by S. M. Shade
“Until three in the morning?”
“I guess I lost track of time. He’s from Indy too, Air. We grew up within a few miles of each other. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Odds are against it.”
“Sorry I woke you.”
“Mmm Hmm, now it’s your responsibility to put me back to sleep.” My body flares to life beneath his hot hands as they travel up my shirt to cup my breasts, tugging me back against his chest. A warm open-mouthed kiss on the nape of my neck seals my fate.
“Oh...if you insist.”
* * * *
Eric seems more lighthearted after our little late night chat, and he begins to join in a little more with the rest of the family. Perhaps it helps to have someone near who understands where you come from, who grieves for some of the same things.
“Don’t worry, I’ll mix some more,” Eric promises Jayla when she complains that we’re out of milk. Jayla doesn’t like the goat’s milk, and apparently Eric just drank the last of the powdered milk that was prepared.
“I’d kill for some real milk,” she complains.
“Well, we can’t exactly run down to VP to get a carton,” I grouch. I’ll never be a morning person.
“What is a VP?” Jayla asks, frowning.
Eric glances at me, and we both laugh. “Sorry. It’s a convenience store that apparently doesn’t exist down here. Kind of like a 7-11,” I explain.
“There was one on every corner,” Eric adds, “It was actually called Village Pantry, VP for short.” He beams at me.
“As fascinating as this is, I have to go check the traps,” Airen huffs before darting out the door.
“Everyone is such a grouch today.” Jayla glares.
“Sorry, I’m just tired.” I hug her and head to the bedroom. I’m suddenly not hungry. What is Airen’s problem today? Maybe there are just too many people in the house. It has become a little stifling. Hmm, perhaps we need a night at our summer home? It’s been awhile since we were alone.
I assumed the second trip to Evansville would wait until the spring, but Airen has been pushing to get it done. I’m shocked when he announces he doesn’t intend to go. “I’m sure Joseph and Troy can handle it, and I don’t want to leave you while you’re pregnant,” he explains when I ask him.
“I’m not arguing with you. I don’t want you to go. I’m just surprised.”
Eric sprained his ankle in the woods yesterday and is stuck wearing an air cast for a week, so he doesn’t have the option to accompany Troy and Joseph. However, Carson begs me to go along. Against my better judgment, I relent and allow it, but it scares me to death. It seems I’ll always be worried about someone making it back home.
“I don’t like it either, darlin’, but he’s thirteen. We have to let him grow up. Besides, Joseph won’t let anything happen to him,” Airen reassures me.
I suppose if Mr. Overprotective himself can let him go then so can I. “Just don’t bring back any strays,” I warn as they’re leaving the next morning.
Jayla decides to spend a couple of nights at Julie’s house. With Carson, Troy, and Joseph gone as well, the house seems empty. Eric retreats to his room, and I suspect he’s trying not to be a third wheel. Airen and I spend the evening snuggled together on the couch watching movies. Okay, maybe we were making out like a couple of teenagers, but it was fun, and of course, it led to the bedroom.
Our lovemaking was slow and lovely. He’s so afraid of hurting me or the baby, though Julie has assured him it’s safe. I love that he treats me so tenderly, but every now and then a girl just wants to be thrown down and ravaged.
Julie invites everyone for dinner the following day. Julie and Jayla have prepared mashed potatoes, noodles, and corn. It’s delicious, and I eat far too much.
It’s dark when Airen, Eric, and I prepare to walk back home. Eric approaches Julie. “Can I borrow a flashlight? This one is fucking up like channel…”
“Four,” I finish his sentence in unison with him. He grins at me while everyone else looks on in confusion. “God, Eric! I haven’t heard that expression in years.” I laugh, delighted.
“What?” Jayla questions.
“Sorry, it was a saying that was popular in Indy. No matter what cable company you had service with, channel four was always a mess. It’s funny, what you forget.” I smile, shaking my head.
Airen shoots a thunderous look at Eric, and then fixes his grim stare on me. What the hell?
