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Shrugging it off for now, I pasted a smile on my face for the kids and went about getting their food ready.
Haylee picked up Abby by nine o’clock. With Tristan already down for the night, I was tempted to text Mark, but for what? Another darkened booty call where he left by morning?
I knew I was being unfair by calling it that, but damn if it wasn’t the way I felt right now. Since part of it was my own doing, I wasn’t sure how to explain it to him. But it turned out Mark texted me first.
“It’s getting late. Did you want me to come over?”
I read his words and finally typed out my reply. “Sorry. I have an English paper due and am pretty tired.” And moody, and if I wasn’t mistaken, about to start my period any day.
“Okay. Good luck on the paper.”
“Thanks.”
* * *
Luckily,it didn’t take much to avoid Mark the next week since he had to travel overseas. I realized until I could put my insecurity over him not wanting people to know about us in a box, it was better not to see him. With my mother coming into town this weekend, I had excuses ready.
My mom must have sensed the sadness in my voice the last time we spoke because of course she’d booked a flight right away for Friday after she got off work. I swear, a hug from her made everything better.
Almost.
Because I’d found out the day before that Rob had submitted a petition for visitation with Tristan. My attorney told me it was strategic, an attempt to show he was getting his shit together in time for his trial, but that didn’t matter. I was petrified. What if the petition was granted? Or worse, what if supervision wasn’t instituted, and he was allowed to take Tristan on his own? What if his new druggie girlfriend was around my child, too? The fear over what could happen literally clawed at my throat, making it hard to swallow.
Although I’d thought Mark would avoid me over the weekend since I had family in town, I found a text from him on Saturday night after Tristan had gone to bed.
“Can you sneak next door for a few minutes?”
I contemplated, and evidently my delay was too long for him to wait for a response. A soft knock sounded at the door.
My mother muted the television and glanced over at me. “Expecting company?”
“Um. Maybe.”
I got up and stepped outside of my door. He looked fresh from the shower and handsome as ever. I’d missed him, evidenced by the fact my body was leaning toward him without permission.
He didn’t hesitate, putting strong hands at my waist. “I’ve missed you, Jules.”
“I missed you, too.” It was the truth, pure and simple. Although I might be fighting the demons of my insecurities, I craved the way he made me feel when I was with him.
“Come over?” His lips dropped behind my ear, murmuring the words.
“Give me a second.” I poked my head back in.
My mom was lifting a brow. I wasn’t sure what she could hear.
“Uh, I just need to help Mark find some files across the hall. I won’t be long.”
The brow only went up another inch, most likely not buying my flimsy excuse at all. “Okay, honey. Take your time.”
When I went back into the hall, I saw his door open and him standing on the other side of the threshold. Glancing down at myself, I cringed. Too late, I realized that I was in a baggy T-shirt and even baggier sweat pants. No makeup and hair in a ponytail completed my signature weekend look.
But despite me thinking I was less than attractive, the moment I stepped foot inside his place, he was on me. A kiss so hot that it burned its way down to my toes greeted me, leaving me breathless. His hands wasted no time, splitting duties. One gripped my hair, holding me in place, while the other went under my waistband and straight to my center, finding me getting wetter by the moment.
“This is all I’ve thought about all week.”
A moan was my response when he slipped a finger inside of me. Then a squeak left my mouth when he hauled me up, gripping my ass and allowing my legs to wrap around his waist. He strode across the apartment into the bedroom. Surprisingly, the file cabinets had been moved against one wall and now a double bed stood on the other side.
He followed me down onto the mattress, only leaving me briefly to shut the door. Now the bedroom was nothing but shadows and moonlight. His anxious fingers removed my pants and thong while his lips wreaked havoc along the column of my neck. “I need to be inside of you.”
