That Was Yesterday

by HJ Bellus

  “Coach, here you go.” He extended the bag out.

  “No laps Monday, don’t do anything stupid, and stay safe,” Jessie responded.

  Jules snapped several pictures of Emma and Finn in their t-shirts.

  “I don’t like football,” Finn announces when she snaps the final one. “It’s pretty boring to me.”

  Emma squeals in delight. “We are BFF’s for life. I hate football. It is boring. The games take forrrrever. It’s usually cold. Jack and Whit ditch me for their friends. It’s so borrrring.”

  Jessie groans and tips back his drink. Jules shakes her head with a broad smile on her face.

  “Want to play in my room?” Emma asks, running her hands down her new football shirt.

  Finn looks over to Max, not saying a word. Max is up on his feet, walking over to him. Emma guides the two down the hallway. Max is only gone for five minutes before he returns.

  “I’d say those two are getting along just fine,” Jules announces.

  “Yeah, they are.” Max sinks down on the couch next to me, nearly pulling me into his lap. “Emma saved the day by assigning Finn a bin of Legos while she’ll build out of another.”

  “He’s a great kid, son,” Jessie adds.

  “He’s perfect and so sweet. It took everything in me not to hug the hell out of him,” Jules says. “Oh, what happened with your principal?”

  Jules looks at me, waiting on an answer. I open my mouth and snap it shut, having no idea if Max told them about Steven. In my gut, I know he didn’t. But what in the hell is she talking about? Jules continues when I don’t respond.

  “I was down at the courthouse getting license plates for Whit’s car. Don’t tell her. It’s a surprise. I overheard that the principal, superintendent, and board chairman over at your school have been indicted with charges. I was shocked.”

  I peer up at Max, studying his face, wondering if he had any idea. Steven has been quiet. Hell, non-existent since he pressed me into the copier and tried intimidating me into bending to his will.

  I fumble with my fingers. “Honestly, I have no clue what you’re talking about, Jules.”

  “I do,” Jessie pipes up. “It was the talk at coffee this morning. I guess the three of them found themselves in a bit of trouble while away at a conference. There are pictures and everything. The assistant superintendent here in Boone said it sounded like their certificates would be revoked and jail time would be served. Don’t know all the details, though.”

  Jessie is cut off when his cellphone begins to blare. He answers it, nodding his head and rolling his eyes. “I’ll be there in a few, Whit.”

  Whit and Jack took off right after dinner. They love Max, there’s no denying that fact, however, they’re at an age where their social life is the most important thing.

  “Everything, okay?” Jules asks.

  Jessie stands up. “Yeah, Whit forgot some shit for the competition tomorrow. I’m going to run it over to her.”

  “I knew it was a bad idea having her stay over at Lisa’s the night before a competition. They’re going to stay up way too late and probably forget half of their stuff at her house in the morning.”

  Jessie kisses the top of Jules’ head, squeezing her shoulder. It makes me smile, knowing exactly where Max gets that tendency.

  “I’ll be right back. Don’t leave until then.” Jessie picks up a large duffel bag embroidered with Whit’s name by the door. It looks like she forgot her entire closet, not just one item.

  “I’m going to hang with the cool kids.” Jules pops up. “No offense.”

  “None taken, Mom.”

  Once Jules disappears, Max is up and on his feet, tugging me behind him.

  “Max,” I hiss, trying to pull back, but he doesn’t stop.

  We are up the stairs and entering the room in the far corner, furthest down the hall. Once the door shuts, Max grabs me by the hips and tosses me on the bed. I can’t help the giggle that escapes me. The click of the lock on the door echoes around the room.

  “Max, I told you we can’t do this here.”

  “And I told you we are going to do this here.” He tugs off each one of my boots, pulls down my jeans, and tosses them to the side, then my sweater is gone. Panties and bra are next until I’m bare before him.

  This should be awkward since we are in his parents’ home. It’s not at all. The moon shines in the room. I’m wrapped up in his scent and able to make out Max as he strips his own clothes until he’s completely naked before me.

