Happily Ever Ninja(15)

In the back of my mind I knew he would leave again and I would be alone. But for now, for better or worse, my wary heart awoke. No longer lethargic, but alive to this man, and how much I loved him.

“I need you, Fiona.” The dark desperation had returned to his voice, and the sound cut through my lingering fog of fulfillment.

His words sounded like the tip of an emotion iceberg, so I twisted my arms around him and held on tightly. “Hey, I love you.”

Greg shook his head and breathed out, ragged and fatigued. He pressed his face to my skin for a long moment, then abruptly released me.

Pulling my arms from his torso, he turned and sat on the edge of the couch, glancing around the apartment. “Right . . . here’s what we’ll do: I’ll get the kids. You take your shower. After homework and playtime, I’ll challenge them to shots until they pass out. Then we’ll eat the rest of their Halloween candy while binge-watching Game of Thrones.”

I sat behind him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, still trying to pull myself together. “The Halloween candy is long gone. And what kind of shots are you talking about?”

“Apple juice.” He squeezed my arms, then stood. I watched him cross the room with long strides to where he’d dropped his duffle bag; he retrieved a coat from the floor and faced me, his eyes giving my body a quick perusal, like he was taking a mental snapshot. “Or, the hard stuff, if you prefer.”

I narrowed my eyes and stretched. “We don’t keep Kool-Aid in the house, you know that. It makes Jack hallucinate.”

“He doesn’t hallucinate; don’t be so melodramatic.”

“He talks to the walls.”

“Only because they talk to him first.”

He was right; Jack didn’t actually hallucinate. The one time he drank Kool-Aid he did talk to the walls, then he laughed uncontrollably until he passed out. Basically, Kool-Aid made the kids crazy and loopy and caused them to run around like sugar-high savages.

“Although your plan sounds delightful, we can’t do that tonight. I have Ashley’s going-away party at four, and you’re invited, of course.” I yawned, my eyes flickering to the mantel clock. He needed to leave in the next thirty seconds and I needed coffee.

“Is that tonight?” Greg zipped his winter coat, frowning like he was disappointed.

“Yes. Why? What’s wrong?”

He studied the gloves he’d retrieved from the pockets of his jacket. “No, nothing.”

I pulled the corners of the towel back around my body. “She’s leaving on Wednesday, for good. I’m bringing the cake. I had no idea you would be home and this isn’t something I can miss or skip.”

“Of course. We need to go. We’ll go. We must go,” he said resolutely, as though he were trying to convince himself. Then he lifted his gaze to mine and I felt better, seeing it was clear of conflict.

“By the way, why are you here? Obviously I’m not complaining, but how did this happen? I thought there were no breaks on this assignment.”

He walked backward to the door, checking his watch. “I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.”

“Oh! I also need to speak with you about Jack. Something happened yesterday—”

Greg stiffened. “Is he okay?”

“Yes, but—”

“I have to go, we’ll talk about it later. Speaking of which, when I return, it would be super great if you were still mostly naked, mmm-kay?’

“Mmm-kay.” I stood, giving him a goofy grin. “I’m sure the kids won’t mind their mother walking around the house naked. That’s not weird at all.”

“Good.” He nodded once, a smile brightening his eyes, then turned. I was halfway to our bathroom when I heard him open the front door then bellow at me, “And by mostly naked, I mean completely naked. And wet!”

This made me smile, until I heard Greg say, “Oh, hi neighbor Matt. I didn’t see you lurking there in the hallway. Awkward.”

And then I laughed.

Good Lord, I’d missed him.





CHAPTER 3


Dearest Wife,

I really thought love at first sight and soul mates were bullshit. But the second I saw you, nothing else seemed possible. How could I not spend the rest of my breathing moments with you? I needed to be with you. I was in love with you from the moment I saw you, and every time I see you now it's that same feeling of, “NOW I am complete.”

-Mark

Letter

Ohio, USA

Married 7 years



~18 years ago~

*Greg*



“She’s a six.”

Frowning at the class syllabus for English Composition 101, I endeavored to ignore the males of my species directly behind me.