He grins at me. The type of grin that would soak my panties if I was wearing them. Sighing, I scoot off the bed. Standing in the middle of my bedroom, this man has more confidence and presence than any other man on the planet. “We can arrange for free gameplay whenever you want,” Aidan says, then his smile slips.
Crossing to him, I lay my palms on his hard abs. “Deal. What’s the matter?” I ask. Trying to ignore the fact that Kendall’s bus will pull up any minute.
He swallows hard and looks down at me. His jaw clenches. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Taking my face in his hands, his thumb on one cheek and his pointer finger gripping the other one. His abs rise and fall quicker than before as he gazes into my eyes, leaning closer. “Still trying to figure out what to do with that,” he admits, tipping my face up to meet his lips.
I break from the kiss. “Want me to tell you what to do with it?” I ask, trying to control my pulse.
Aidan bites his lip and nods slowly, just once.
“Love me back,” I whisper.
His eyes flare wide, and I think for a second that I’ve scared him—that I’ve said too much, that I’ve been too honest. After a beat or two, his shock diminishes.
He smiles, shakes his head, takes my face in his hands again and owns me with a kiss.
_______________
Kendall is in a bouncy mood, kicking her feet back and forth as she does her homework splayed on her bed—her earbuds in, oblivious to the fact I’m watching from her doorway. There’s a shadow of guilt every second that passes that I don’t tell her about Aidan. It’s mostly because I feel like a completely different person and I’m hiding it from the person I care about the most. Paul left a message on my cell phone to tell me the child support check would be a week late. He knows it’s fine, he knows my finances are in line. The inheritance from my grandparents gave me enough to begin a new life and keeps us afloat on the months when sales in the antique shop are slow. I never had to touch it when I was married to Paul and I’d like to think my grandpa would be proud to see the life I created with what he left behind.
I’m wavering between leaving her alone and peppering her with questions about her day. She seems happy. Happier than she’s been in a long time. There’s a bounce in her step. Is it possible she’s thriving off of the good energy I’m putting into the atmosphere? Maybe she knows without details I’m happier? I sit next to her on the bed and lay a hand on her calf swinging in the air.
Kendall takes the earbud out of one ear and smiles. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“You seem happy today,” I exclaim, letting my gaze take in her beautiful face. “Can I bring up a snack?”
“Nah, that’s okay. I grabbed an apple when I got home. Everything okay?” she asks.
God, she can tell something is different. I panic. “No. No. I’m fine, honey. I wanted to tell you hello. Craving anything for dinner?” I lead the conversation away from happiness and back to something safe—typical.
“Something quick? I’m riding down to the beach after homework. If that’s okay,” she says, taking the other bud out of her ear. “Juliet will come with me.” She’s really trying to sell it. “And you can track me like an FBI agent using the app or whatever.”
“What’s down at the beach again tonight? You seeing someone? A boy?” I try to keep my tone teasing because hell hath no fury like an offended teen.
“Maybe,” she replies, pressing her lips together.
“Who is it?” I ask, mentally ticking through the boys I’ve met that I’ve seen around more than a couple of times.
She smirks. “That would be bad juju. It’s nothing right now, nothing special anyway. Boys seem like so much work. We’re just talking. Promise. Nothing serious.”
Of course I trust her, but there’s a niggling feeling of something not quite right. “Sure, of course. When you’re ready to talk about him.”
“So, I can go?” Kendall asks, eyebrows raised.
“Sure, sure.” I can’t help myself, it’s physically impossible. I give her the safe sex lecture and the no means no lecture and when she’s absolutely mad and annoyed, I leave her to finish her homework praying my words trickle in. She’s a smart girl. My hope is that she’s smarter than I was.
I stop into my small bump out office and attend to business on my laptop and head into the kitchen. My cell phone chimes with a text from Aidan.
Jumping out of airplanes tonight. How does it feel knowing you’d be my last thought if my parachute doesn’t open?
I smile. Morbid? And a little flattered.
Just a LITTLE flattered?
Fine, a lot flattered. Make sure your parachute is in full working order though. I want free gameplay time again tomorrow.
His text response is quick.There’s nothing else I’d rather do.
I’m smiling, the phone pressed to my chest when Kendall walks in and asks what I’m giggling about.
I lie.
