Lessons of the Past

by Chloe Maxx

After shutting the door, I almost skipped into the living room where my sister was sitting on the couch with a mug in her hand.

  “Afternoon, sunshine,” she sang, smiling from ear to ear. “I take it y’all—I would say kissed, but that isn’t accurate—fucked and made up?”

  “Yes, we did.” I grabbed two cups from the cabinet and poured the coffee. “I think it would be wise to give him a second chance.”

  “Because you’re miserable without him?”

  “Yep,” I replied, then sat down beside her. “How’s Max?”

  Rebecca shrugged. “He’s fine.”

  Javier walked into the room, a grin across his face. “Coffee is on the counter.”

  “Thanks, babe.” He made his way into the kitchen and picked up the mug. “I’m starving. I’ll cook if y’all have food.”

  “Yes, please!” Rebecca shouted and I shrugged.

  “Breakfast okay if you have it?”

  “I love waffles. And sausage,” I replied, grabbing a blanket to snuggle into, feeling content for the first time in years.

  I heard a cabinet open and a second later, “Shit yeah, you have Nutella! I fucking love Nutella!”

  Thirty minutes later, the three of us were chowing down on eggs, sausage, and waffles.

  “So, you teach at the University of Houston? Math, right?” Rebecca asked.

  “Yeah. I have for a few years now,” Javier replied, shoveling toast covered with Nutella into his mouth.

  I swallowed. “He sucks as a teacher. I was sleeping with the professor and barely scraped by with a C.”

  “Maybe if you had paid better attention during class and tutoring sessions, you would have gotten a better grade,” Javier shot back playfully.

  I shrugged. “Math is fucking boring.”

  Rebecca looked between us. “I think the two of you use ‘fuck’ more than any other people I know. Maybe y’all are meant for each other.”

  “It’s a good, versatile word.”

  “And we are meant for each other,” Javier said. “It just took us a while to get there.”

  My sister’s eyes rounded. “You could say that again.”

  “Shut it. What are you doing today?” I asked, changing the subject.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I might see if Max is available. If not, I’ll probably go shopping or maybe just veg on the couch.”

  “Sounds fun.” I rose from the couch and collected her and Javier’s empty plates. “I am going to meet Caroline.”

  “That’ll be fun. Go research boy bands and you’ll have plenty to talk to her about.”

  “That’s actually not a bad idea,” Javier agreed.

  “I work better on the fly.”

  ***

  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. In fact, I could barely put my eyeliner on because my hands were shaking so badly. Javier had left an hour and a half ago to get Caroline. It was too late to drive to Beach Center, so we decided to take her to dinner tonight and drive to The Underground the next day.

  Fuck, what if she doesn’t like me? Maybe in this case I won’t work well on the fly.

  With a sigh, I shook my head and tried to rid myself of negative thoughts. Glancing at my dresser, a small grin lit my face. I reached into the back of my sock drawer and pulled out a small black box. Opening the box, my grin grew to a face splitting smile at the sight of the beautiful ring Javier had given me. I hadn’t looked at it since the day we broke up. I slid it on my right hand, then closed the box. I knew, deep down, I wouldn’t need that box again. I would be wearing this ring for the rest of my life.

  I admired the ring and went in the living room to await their arrival.

  “Calm down,” Rebecca said from the couch, watching me pace the floor.

  “What if she hates me? Then what?”

  “You work it out. Just because she doesn’t like you from the get go doesn’t mean it’s over.”

  I bit my thumbnail, thinking over her words. I knew running wasn’t an option—Javier wouldn’t let me, but… “What if she never likes me? What happens then?”

  Rebecca shrugged as the doorbell rang. “You become the evil stepmom. You won’t be the first or the last.”

  “You are no help,” I told her as I walked to the door. I opened it and Javier and an older Caroline stood on the other side. She looked the same, beautiful, only older. Her long, dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her eyes were just like her father’s. “Hi. You must be Caroline. I’m Alex.” I stuck my hand out to her.

