Muffin lets out a whine.
“Well, if you think so, then tell me why he didn’t want Rune or me?”
Muffin uses his nose and nudges my hand, lifting it then wiggling his head under my hand.
“Fine, you greedy pup. I’ll give you pets.”
Then I proceed to scratch behind his ears while I watch Rune and Everett.
Everett has the ball in his hands, and he is leaning down talking to Rune, pointing to various spots on the ball and then moving his wrist and arms slowly, like he is going to throw it.
Then he motions to Rune, who takes off running. Everett yells out, “That’s good.”
Rune stops and faces Everett, who throws him the ball with a perfect spin, landing right at Rune’s small chest. Never missing his target. My mom heart jumps for a minute, thinking that he is going to hurt my little man with how hard I know he can throw, but Rune catches it and laughs. He held back his strength so it didn’t hurt our—my son.
I smile. Then Rune throws it back. It goes end over end instead of twisting in a perfect spiral, and Rune lets out a frustrated sigh. Ev still catches it, having to run a few feet to the side to do so, and then walks up to Rune. He gets down on one knee, puts his hand on his shoulder, and says something to him. Rune nods, and then his face lights up again.
They throw the ball back and forth for what feels like hours, Rune getting better and better each time. The pride in my heart is reflected in Everett’s eyes. He is so great with him. I knew he would be an amazing father, but why did he have to leave us? Why could he not see all those years ago how Rune was a blessing, not a burden?
I pack away the budding warmth in my chest toward Everett and remind myself of his final note to me. The one that shattered my heart, my trust… Me.
When Everett is done, he comes up and flops down on the blanket. His sweater rides up as he lifts his arms over his head. The vee of his muscles and happy trail leading to my paradise draw my eyes.
Fuck.
Me.
How did he get even more perfect than he was at eighteen?
He catches my eye then smirks and winks at me. He actually fucking winks at me. How dare he. Stupid perfect muscles.
I look away toward Rune, who is tossing the ball up into the sky and catching it over and over. “You were really great with him today.”
“I know.”
I whip my head to him, curls slapping me in the face and my hand smacking him on the chest.
“You arrogant—”
He catches my wrist in his hand. Then places a soft kiss to my inner wrist. The feel of his lips on my skin has me wanting so much more. Shivers break out all over my body, and I pull my hand back.
“Stop.”
“Stop what?”
He is sitting up now, weight leaning back against his one arm, the other slung over his cocked knee.
“Stop…all that. The flirting, the soft touches. Stop trying to make me fall for you again. It’s not happening. I don’t love you anymore.”
Keep lying to yourself, Leo.
Shut up, pesky voice.
“You’ll love me, one day.”
Knock, knock, knock.
Three soft taps on my door wake me from my rest. I don’t sleep deeply anymore. The slightest noises pull me from sleep. Call it anxiety. Call it a sleep disorder. Fuck, I don’t know… I call it fucking torture. I look at the alarm clock on my nightstand and groan. Who the fuck is waking me at 8:30 a.m.? Normally I’m a morning person, but I just got off shift early this morning.
