“I need the bathroom,” she announces. I lean on an elbow enjoying the view as she struts through my bedroom. I fix the covers and take my turn in the bathroom after Freya. When I come back out, she’s fast asleep, snuggled deep in my blankets. I slide in behind her and she presses her ass into my crotch. My head hits the pillow for a minute then my cell starts ringing. Belinda’s tone echoes through the room. Fucking hell. She doesn’t normally call late unless it’s something to do with our son. As much as it pains me to move, I roll back out of bed and dig my phone out of my pile of discarded clothes.
“Talk to me.”
“Hey, I know it’s late and you’re out or whatever, but Bensen has been throwing up off and on for hours. I think he ate too much junk food.”
“You give him some antacids?”
“Yeah, but he’s been asking for you.”
“I’m an hour out. He’ll be asleep by the time I get there.”
“Are you with someone?”
“I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone right now.” We’ve always agreed that if either of us ever got serious with someone we’d have enough respect to tell the other person.
“Who is she?” I must be tired because it sounds like there’s a hint of jealousy and accusation in her tone.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
“So whoever you’re fucking is more important than our kid. Got it,” she clips.
I scrub a palm over my face. “Don’t do that. You said he had too much junk. I’m tired and I’ve been drinking. Not the best combination for driving on a slick and foggy night.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just tired and frustrated.”
“There something you’re not telling me?”
“I wanted to tell you, but I can’t seem to get you alone. I ended things with Petra.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Seems my timing isn’t right.”
“The fuck you saying?”
“Nothing. I just…” she trails off. “I’ll see you for breakfast?”
I look back at my bed where Freya sleeps looking like a damn goddess. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”
I end the call and walk down the hall to the kitchen. I grab a bottle of liquor from the freezer and take a shot while wondering what the fuck was up with my wife and her comment about timing. I send another shot down the hatch and light up a cigarette. A hard drag pulls through my lungs. I stare out the window to the edge of the yard and wonder what the hell I’m doing with my life.
I put my cigarette out and trudge back down the hall to my bedroom where Freya waits.
I put a knee to the mattress, and she rolls toward me with a big yawn, eyes still shut. “Everything okay?
“Yeah, babe. Go back to sleep.” I settle in.
Freya tucks into my side, head to my chest, hand over my heart. I can’t help but wish this was my life and that Bensen was merely down the hall. I try my best to get some sleep but all I can do is lay here with Freya feeling like a lousy piece of shit because I chose pussy over going home to my boy.
I know he’s good at home with his mom. She said it herself he ate too much crappy food.
Fuck me.
I slide out from under Freya and nab my cell again. I wait until I’m back in the kitchen before I hit send.
“Hey.” I can hear the smile in Belinda’s voice.
“He asleep yet?”