“Why are you being like this?”
“Like what exactly? Reasonable. An adult. You think another kid will magically fix this?” I shrug my shirt over the back of my head and toss it into a nearby hamper.
“I don’t know but don’t we owe it to ourselves to try? To my father to carry on the family.”
“I’m not fighting with you about this.” I kick my jeans off and grab my pillow off the bed.
“What are you doing?”
“Going to the couch.”
“Rochelle has a friend over.”
“And?”
“I don’t want her gossiping at school that Rochelle’s dad sleeps on the couch.”
“Who gives a fuck about what some school kids think?”
“I do. It’ll get back to the other cheer moms.”
“You’re fucking ridiculous you know that.” I shake my head and go to the living room, grabbing a spare blanket from the hall closet as I go. Flopping down on the couch, I grab the remote and turn some action movie on. I toss and turn until about two in the morning when I hear someone in the kitchen. I peer over the back of the couch and see Alexa standing in front of the sink. Her blonde locks hang down her back and the pale green shorts she’s wearing hug her ass. I should roll back over and pretend to be asleep, but find my feet carrying me to the kitchen because I’m a damn glutton for punishment.
“Can?
??t sleep?” Alexa jumps at the sound of my voice and turns to face me. Tears rolling down her cheeks. On reflex I go to her, wrapping my arms around her, pressing her head into my chest.
She gazes up at me. “I’m sorry. I thought I could do this but being back here... Brings the nightmares back.”
“It’s okay.” I kiss her forehead, and she tilts her head up more, her lips calling to mine like a damn siren calling to a sailor at sea. “Is there anything I can do? Ruthie takes sleeping pills. I’ll get you one if you think it’d help.”
“No. No pills.” She shakes her head. “I know you’re mad at me for coming back, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go out into the world while knowing you were back here. I don’t have anything if I don’t have you in my life.”
“Lex, we can’t do this.”
“Yes, we can.” Her sweet breath fans over my mouth, and like a magnet I’m drawn straight to her. My hands roam to her hips, and I lift her onto the counter, her legs hooking around my waist. Dipping my head, I capture her mouth with mine, greedily taking whatever I can get of her.
“Why can’t I give you up?”
“Because you love me,” she whispers and kisses my palm.
I step away and shake my head. I take one look at her, and I know I am so damn fucked I need a new word for how gone I am for her. I must be crazy. My wife and daughter are right down the hall. Either of them could wake up at any moment and find us together.
“Go to bed. I’m gonna talk to your folks about you coming back home tomorrow.”
“I’m not going back. You can’t make me.”
“You can’t stay here.”
“You want me to go say the word.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Is it because of your wife?”
“Don’t go there.”
“Why? If you can’t be honest with me then who can you trust?”