by Nora Blake
My phone immediately started ringing, and I answered it. “Hey, hold on a sec.” I looked at Melany. “I don’t know, Melany. I need to go.” I put the phone back to my ear as I got closer to the truck. “Hey.”
"Aaron!" she yelled as she chased me out of the house.
"What the fuck is going on? Who is yelling?" Nick snapped.
“Hold on again, Nick.” I looked at Melany. “What!”
"What are you saying? Don't you dare fight me on this. We agreed! It will only upset the kids and cause stress that’s not needed. You work a full-time job! You’d have to find care for them if you kept them during the week. It works out best this way!" Tears filled her eyes, and her bottom lip trembled.
“For who? You? Have you ever considered for a second how the boys and I feel? I told you while I work, they can stay here on my weeks and I’ll pick them up after. And what about tonight, Melany? They could have easily stayed the night with me, but you refused. What would have been the harm?”
"Then they would ask tomorrow night, and the next. It'd become a cycle of them crying and being tossed from here to there. Every other weekend. That's the deal. It’s for the best."
“And that’s not enough for me and the boys. We’ll talk about this later.” I got in my truck before she could argue more.
I started driving before putting my phone to my ear. “Sorry, Nick. You still there?”
"What's going on?”
“The boys were crying and wanting to come stay with me. They apparently got Melany’s phone and called me themselves. Melany wouldn’t let them come over, so I went to them.”
"Are you heading home now?"
“Yeah. I could use my brother, Nick. This night went to shit.”
"You know I'm here for you."
“Thanks. I’ll be home shortly.”
"See you in a bit."
I hung up and tossed the phone on the dash as I drove.
When I got home, I saw Nick’s truck already parked in the drive. I went straight inside the house. The night had started off so well. I hated it had to end like this. I walked in and sank into the couch next to my brother.
"She can't deny you time with them like this. It’s not fair to you or the boys."
“She thinks she can. She said the kids are her life and she doesn’t have a job or hobby like me. I told her I knew that, which is why I don’t fight with her about it. She asked me if I would try fighting for more time. I told her I didn’t know.” I ran my hands down my face and sighed. “I bet her mom already has a lawyer on retainer just in case I try.”
“If she keeps doing this when the boys are begging to come over here, she’s going to end up making them hate her one day. None of this shit is fair. I want to see my nephews more. They need their dad, and it’s not fair that Mom and Dad only get to spend real quality time with their grandkids at our Sunday dinners when they’re with you.”
“I honestly don’t think she cares. What did I ever do to get her to hate me?”
“She doesn’t hate you. She’s just fighting a battle that she’s bringing on herself. I know her parents fill her with a bunch of bullshit too, but she allows it.”
“It hurts so bad, Nick. I miss my boys.”
He cuffed my shoulder. “Me too. I hate this for you.” He let go of my shoulder. “Tell me about the date. Was she upset it ended early?”
“No, she wasn’t upset. It was amazing. She was so supportive and insisted I leave and let her find her own ride home. And damn … the kiss was the most intense kiss I had ever had. Indescribable.”
“You kissed her?” His smile was contagious. “Nice!”
I laughed. “Yeah.”
“Damn. A kiss that made you speechless. I’m jealous. I kiss to fuck, and that’s it.”
“Shallow asshole.” I laughed at his longing expression. “Maybe you should try kissing someone because you actually like being with them.”
He shrugged and his longing expression turned into his normal goofy one. “So, any kinky shit happen?”
I chuckled. “No. Your mind really needs to get off my sex life.”
“Just looking out for you. That’s all.”
I laughed and shook my head.
My phone dinged.
Sarah: Home! I meant to text way earlier but forgot. I hope you’re okay.
Me: I’m sorry the night ended like that.
I looked at Nick who was trying to read my messages. “Maybe you should focus on your own sex life. Weren’t you talking to a girl? You told me about her one day, then I didn’t hear anything else.”
“There are a few I’m talking to. Not really dating. I haven’t found anyone who can put up with me for too long.”
Sarah: It’s not your fault. Please don’t apologize. Did you make it home or are you still there?
Me: I’m home. I left after the boys fell asleep.
Sarah: K night.
Me: Night.
I looked at my brother. “Thanks, Nick. For everything. I really appreciate you always being here for me.”
“Don’t sweat it, man. Anything for you and the boys.” He stood. “I’m gonna go grab a shower.”
Sarah: Actually, not goodnight. Lol If you’re up to it, I’d be down if you wanna come pick me up. Late night ice cream trips are epic. But only if you’re up for it. If you’re tired, please rest.
Me: Late night ice cream with you? I’ll be right there.
Sarah: You sure you’re up to it? You can say no.
Me: I’m 100% sure. See you in bit.
I hurried to catch Nick before he got in the shower. “Hey, I’m going to go pick up Sarah and get some ice cream.”
“Yup, you two are completely gone.” He chuckled. “Be careful.”
“Always. See ya later tonight.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Sarah
When I saw the headlights through the window, my heart sped up, and the pit of my stomach got all warm and tingly. I stood from the couch and went outside with a love-sick grin making my nose crinkle.