  She took my hand, smiling, and I relaxed a bit. That had to be a good sign, right? “Nice to meet you. You’re just as pretty in person.”

  I looked to Javier then back to Caroline. “Thanks. You’re very pretty yourself. Do you want to come in or are you ready to go?”

  “If you are ready, we’re ready,” Javier said, joining the conversation.

  “Let me get my purse.” I left the door open so they could step inside and grabbed my purse from the kitchen counter. Turning around, they were both standing in the entry, smiles still on both their faces. “I’m ready.”

  “Awesome,” Caroline replied.

  I looked to Javier, who had a see, nothing to worry about look on his face. He grabbed my hand and led me outside, following Caroline. She opened the back door and climbed inside as Javier opened my door. “She loves you already. Just relax. Oh, and nice ring,” he whispered in my ear, causing me to shiver.

  I smiled and stared at my hand, then back to him. “Okay. I’ll try.”

  We drove to the restaurant listening to a pop station while Caroline and, to my surprise, Javier sang along. Each one trying to be louder than the other. In that moment, I could tell they had a strong connection, and she still looked to her father with love and admiration.

  We arrived at the same burger place Javier had taken me to the first night we had dinner this past week and I laughed. “Do you ever branch out?”

  “You didn’t try the burger last time. And this is Caroline’s favorite.”

  I nodded. “I can’t wait to try it then.” I looked to Caroline in the backseat. “The fries are really good, but you’ll have to help me choose a burger.”

  “I can do that.” She popped her door open and hopped out, happiness radiating from her. I hoped it had something to do with me, but I was pretty positive it had something to do with her dad picking her up early from her mother. According to Javier, Caroline didn’t really like spending time with her mom. The thought made me sad, and I hoped I’d be able to help fill that void for her one day.

  “You look beautiful,” Javier breathed in my ear as I met him and Caroline at the front of the vehicle.

  I looked down at my old jeans and fleece top. “Um, thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

  We walked inside and were immediately seated in a booth. Not wanting to make Caroline uncomfortable, I chose to sit across from them. Apparently, she didn’t have the same plans. “You look just like the pictures on my dad’s computer.”

  “What?” I asked perplexed. “What pictures?”

  “Just random pictures of you.”

  “Have you been snooping through my laptop?” Javier asked, raising his eyebrows in what I think was supposed to be a stern look. It wasn’t.

  “Umm.”

  “Tell me about these pictures.” I cocked my head and looked at Javier.

  He rolled his eyes and sighed. “They aren’t bad. Just some pictures I took on my cell phone a long time ago. I forgot I had them.”

  “No you didn’t. I saw you looking at them a couple months ago. That’s why I looked at them when I was doing my homework.”

  I laughed and he shrugged. “Fine. So I hadn’t forgotten about them.” He looked at Caroline. “We need to talk about you looking through my laptop. I have work stuff on there you could accidentally erase.”

  “Sorry.”

  I wanted to take the heat off Caroline, so I asked, “What burger do you suggest?”

  “The number
four. Hold the mayo. Unless you like mayo.”

  “Number four it is.”

  We spent the next couple hours talking about Caroline’s favorite hobbies, TV shows, and random things she would bring up. I could tell Javier and Caroline had a wonderful relationship. Caroline made me feel at ease and I could see us getting along great. Plus, we both crushed on Zac Efron.

  By the time they dropped me off at my sister’s, I was on cloud nine. I had fallen in love with her, just listening to her talk. She was amazing, just like her father.

  That night, I crawled in bed still smiling, thinking about the day. My phone buzzed from the nightstand and I couldn’t help but giggle like a school girl. It was nine forty-five, just like he had promised.

  Javier: You busy?

  Me: Just waiting for you to call.

  A couple seconds later, my phone rang.

  “Hi, baby.”

  “Hi.”

  “Is Caroline in bed?” I asked, rolling onto my back.