It doesn’t escape Julie’s notice. “Eric, why don’t you stay with us tonight? We’ll play cards, and have a drink or two,” she offers.
“I’d love to. I’m sure Abby and Airen would like the house to themselves for a change.”
“Thank you for dinner, Julie,” Airen says stiffly. “Let’s go, Abby.” He grasps my hand and picks up the flashlight.
“Good night, you guys.” I force a smile. Yeah, sure, everything’s fine. No problem here.
“See you tomorrow,” Jayla says.
Airen broods quietly on our walk home which allows me time to think. He’s being such a jerk. The last time he acted this way was when we discovered Joseph, lying sick in our yard. He was jealous of him, as unbelievable as that seems after everything that’s happened. Is he jealous because I was laughing with Eric? Oh, surely not!
“Are you jealous of Eric?” I demand bluntly as soon as we enter the house.
“Of course not!” He stalks over and pours a drink.
“Then why the sudden attitude?”
Leaning against the wall, he sighs and swallows his whiskey. He stares at me until I want to look away, but I force myself to face his angry gaze. “He likes you, but of course you can’t see it.” His eyes darken and narrow. If he presses his lips together any harder, he’ll swallow them.
Well, as long as he’s not jealous. “Because he talks to me? Airen, you have to be kidding me!”
“Sure, Abby, I must be imagining it.”
“What has he said or done that makes you think that?”
He scoffs and continues to fume silently.
“No! You can’t just accuse him of something and then clam up. You’re right, if he’s flirting with me, I can’t see it. So enlighten me.” I’m getting pissed. He has no reason to behave this way when Eric has never hit on me.
“Fine. He hardly speaks for a month, and now he chats you up every time you enter the room. He’s all smiles, and you two have your little inside jokes.”
“I was just happy to talk to someone from the same hometown.” He huffs and looks away when I touch his arm.
“You aren’t exactly discouraging him,” he mutters, petulantly.
Oh, give me strength, I’m going to strangle him. “I’ve never flirted with him, and he’s never done or said anything inappropriate to me. How could you accuse me of encouraging him? We’re rarely even alone together.”
“Except when you stay up all night with him.”
I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. I was so worried about Joseph coming between us, I never even considered he would freak out over Eric. “So you’re accusing me of flirting with him? Leading him on? This is un-fucking-believable!”
“I didn’t say that.” He stares at the floor, sulking.
“Well, you sure as hell aren’t denying it! Go ahead and get it out, Airen. You married a big old slut, didn’t you? I mean, what other kind of woman would try to screw around when she’s married and four months pregnant? You don’t trust me at all. This is complete fucking bullshit!” I shout. “After all I put up with when Mandy was after you, you pull this shit with me? I’m going to talk to other men, and they’re going to talk to me! I’m not dealing with this every time we meet someone new!”
He stares at me warily, speechless for a change. When I start to walk away, he takes my arm. “I didn’t call you a slut, Abby. I would never.”
“No, you just accuse me of acting like one,” I reply, soberly. “I’m going to bed, Airen. I’d stay the fuck away from me tonight if I were you. Tha
nks for the great night to ourselves.”
Before he can respond, I’m in the bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I’m so pissed, but I’m also exhausted. I know he’ll eventually come to bed, and I don’t want him near me right now. I toss my pillows on the love seat across the room and curl up on it with an extra blanket. Damn him. I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to let him get to me, a hard battle since I’m overly emotional lately. Fortunately, the exhaustion combined with the heavy dinner I’ve eaten helps me fall asleep.
But I can’t stay asleep. I keep waking to remember something is wrong. Airen is being an asshole, and I’m worried about Carson in Evansville. It’s the middle of the night when I hear the door open and Airen enters, frowning when he notices I’m on the love seat. I pretend to be asleep while he prepares for bed.
He sits beside me. “Abby?”
Sigh. Why couldn’t he just go to bed? My rage has drained away, and I really don’t know how I feel other than tired and worried. “I’m tired, Airen, please.”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re pissed, but don’t sleep here. It’s not good for your back. I’ll take the couch.”
