The last time I was able to touch her was the night I so stupidly let my inner douchiness come out when I saw Gina’s pictures weren’t unpacked. I wasn’t lying to her. That was just a product of me feeling like shit about myself and piling that pain onto someone else. Thank God she forgave me the transgression and let me back inside.
And she did take me inside her body that night. She and I fucked all night long. I stayed in her bed, intermittently dozing with her, only to wake up with another hard-on and the need to fuck her again. Over and over and when the sun came up, it still didn’t feel like it was enough.
I felt almost a desperation. That the more I could make her orgasm, the more she’d be okay with what I was able to offer her.
I haven’t been able to get near her since then because, damn, Delaney is staying in the guest room next to Kate’s and I just don’t want to deal with listening to her bitch if we’re busted. But Delaney’s leaving tomorrow and she’s taking Ben with her. They’re going on a planned trip to Nova Scotia to stay with our parents for about ten days and then going to go see Gina’s parents while there so they can spend some time with Ben.
That gives me one week alone with Kate—less the away games during the first round of the playoffs that start the day after next—and my dick jumps in eagerness as I think of all the things I could do to her in this house when we’re alone.
Suddenly, Ben lets out a wail and I see him on the ground underneath the monkey bars, flat on his back. Fear courses through me and I jet toward the deck stairs and launch myself down them. By the time I hit the ground, Kate has gotten him up and is holding him. His arms are wrapped tightly around her neck and his face is pressed into her shoulder as he cries loudly.
“What happened?” I say anxiously as I come to a skidding halt next to them.
Kate gives me a reassuring smile. “He fell off the bars. Knocked the breath out of him is all. I think he’s more scared than hurt.”
My heart rate immediately starts to calm, but my heart aches over Ben’s cries. There is nothing worse in the world than hearing that from your child.
“You okay, buddy?” I ask as I brush the hair back from his forehead. He lifts his head and looks at me with big fat glistening tears pooling and then spilling.
Awww…damn, that kills me. I hold my arms out to him and say, “Come here. It’ll be all right.”
Ben immediately turns away from me and buries his face back in Kate’s shoulder, his little hands grasping on to her as if he’ll die without her. She gives me an apologetic look and brings a hand up to cup the back of his head.
“Come on, Sweet Potato Pudding Pie,” Kate cajoles him. “Let’s rub some dirt in it. You’re okay, right?”
His cries start to die down and I just stare helplessly while my son wants to take comfort only in Kate’s arms.
So fucking bittersweet.
Bitter that it’s not Gina holding him.
Bitter that it’s not me he wants right now.
But so fucking sweet, this connection he’s developed with Kate. My son is happy and secure with her, and rather than make me feel jealous as I thought it would, I feel immensely grateful toward her.
“I’m going to get the grill started,” I say as I lean over and kiss Ben on the head, then give her a quick wink. “Looks like you got everything under control.”
I make my way back up onto the deck and get the grill going. Shortly thereafter, Delaney and Ryker come out, their arms loaded with food. Delaney hands me the plate of burgers to grill and then sets plates, a bowl of potato salad, and an apple pie she picked up at the grocery store out on the large outdoor table that comfortably seats eight.
Ryker, Delaney, and I shoot the shit and sip on beers while I cook the burgers. We discuss the playoffs and the amazing potential we have to take a legitimate shot at the Cup this year. Ryker updates me on the status of his soon-to-be ex-wife, who is now apparently wanting to send his girls down here full-time to stay with him.
“I want them down here with me,” Ryker says as he leans back comfortably in his chair. “But she’s got to give me a little time to get set up. I need to find someone to watch them, figure out school, and get some decent furniture for their rooms.”
“I’ll pull the applications of the other women I interviewed,” Delaney tells him. “They were both really good, so that might be a place to start.”
“Appreciate it,” Ryker says with a smile.
“Burgers are almost ready,” I shout out to Kate, who is now swinging with Ben. His tears have completely dried and he’s fine.
“Come on,” I hear Kate say, and a brief glance her way has me smiling as she jumps off the swing set like a little kid. “I’ll race you.”