  My breath hitches in my throat when he reaches down and strokes himself from base to tip. “We don’t have all night, but just enough time, baby. I want you to ride me. Haven’t been able to think of anything else for a damn long time.”

  Max advances on me, covering my body with his. Our lips connect and hands roam up and down each other’s bodies. He flips us over so I’m on top of him. This is new and freaking brilliant. I press my palms into his chest and lean up for a second.

  “Did you know about Steven?”

  He shakes his head. “Knew something was going to go down but had no idea it had.”

  “So that was you?”

  “Told you, babe, that he’d never hurt you again.”

  I slide down Max’s body, raking my nails along, being careful not let my cast slide down along him. I grab him in my hand and thank him the best possible way I know how.

  “Kate, damn.” His hands twine in my hair, guiding the motion.

  I swirl, lick, and ease the pressure then suck harder with each of his hushed moans. It fuels me on.

  “Ride me, baby.” Max pulls me back up to his face. He’s devouring my lips before I have the chance to protest. The next thing I know, he slides into me. My head spins as he moves in and out of me.

  Our lips separate, and Max runs a hand up my face, cupping my cheek. “Now ride me, Kate.”

  I plant both hands on his chest, not caring if the cast is a burden or hurting him. I’m selfish in this moment, with the pleasure all too consuming. I’m in control, free, and have the man I love underneath me, hypnotized by the roll of my hips. It doesn’t take long before I’m forced to bite down on my bottom lip to catch the scream of pleasure ripping through my body. It rattles everything from my head to my toes.

  I feel nothing but sheer bliss until Max’s fingers dig into my sides. His growl is low and guttural. He doesn’t hold back but pumps everything inside me. It’s nothing but perfection.

  I collapse on his chest, relishing in the way he drags his fingers through my hair. I’m exhausted and fueled like always after Max and I connect. But a huge burden has been lifted from my chest. I’ll no longer have to glance over my shoulder at school or worry about the hammer coming down on my job at any point, ripping me away from one of the things I love most. I’m free.

  “Quit worrying,” Max mumbles. “I can practically hear your thoughts.”

  “I’m not.” I tilt my face up to him. “I’m relieved.”

  “You still need to go in front of the school board with your union lawyer and tell your story. It needs to be documented, and most of all, you need to be freed of the burden.”

  I nod, not excited over the fact I’ll have to face the board, but he’s right.

  “And as much as I hate to break up this miniature version of a sleepover, we’d better get back downstairs,” he adds.

  I growl but agree once again. Max, being the gentleman, sits up with me in his arms and carries me to the bathroom connected to his room, letting me wash up first.

  “Don’t worry, no one will walk in. We all have our own bathroom.”

  Just the thought he planted in my head has me racing to clean up and get dressed. I’ve never been busted by a guy’s parents, and having that happen now would be mortifying.

  We walk back downstairs hand in hand. The Lego party has moved out to the living room. Finn is entranced, building an intricate tower while Emma creates simple stacks, entrapping all of her stuffed animals. Jules sits on the couch wi
th a glass of wine watching the two of them and giving us a curious stare.

  “Where did you two run off to?” She quirks up a brow.

  “Gave her a tour,” Max replies coolly, while I’m dying on the inside. We’ve been busted, and it couldn’t be anymore obvious.

  “Poured you a glass.” Jules points to an end table. “Wasn’t sure if you enjoyed wine or not.”

  “Thank you.” I brush my hands down the front of my pants to keep my hands from roaming over my freshly screwed hair. “I do.”

  “Dad.” Finn whirls around from his concentrated stare.

  Jules smiles wide at the term of endearment, and Max is at Finn’s side.

  “What’s up, little man?”

  Finn’s breathing picks up, his brows scrunch, and I know he’s on the verge of a meltdown. “I, I need my—”

  He has a hard time getting the words out through the frustration building up on the inside of him.

  “Tacos,” Max says. “Tacos.”

