tony looks larger than normal because he’s standing in the middle of the very small family room slash bedroom slash dining room of this very small studio apartment looking none too happy. His stance is wide, his arms are crossed, his hair is disheveled and he’s wearing a glare. This has been his demeanor since we started my apartment search two hours ago. He’s sullen to say the least and has found something wrong with every apartment we’ve looked at. One was too old, one wasn’t secure enough, one was too far away from the parking and the last one was too far away from his house. This is the fifth, it’s getting late, and I’m hungry.
Tony’s eyes narrow on me as I try not to smile. I’m finding this entertaining because I can tell he’s not happy I’m getting an apartment, but he’s doing his best not to be controlling. Although, his best really isn’t very good and this reminds me of car shopping all over again.
“It’s gated.” I start to tick off the reasons why it’s better than the previous apartments. “It’s brand new. No one has ever lived here before. The parking is really close to the door and it’s only ten minutes from your house.”
“This side of the complex is going fast,” the sales lady adds to my list. She continues her hard sell. “The other side of the complex faces the highway, if you want this one you’ll need to act fast.”
“Can you give us a minute?” Tony asks, in a not too friendly way, I might add.