  “Yes,” he breathed. “Too bad I can’t come over and sleep with you. Maybe you can sneak in through my window.”

  “I wish.”

  “Me, too.” He was silent for a minute. “What are you wearing?”

  “A t-shirt.”

  “Are you wearing panties?”

  “No. What are you wearing? Are you wearing underwear?”

  “Babe. You’re killing me. No panties?”

  “Nope.”

  “I’m so fucking hard right now.”

  “Maybe you should take care of that,” I said playfully, but was so turned on, it almost hurt.

  “Touch yourself.”

  “Are you touching yourself?” I asked as my hand traveled down to my clit.

  “Yes,” he hissed. “I’m thinking about you. You have no idea what you do to me, do you?”

  “I kinda have an idea.” I flicked my clit and moaned.

  “Baby…”

  I placed the call on speaker and let my other hand roll over my breasts as I worked myself into a frenzy. I could hear Javier’s breathing pick up with slight groaning. It turned me on knowing he was thinking about me and getting off.

  “What are you doing?” he asked huskily.

  “Touching myself. Rubbing my tits. Imagining it’s you doing it.” I pinched my nipple and whimpered.

  “Oh, baby, me, too,” he rasped, “I’m going to come. Are you almost there?”

  The sound of his deep voice set me off and I cried out his name into my bedroom and the phone. A few seconds later, he shouted his release.

  “You drive me fucking crazy.”

  “You do the same to me,” I replied, breathless. “Javier, I have this…fantasy…” I had no idea why I was admitting this to him.

  “And what is that?”

  “Well, I remember you like Nutella…and maybe one day you could—”

  He sucked in a breath and cut me off. “Lick it off those perfect tits and sexy pussy?”

  “Yes,” I whispered, my cheeks heating from embarrassment.

  “I’ve had the same fantasy, baby. A lot.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you more.”

  Chapter 31

  Javier

  I couldn’t express how happy I felt. The last five years had been misery and the six before that weren’t much better. But being here, in this moment, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. I had Caroline and now I had Alexandria. No hiding, no sneaking—everyone in the fucking world could know she was mine.

  And fuck, I would’ve loved to make it official. But she was still fucking married, and it was a little too soon. Caroline loved Alexandria, but she needed time to adjust. Alexandria needed time to adjust. Me? I was fucking perfect.

  Except when my mind flashed to the news Alexandria had shared yesterday. She had lost our baby. She went through something horrific because I was a dick and had cast her aside. I knew it was in the past, but I still felt a sense of loss. A baby I had shared with Alexandria was gone. I’d never let her go through anything else, horrific or not, by herself. I’d be there with her to share every joy and every ounce of pain.

  I parked my SUV and looked at the door leading to The Underground. I hadn’t been there in years, but it held a few great memories for me. “Let’s get out,” I said, turning toward Alexandria and Caroline, who was in the backseat.

  We got out and walked down the steps into the building. The Underground still looked the same and my friend Jason still owned it. I spied the two wingback chairs and motioned for Alexandria and Caroline to sit while I found a chair to bring over.

  I found a wooden chair and set it down facing my two girls. They were in a deep discussion about hair products, so I tuned them out and just stared. This, right here, was complete perfection for me. The two girls I loved with all my heart sitting beside me—beside each other—chatting and getting along. Just like a real family.

  “Dad.” Caroline’s voice broke through.

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m going to get Alex and me a couple hot chocolates. Do you want anything?”

  “Yeah. Order another for me.” I pulled out some cash from my wallet and gave it to her. She walked toward the counter and I let my gaze fall on Alexandria. “I wonder if I could sneak you into the back office and fuck you?” I whispered.

  She threw her head back, laughing. “Maybe next time. Although, if you are a good boy, I’ll sneak into your window tonight and let you reenact it.”

  I readjusted myself, thinking about tasting her pussy and then fucking her. “I’m a good boy.”

  “Stop it.”

  “Fine. Fine. Do you remember that first night we sat here and talked?”