He scoops me up before I can protest and places me on our bed, pulling the covers over me. As he turns to return to the love seat, I catch his hand. Okay, so I’m weak. I want the comfort of his warm body pressed against mine and his arms holding me. He climbs in, and I lay my head on his chest.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he repeats.
“Let’s talk about it tomorrow,” I suggest, cuddling closer.
“I don’t think that about you, Abby. You have to know that.”
“I do.”
He slides a finger under my chin and tilts my head up. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now go to sleep.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he murmurs, amusement in his voice. I never had a chance, did I?
I wake first and sneak out of bed to shower, hoping for a few minutes alone to think about our fight last night. I’m not angry anymore. I’m more than capable of jealousy, as I’ve proven in the past. Still, he needs to get over it and learn to trust me.
Since it’s early and there are no kids to feed, I crawl back into bed after my shower. I’m dozing off when I feel Airen’s hand caress my belly. “How pissed are you?” he asks, as I gaze at him.
“Airen, I’m not mad, but you can’t keep doing this. Tell me why you didn’t go to Evansville with Joseph. The truth.”
“I didn’t want to leave you alone with him,” he admits.
“Do you really think I’d cheat on you?” The image of my hands on Joseph while he kisses me pops into my head, and I quickly try to squash it. That was different. We were forced. You weren’t forced to like it or to take it that far, my inner voice speaks up, always sympathetic.
“No, I know you wouldn’t cheat. It’s just...” He sighs. His eyes close, and his cheeks turn pink. He’s embarrassed, or perhaps ashamed.
“Just what?”
“Even thinking about you two sitting up all night and talking while I’m miles away...it bothers me.”
I think I understand what he’s trying to say, although I don’t like it. It’s not the sexual intimacy he’s worried about. He doesn’t like to think of me becoming close with Eric or any guy for that matter. “Air,” I hesitate.
“You have so much in common. He can talk about books with you.”
“Because he was an English teacher.”
“Exactly, he’s smart like you, Abby. You have the same accent. He even uses the phrase ‘you guys’ the same as you.”
“We come from the same area. You say ‘y’all’ just like Joseph does. Does that mean you want to sleep with him?”
He scoffs and shakes his head. “I realize it sounds petty.”
“Hey.” I roll on my side to face him. “I get it. I do. I’d never do anything to hurt you, but you have to understand I’m going to have other friendships. So will you. I like talking to Eric about books and reminiscing about our hometown, but that’s all it is. I love you. I’m married to you. I’m having your baby. Isn’t that better than being able to quote Aldous Huxley along with me?”
The corners of his mouth twitch as he tries not to grin.
“I promise if Eric or anyone else I meet in the future tries anything with me, I’ll tell you. Can you let it go and trust me?”
“I do trust you.” He nuzzles my neck. “I’ll do my best, but I liked it better when I had you all to myself.”
“I’m yours for as long as you want me, and you’re mine no matter how many people we meet. I have a feeling we’re going to see quite a few of these lakeside houses fill up, and that’s a good thing.”
“I know. I’m just being selfish. Do you forgive me?” he murmurs, kissing my collarbone before working his way down.
“Well, we do have the house to ourselves.” I kiss my infuriating man on the lips. How can he smell so good when he hasn’t even showered?
“Mmm, perfect. It’s been far too long since I’ve heard you scream,” he murmurs in my ear while his hands pull off my panties.
“I don’t scream,” I insist, making him equally accessible.
Oh God, it was so good, but I didn’t scream. It’s possible I yelled...once...or twice. There is something to be said for make-up sex.
* * * *
The trip to Evansville was successful and uneventful. Carson is puffed up with pride as he helps unload the truck. Airen apologizes to Eric for being rude, and things settle down once again. The winter has been very mild, and we don’t get our first snow until after Christmas. The kids are ecstatic.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Joseph warns Walker. “We rarely get more than an inch or two.”
