I moan softly into the bedcovers.Blaze rolled me to my belly this morning, inspected my ass and then ordered me to spread my legs.Now, I’m lying boneless on his bed after he essentially fucked my brains out.
His phone beeps with a text and he picks it up and looks at it.Instantly, his shoulders tense and his mouth turns into a grim line.He glances at the clock and rolls out of bed.
“What is it?”I ask, even though it’s none of my business.Or is it?I don’t know.We haven’t really defined our relationship.
“My ex.I have to get going.It’s our daughter’s birthday party today.”
I sit up, my mouth turning bone dry, stomach knotting into a tight twist.“You have a daughter?”
“Yeah.Sort of.It’s complicated.Listen, I’m sorry to run off.I didn’t realize the time—not that I’m sorry about how we spent it, by any means.”He gets dressed with the speed and efficiency of a firefighter.
“Your daughter’s birthday,” I echo again.I’m shocked by this information.I didn’t know he had a daughter—or whatever complicated thing she may be.And the fact that he’s not willing to explain it to me kind of tells me everything, doesn’t it?
This isn’t a relationship.He’s not inviting me along to meet his daughter—not that I’m presuming we’re at that stage, but still.
Or maybe I’m just bitter over him running off to his ex’s while the bed’s still warm from our love-making.Fucking.Whatever.
I get up, the bliss of my recent orgasm spiraling down into something dark and tired.I don’t use any of my firefighter speed-dress skills.In fact, I move slower than usual, out of a wee bit of spite.I hate feeling like I’m being kicked out.
“You’re welcome to stay here and sleep, if you want,” he offers, somewhat mollifying me.Maybe he’s hoping I’ll still be here when he gets back.But then he adds, “I won’t be back until late.I have to help a friend install some cabinets after the party.”
“You’re always helping someone, aren’t you?”I try, unsuccessfully to keep my tone light.
He turns a shrewd glance at me and rubs the stubble on his face.“Yeah, it’s a habit, I guess.Maybe it needs breaking.”
I force myself to throw off my foul mood.“Nah, I think it’s sweet.You like to be the hero.That’s why you’re the captain.”
His smile seems forced, but I sail past him toward the door.
“Hold up.”He sounds unhappy.He catches me around the waist and pulls me back against him.“Are you pissed?”
“No,” I sigh.It’s not really a lie.I’m not pissed, just disappointed.“I’m fine.Have fun at the party.”I turn in his arms and offer my lips.
He gives me a perfunctory kiss, but his eyes still search my face for more information.
I don’t give him the chance to sniff out my bad mood.It’s just me being small, anyway.“See ya,” I call and head out the door.
Blaze
I showup at the park near Samantha’s with a My Little Pony and a stuffed rainbow unicorn under my arm.It’s Lily’s birthday.I couldn’t possibly forget because the last time I watched her, she chatted about it non-stop.Turning four years old is a pretty exciting time.
I didn’t think twice about coming, but now that I’m here, I’m wondering what the hell I’m doing.Lily’s not my kid.She felt like my kid at one time.I saw her birth, I changed her diapers in the middle of the night, picked her up from daycare, watched her on my days off.Even now, Samantha still dumps her on me anytime she needs a sitter.Even though she doesn’t deserve my help, I always do it because I freaking love her kid.I mean, I wanted to adopt her as my own when we were together.
Maybe it’s because I just had Lia in my bed, but I suddenly question why Samantha and Lily are still in my life.
As a dozen princesses screech and race around the park, I stand there like a tool.Samantha ignores me from where she’s chatting up the other moms.Lily’s dad is nowhere to be seen, but that’s not surprising.The guy’s less than engaged with his daughter.
Maybe that’s why I keep sticking around.I feel bad for Lily and the stupid choices her mother makes.
But no.
I don’t wish I was still with Samantha and Lily.Not at all.In fact, I’m really fucking glad I’m not still carrying their weight.It was a whole lot of effort and responsibility without any thanks.
From Samantha.
Lily’s always generous with preschooler hugs.She sees me now and comes racing over, throwing herself into the air.I catch her and swing her around, planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Hi, Mac,” she says, using the name Samantha calls me by.