  She smiled. “I do. That was very bold of you to come over and sit with me.”

  “I’d held myself back in my office that day. I remember it like it was yesterday. Very difficult thing to do.” I paused. “And then, there you were, sitting all by yourself, and I just had to talk to you. It was like you had a magnetic pull I couldn’t fight.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  “Me, too.”

  Caroline came back, folding herself into the chair. “They are going to bring the drinks over in a minute.” She turned to me with big puppy dog eyes. “Can I keep the change?”

  “How much was it?”

  “Only like four dollars,” she replied, as if it were a few pennies.

  “I guess.”

  “Thanks, Daddy.” She turned to Alexandria. “Do you think you’d want to go shopping sometime? My dad hates going.”

  Alexandria’s eyes lit up and a smile stretched across her face. “I would love to. Let me know which day and I’ll see if I can leave work early.”

  “Awesome!”

  Our drinks were delivered and we continued to talk. Well, they continued to talk while I sat back listening. Alexandria may not have been around kids very much, but she was great with Caroline. She gave Caroline her complete attention, which was something Caroline needed. Her own mother was too selfish to give that to her.

  “I’ll be right back. I’m going to grab us something to eat.” I stood, walked to the counter, and ordered two chocolate croissants and a banana nut bread.

  “Javier?”

  I glanced to my left, noticing my friend Jason coming out of the back. “Yeah. How the hell are you?” I asked.

  “I’m good. Are you back or just visiting?”

  “Just visiting,” I replied as he placed a box on the counter. “Brought my daughter and girlfriend.” Girlfriend. Fuck, I loved that in reference to Alexandria. Although, fiancée or wife would be better.

  “Finally got rid of the bitch, then? Good for you.”

  “Thanks. How is business?”

  “Good. The college kids found us, so it is packed on Friday and Saturday nights. I can’t complain there.”

  The skinny kid behind the counter placed my order in front of me and I paid. “It was good seeing you, Jason. If you’re ever in Houston, let me
know.”

  “Will do.”

  I walked back to the girls and placed the desserts on the table. “I couldn’t pass these up.”

  “You know the way to my heart,” Alexandria said, picking up her croissant. Caroline bit into hers as well and I turned my attention to the better dessert.

  “This is so much better than what the two of you are eating.” I placed a huge piece of banana nut bread in my mouth and almost groaned at the goodness.

  “Whatever,” Alexandria replied, licking chocolate off her lip. “At least we can all agree the hot chocolate is good.” She winked and looked to Caroline. “Did you have them put extra chocolate in it or something? It’s seriously good.”

  “Nope.” She shrugged, too concerned with her croissant to talk.

  “It would taste even better with a little whiskey.”

  “It’s Sunday afternoon, Javier. You’re supposed to drink Bellinis or Mimosas,” Alexandria declared, popping the last bite in her mouth.

  I narrowed an eye at her. “Is that some rule I’m not aware of?”

  “If it isn’t, it should be.”

  I laughed and shook my head. I loved her playful side. I also loved her bitchy side, which came out a lot in regards to me, and I also loved her sexy side. I loved everything about Alexandria.

  “Can we go to the mall today? Pretty please,” Caroline begged, giving me her puppy dog eyes again. “I really need Alex to help me pick out some earrings for school tomorrow.”

  “That would be great,” Alexandria answered for both of us. “Wouldn’t it, Javier?”

  I smiled. “Of course.”

  ***

  “I’m hungry,” Alexandria declared as we passed the food court. “My croissant is wearing off.”

  “Me, too,” Caroline chimed in.

  “Okay. What do y’all want?”

  “Taco Bell,” they said in unison.

  We ordered our food and sat down at a rare clean table.

  “What type of earrings do you want?” Alexandria asked Caroline.

  She swallowed her food and her eyes lit up at Alexandria’s question. Amy wasn’t the worst mom, but she didn’t really show interest in things Caroline liked. “I saw these small flower earrings with pink petals in a magazine. They were so cute.”