His prediction is way off. It snows all day on New Year’s Day and the day after. Big, wet snowflakes perfect for making snowballs and snowmen.
“Can I go outside?” Walker begs, as soon as he wakes and looks out the window.
“After breakfast.” I smile. “You have to wear a couple layers of clothes to keep dry.”
He grins from ear to ear as he gobbles his oatmeal and raisins. Airen comes in from tending to the animals and kicks off his boots. “Almost two feet deep!” he exclaims. “I’ve never seen so much snow!” He looks all of eighteen years old with that wide, boyish smile on his face. It’s adorable.
Troy chuckles. “This was pretty typical in Iowa.”
“Yeah, but Airen’s a southern boy, and you know how those rednecks are,” I tease, handing Airen a cup of coffee.
“You are aware that you live in Kentucky?” Troy asks with a grin.
“But I’m from Indiana, and therefore, not a hillbilly.”
Airen grabs a handful of snow from his pants cuff that I suspect he’s been saving for just such an occasion, and drops it down the back of my shirt. I squeal as he pins my arms down so I can’t shake it out.
“Airen!”
With a wicked laugh, he points at Walker. “Let’s go, boy. Let a redneck teach you how to build a fort.”
“Yes!” Walker dashes to his room to dress.
Airen steps up behind me and places his hands on my growing belly. I’m five months along now, and I’m starting to get big. “How are you feeling?” he asks, nipping my earlobe and running his lips down the side of my neck.
“Fat.” I sigh.
“Stop it.” His hands slide over my swollen belly and down my lower back before lightly squeezing my behind. “You’re as sexy as ever.”
I kiss him and swat his ass. “Go play outside.”
Everyone is out in the snow except for me and Jayla, and I have the feeling she wants to talk about something. “Okay, girl, spill it,” I order while we sit at the table, chopping vegetables.
“I want to move in with Julie.”
It’s not what I expected to hear. “Did something happen? Did you and Carson have a fight? Has Eric or Troy been...bothering you?” I ask the last question hesitantly. They’re dead men walking if that’s the
case. Jayla is a pretty girl, but she’s only fourteen.
“No, it’s nothing so dramatic.” She smiles and focuses on the green pepper she’s dicing. “I already spend most of my time there, studying with Julie, and I like it there. It’s quiet.”
“I realize it’s crowded here, honey, but you don’t need to leave. We’ve been discussing the possibility of Eric moving in with Julie until we get another house fixed up.”
“It’s not Eric or anybody specific. I’d just like a little more privacy and some peace and quiet.”
“Have you talked to Julie about it?”
“She said she’d love to have me, but it’s up to you and Dad. She‘s afraid he’ll think she’s trying to lure me away.”
“Have you asked your dad?”
She shakes her head. “I was hoping you’d do that with me. You know he’s going to overreact.”
I have to laugh. She’s right about that. “I want you to be wherever you’re happy. We’ll talk to your dad and tell him you need a break from all these boys. Just know you can come back anytime you want. I’ll throw your dad out to make room.”
“Nah.” She giggles and hugs me. “You should make him get up with the baby.”
Airen isn’t crazy about the idea, but he acquiesces. We both agree it may be smart to put a little space between Carson and Jayla, anyway. I love Carson, and I trust him, but as Airen pointed out, he’s still a teenage boy full of raging hormones.
At lunchtime I wade out into the snow to call the kids. They’re having a blast, all pink cheeked and laughing. Walker shows me his snow woman he built. It has two huge snowballs for breasts. I try not to giggle, as Airen shrugs at me and grins. I’m sure he had a hand in building that.
“Where’s your dad?”
“With Troy. They’re working on the fort.” Walker points to the side of the house.
“Go dry off and put on some warm clothes. I’ll tell them lunch is ready.”
Wow, they’ve been busy. It looks more like a large igloo than a fort.
“Lunch is ready, guys.” I poke my head in the opening.
They’re cuddled together in the small space, arms locked around one another, kissing passionately. Troy pulls away from Joseph, who regards me with a sheepish grin.