  Finn squeezes his eyes shut and centers himself.

  “Tacos?” Emma queries, with puzzlement plastered on her face.

  “Come here, honey.” Jules pats her lap.

  Emma isn’t all too happy about it but minds her mother. She climbs up in her lap, giving Max and Finn space. I take a spot on the overstuffed chair, soothing my hand on the ottoman in front of it.

  “Once you can get it out, tell me,” Max encourages Finn.

  He squeezes his eyes shut. “I need my journal, Dad. I can’t build without it. I need to document this.”

  “Your journal?” Max asks.

  He nods his head.

  “Would a piece of paper or a fresh notebook work?”

  He shakes his head.

  “Don’t want to give it a try?”

  “No! I need my journal.”

  “Tacos,” Max whispers.

  Finn struggles to center himself.

  “I’m proud of you, Finn. You’re doing great. Your journal is in the truck in your backpack. I’ll run and get it.”

  Finn doesn’t react. Instead, he sits, focusing on his breathing as Max gets up from his side. I relax back in the chair, grab my wine, and kick my feet up on the ottoman, realizing we left my boots up in Max’s room. A slight blush creeps on my face while pride overtakes it. How Max just worked Finn through a crisis was beautiful. He pushed him just a bit, and it seems the two of them came up with a coping strategy.

  “You’re in seventh grade, right, Emma?” I take a sip of the wine and damn, it is good. The kind of delicious where it would be easy to drink a whole bottle.

  She giggles. “No, silly, I’m in second grade.”

  “Really? I never would’ve guessed. What’s your favorite subject?”

  Emma holds up her hand, ticking each one off. “Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Writing, Computers, and Library.”

  “What about lunch, recess, and gym?” I take another sip, trying to conceal my smile of amusement. This girl is too much.

  “Lunch is good, recess can be boring, and gym…” She sticks out her tongue. “…I hate it.”

  “You don’t hate anything,” Jules is quick to correct her. “You don’t care for it.”

  Emma spins in her mom’s arms. “No, I hate it. You have to take off your shoes, and everyone’s feet stink. Mean old P.J. never wears matching socks, then you have to run and even dribble a ball sometimes. Kids laugh at you when you do it wrong. It’s lame and I hate it.”

  “Emma Jane, what am I going to do with you?”

  Max enters the house again with the journal and Finn’s pencil in his hand. He sets it next to him. Finn grabs it, opening it up to the page he was looking for and scribbles down his thought. Then he’s back to building and Emma is at it too, making a kingdom for her stuffed animals to keep the mean ones away.

  There’s not near enough room in the chair for Max. It seems he doesn’t care as he wiggles in right next to me. I end up sitting on half of him. He takes the wine glass from my hand, sniffs it, and takes a tiny sip.

  “Oh, you must be in good with ol’ Momma right there. She’s sharing her favorite with you.”

  “It’s delicious,” I announce.

  Jules moves closer to us, settling in a recliner. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with her. She loves school but seriously struggles in the social department. She marches to her own drum, that one.”

  “She’s amazing. Honestly, most kids her age have a hard time fitting in. The best thing is letting her be her.”

  “I was nervous about tonight for several reasons.” She points to the two kids. “That being most of it. I wasn’t sure how it would all go.”

  “Pretty damn perfect from the looks of it.” Max squeezes me tight.

  And he’s right, it has been a perfect evening. I just can’t forget my boots are upstairs. The memory of what happened up there warms my insides.

  “You want another?” Jules points to the glass.

  I nod, having no self-discipline. It’s a common theme—I indulge in everything way too much when I’m around Max. Jules returns with two glasses of wine then shuffles back into the kitchen, reappearing with a plate of cookies.

  Max has flipped on the television, turning it to Sports Center. It’s muted as he reads the stats scrolling across the bottom and watches a basketball game.

  “These are amazing. You’ll have to share your recipe, Kate.”

  Max snorts, which earns him an elbow to the ribs. I start to open my mouth, but he beats me to the punch.