He got out with a smile that met his eyes and made my heart pound in my chest. He opened the door for me and, after I was in, he got in. I scooted to the middle seat, and he started eyeballing the seatbelt.
I laughed. “Putting it on.”
He put his arm around my shoulders after my seatbelt was secure and kissed my forehead. “Hi.” His eyes held mine.
Those hazel eyes, though …
“Hi.”
He wet his lips, slowly inching closer to mine. “I’m glad you texted.”
“I’m glad I texted, too.”
My lips parted, welcoming his kiss. My hands gripped the front of his shirt tightly as he kissed me. I had never felt this yearning before. Feeling like we just weren’t close enough, I moved until I was straddling his lap. My hands moved to the back of his neck, our lips never leaving one another. One hand stayed on the back of my head, fingers tangled in my hair, and his other hand on my lower back pressing me against him. The sudden pressure between my legs told me he was enjoying this as much as I was.
I was completely intoxicated by this man. This didn’t come as a shock, though. He always did this to me, even if I was silent about it. We could be drowning right now, and I wouldn’t even realize it. I was so lost in us. In this kiss. This perfect moment was writing the silent words to our story that only we could communicate.
When we stopped kissing, he untangled his fingers from my hair and kissed my forehead softly.
“Hi,” he said for a second time as we both tried to catch our breath.
“Hi.” I let go of his neck and laughed a little as I tried to smooth out the wrinkles in his shirt. It was useless.
He looked down at my fumbling hands, grabbed them both in his, and kissed the backs of them. “Don’t worry about my shirt.” He chuckled.
I realized I had completely forgotten about ice cream. We hadn’t even left my driveway yet. “We should probably go get ice-cream …”
I could
see a hint of disappointment in his eyes but he smiled anyway. “Ice cream it is.”
He let go of my hands, and we both sat back in our seats. He backed out of the driveway and pulled onto the road. “There’s Dairy Queen or we could run to Walmart and take it back to my place. Nick is there, though.” He held my hand with his free hand, and rested them both on my thigh.
“I’m good with going back to your place.” If we were left alone any longer I’d be having his baby, and neither of us were ready for that yet. As badly as I wanted him, I knew we should probably wait a little longer.
“I apologize in advance for anything my brother says.”
“He’s hilarious. He doesn’t bother me, I promise.”
His thumb gently rubbed the top of my knuckles. “He’s my best friend.”
“I wish my brother and I were close. I hate that he's strayed so far away from my parents and me. It’s great you two have each other.” I looked at the stoplight as it turned red and we stopped. “I bet Keeton and Kallon were so happy you came over. I’m sorry you have to deal with not getting to see them when you want.”
“I just try to keep the peace. They were happy, and I was happy to see them too, but hated to leave them. I feel like I’m missing out on so much.”
I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t a mom; I didn’t know how it felt to have kids of my own. I could only imagine the pain it caused him, though. I didn’t know Melany, and I didn’t know the whole situation, but it made me sad that she felt the need to be so controlling when it came to Keeton and Kallon. They weren’t just hers.
We pulled into the 24-hour Wal-Mart parking lot and, after he parked, we got out and headed inside. I got a cart, and he raised a brow at me.
“What?”
“How much do you plan on getting?”
I grinned. “Depends on what catches my eye.”
He chuckled and motioned toward the cart. “Hop on.”
“What?”
“Hop on,” he urged with a mischievous grin.
I looked at him oddly for a moment before putting my feet on the bottom bar and gripping the handle. He moved behind me and put his hands on the bar next to each of mine. He kissed the side of my neck before he started pushing me and the cart toward the grocery section.
“I feel ridiculous,” I giggled.
“As long as you’re having fun, who cares?”
I squealed and gripped the bar tighter when he started zooming through the produce section like we were in the Daytona 500. I couldn’t stop laughing as he made gear shift noises and made a sharp turn around a shelf of bananas and apples. He zipped down the frozen food aisle and stopped with a dramatic halt at the ice cream.
I got off the cart and playfully hit his chest. “You’re insane!”
“Oh, come on! Admit it. It was fun!”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Okay, it was fun.”
I turned and started scanning the selection of ice cream. Everything looked good. Butterflies filled my stomach when Aaron wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed the top of my head.
“Get whatever you want.”
I inclined my head back and looked up at him. “Don’t tell me that when I want it all.”
He leaned down and kissed me. “Get it all then.”
Before I could respond, he let go of me, opened the glass door, and started putting every flavor Yarnell’s had to offer into the cart. I opened my mouth to say something, but he clearly wouldn’t listen to me anyway. He was enjoying this too much.
“Do you have room for all of that?”
He put the final flavor, cookies n’ cream, into the cart and nodded. “I have a deep freezer in the utility room.”
“You don’t have to do this.” My eyes widened as I looked at the cart full of ice cream.
“I know I don’t. You only live once. What if tonight was your last night on earth? Would you question it for a second?”
I shook my head. “I don’t guess so.”
He grinned. “Then don’t question it. I’m gonna teach your sexy ass to live a life worth remembering.” He motioned for me to hop back on the cart.
“Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
I climbed on. “Don’t try to kill me this time.”
“Dirt Queen, the last thing you ever have to worry about is me allowing you to get hurt.”
My entire face hurt from laughing so hard with Nick and Aaron. If all of my Friday nights were spent like this, I wouldn’t mind. I took another bite of my ice cream while listening to Aaron tell a story about Nick and him when they were kids.
“You did not really spray paint your neighbor’s cat?” I asked in shock, looking at Nick.
“I was bored.” Nick chuckled.
“Yet, I was the one who got my ass tanned because of it.” Aaron laughed.
“How did you get blamed?” I smiled when Aaron stuck his spoon in my bowl and took a bite of my ice cream.
“Idiot hid the cans in my room. As mad as Mom was, I decided my ass could handle it better than his.”
“He took the heat for a lot of my shit,” Nick admitted.
“That’s what big brothers are for.”
I took my last bite and set the bowl beside me on the floor. I uncrossed my legs and stretched them out in front of me and leaned back on my palms. Aaron finished off his ice cream and looked at me. When he winked with his contagious smile, I grinned.
Nick stood and gathered our bowls. "Okay. That's my cue to go to my room. You two behave. Or not …"
Aaron laughed and tossed a couch pillow at him.
Nick caught the pillow and stuffed it under his shirt. "If you don't behave Sarah will look like this in nine months."
I started cracking up. "Night, Nick!"
Nick took the pillow out of his shirt and threw it Aaron. Aaron caught it and put it behind his head as he laid back on the floor. “Go to bed, idiot!”
Nick's laughter faded as he made his way down the hall.
My breath caught in my throat when Aaron grabbed my foot and started pulling me across the wood floor over to him. Once I was next to him, he grabbed another pillow from the couch and laid it next to his. I snuggled next to him.
"You're a mess, you know that?" I smiled when our eyes met. "A good mess. My mess."
He brushed some hair out of my face. “Definitely yours.”
I grabbed his hand and put it over my heart. "Feel that?"
“I feel a lot of things right now. Be a tad more specific.”
I shook my head at his comment. "My heart, silly. It's going crazy right now."
“Yeah, I feel it. Mine does that too. Every time I see you.”
I let go of his hand and felt the butterflies flipping around in my stomach when he kept his hand on my chest. I took his hand and tangled my fingers with his. "Nick said behave, remember?"
“Do you really want me to?”
I moved my hand to his chest, over his heart. I could feel the steady fast thuds. I kept my eyes on his, and the same thing that happened every time I got lost in the hazel hues, happened again. I lost my damn mind. Every brain cell gone.
"I'm in so much trouble," I whispered. “We went from admitting our feelings, to this. It’s so fast.”
He moved his hand into my hair. “I know what you mean, but it’s perfect. We’re going to just live for the moment. Let’s not overthink anything. It’s already proven to be way more fun when we don’t think at all.”
“Like I said, so much trouble.”
“I’ve always enjoyed breaking the rules.” He tangled his fingers in my hair, pulling me in for a kiss.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Aaron
Today I was bringing Sarah to eat at my parents’ house. It was finally my weekend with the boys. When I had the boys, we always did Sunday dinner with Mom and Dad. When I told my parents about Sarah and I officially dating, Mom insisted I bring her over. They always loved Sarah, and it was no surprise Mom and Dad would be so
welcoming and excited. Ecstatic, actually. Mom said she always knew Sarah and I were meant to be and was convinced our reconnection was a product of her nightly prayers for me to be happy again and find my soulmate.
I smiled at my boys in the mirror after helping them fix their hair.
“Ready to go pick up Sarah and go eat with Gramps and Grammy?”
Kallon grinned at his mohawk in the mirror. "I look so cool!"
Keeton nodded up at me. "I'm ready." He rubbed his little hand over his spiked-up hair. “I wook tool, too.”
I chuckled and nodded. “You sure do, little buddy. Let’s go make sure Uncle Nick is ready.” I took both of their hands as we came into the living room to find my brother. Nick was putting finishing touches on the model race car him and the boys had worked on the day before.
"It's got Daddy’s number on it!" Kallon bent down to look at all the details.
Keeton almost touched it, but Nick stopped his hand by lightly tapping it. "The paint is still a little wet, buddy."
Keeton let his hand fall to his side and bent down like Kallon to get a closer look.
Nick closed the paint can and set it on the coffee table next to the car.
“The paint job looks amazing, Nick.”
He looked at me. "Can't wait to start working on yours. We have to get you some sponsors now that you're back into racing and serious about it."
“I know. I’m planning on asking a few people this week.”
I looked at the boys. “Ready to go?”
They both nodded and raced each other to the door.
I laughed and grabbed my keys. “I talked to them about Sarah last night.”
"You two are getting serious fast. It's great, though." Nick grabbed his baseball cap from the back of the couch and put it on.
“I know it’s crazy. Good kind of crazy.”
After locking the door, we went outside and loaded the boys into the truck.
Nick looked at the passenger side door and then at me. "I just realized I've lost the front seat when she's around. I’m being demoted. It’s cool, though." He chuckled and got in the back with the kids.