  “Put your car in drive and head south for about fifteen miles until you run into a bakery on the main street.”

  Chapter 19

  Kate

  “You did amazing, babe.” Max kisses the top of my head for the hundredth time and squeezes my hand.

  My insides continue to shake, even though I seem fine from the outside. Moments ago, it was a whole different scene. My voice quaked with nerves and tears spilled over as I stood in front of the school board and told my story. The interim superintendent, elementary principal, and new school board president were all present to hear it. It took me three weeks to get there.

  Jessie’s parents and Cody sat in the back for support, along with Max. Whit and Jack watched the two younger kids in my room. I have no doubt it’s going to be destroyed.

  After all the incriminating evidence was laid out and my lawyer set up our plan of action if this wasn’t corrected, the school board moved to pull the write-ups from my file. It was refreshing, and gut-wrenching, that it had to come down to this. Documentation and me saving all the texts were solid proof they couldn’t turn down.

  I didn’t think Max was going to make it. At the very last minute, he slipped into the small room. That was the moment I relaxed just a tick, knowing he was standing behind me.

  “She didn’t show,” he whispers as we walk down the hallway to my classroom.

  “She didn’t?” I whip my attention up to him.

  “We waited the entire scheduled time. Harriet and the counselor played it off like they had missed her. Finn never brought up the fact Ally didn’t come.”

  My heart is wounded for the little man. He has to be hurt. She is his mother, even after everything she’s done to him.

  “How is he?” I ask.

  “Fine on the outside. He rolled his eyes when he saw Emma and growled a little about how obnoxious she was, but then he was showing her around his classroom.”

  “I’m telling you those two are going to be trouble, Max.”

  I was right; my classroom is destroyed. There are two happy children in the middle of the chaos.

  “Who wants pizza?” Jessie announces when he follows us into the destruction zone.

  “Me!” Emma jumps up, running over to her dad.

  “Go clean up, then we’ll go.”

  Finn looks up from his desk and smiles then goes back to writing in his journal. He keeps his eyes on the page as he frantically jots something down. “Dad, I need th
ree and a half minutes.”

  “You got it.” Max begins helping his little sister pick up the mess.

  There was a break-through the night we went to Max’s parents for dinner. Finn was exposed to new people and an environment in which he thrived. It was when Finn thanked Max for his journal on the car ride home. Jules never commented on how bratty Finn had seemed. She kept her opinion to herself. It totally came across that way. But once Finn’s mind was released from the one-way track of thought, he set it on thanking Max. It was everything.

  The room almost looks normal in a matter of minutes.

  “Your room is amazing,” Jules comments.

  “Thank you. It’s my home away from home.”

  “Load up,” Jessie announces.

  The older kids are already outside with their faces plastered to their phones. Emma squeals and Finn closes his journal, having had enough time to finish whatever he was doing.

  “Can I ride with Max? Please, please?” Emma clasps her hands in front of her chest, hopping up and down.

  Finn grunts, but the smile on his face tells another story.

  “Honey, there’s not enough room. Where would Kate sit?” Jules asks.

  Emma’s excitement falls flat on the ground.

  “I’ll ride with you guys, and Emma can have my seat,” I announce before tears start.

  “Yes.” Emma fist pumps the air. “Thank you, Kate.”

  “Come on, Finn.” She grabs his hand and leads him outside.

  “Trouble. I’m telling you all, and for the record, I predicted it first,” I say.

  Laughter ensues as we exit the building. Jessie orders enough pizza to feed the town. He knows what his family likes and doesn’t have to ask. I noticed he leaned down and whispered in Finn’s ear. He whispered right back, and I know that’s why a large cheese pizza with extra cheese and a bottle of ketchup show up at our table.

  Emma claps her hands when a pepperoni one shows up. The pepperonis spell out her name. Max and I fight over the Sour Pig.

  “Finn, do you want a pepperoni from the E on my pizza? It’s the most important letter in the alphabet, you know.”