Page 33 of The Write Choice

I laugh deeply. I don’t know Mac very well, but Daniel has spoken often of her love for her school, and he wasn’t kidding.

When I don’t respond immediately, she texts again: Too much? That was probably too much. I’m excited to help. Just let me know.

I don’t want her to feel like her enthusiasm is too much, so I text back, I’m going to put you in touch with Thalia Gutierrez. She’s been trying to contact the teachers for a while, and I want her to take the lead on this.

Admin blocked her, didn’t they? she sends back.

Your admin and a senior member of our team, I return, standing to make my way to Thalia’s desk. My phone buzzes again when I get there, and I pause to look at it as Thalia waits expectantly for me.

Is he sexist? I bet he’s sexist. Let me at him. I know how to deal with sexist assholes.

I chuckle and shake my head, raising my gaze to Thalia.

“I have a teacher contact for you, and I think you’ll like her a lot. You ready to take down her info?”

The sun has already set by the time I’m ready to leave, but, to be fair, the sun sets at about 4:30 here in the winter, so I’m not feeling too late when I close my office door behind me at 5:15. As I’m walking out, there are many, many people still working at their desks. My parents, however, are long gone.

I pass Thalia’s desk and am surprised to still see her there. When I pause next to her, she removes an earbud and smiles. “Mac is a riot,” she says. “We’re meeting next week, and I already can’t wait. Thanks for putting us in touch.”

“No problem. But don’t you have a baby to get home to?” I ask.

She blushes deeply, looking around like she’s worried someone heard me.

“Are you embarrassed to have a baby at home?” I frown.

“No, it’s not that.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.

“Are you at a point where you can leave your work for tomorrow?”

“Yes…” she says slowly.

“Then you should leave.” I look around, then lean in a little closer and lower my voice. “Listen. Between you and me, my wife moved here more or less on the condition that I leave on time every night and am home more often. I’m not the type to assume more hours in the office means more work getting done.” I tilt my head toward the exit. “You are obviously free to do what you want, but I’m getting out of here to spend some time with my kids, and you should too.”

I walk to the elevator and push the down button. I get in, and just as the doors are starting to close, Thalia runs through them, smiling sheepishly at me as they ping open again, then close behind her.

“Between you and me,” she grins as she catches her breath from her jog to the elevator, “I think you’re exactly what this company needs.”

The drive home is quick, too, and I smile as I pull into the driveway and see the warm light from the house spilling out through the windows. I can see into the living room from where my car sits. Katie and the kids are in there, huge smiles on their faces, as they sway and twirl to the beat of a song I can’t hear. Mason reaches up to grab Katie’s hand, and she twirls him. He’s so tall, and she’s so short; it won’t be long before he’s twirling her. Christine lifts her pudgy little arms above her head, and Katie picks her up, settling her on her hip as she sways back and forth.

God, her ass is so round and perfect. It feels wrong to notice it considering I’m a voyeur spying on an impromptu dance party she’s having with our children, but I can’t help but watch it as she sweeps it left and right.

Mason glances out the window, and when he sees my car, he starts jumping up and down and pointing toward me. Katie whirls around, her eyes round and her lips making that perfect O. The things I would do to those lips if she’d let me…

Before I can finish that thought, Mason runs out the front door with Christine stomping behind him. I quickly get out of my car, opting to leave my bag behind, and pick him up in a big hug.

“Me too, Daddy! Up!” Christine somehow commands authority in her little toddler voice, so I have to obey. She’s so much like Katie, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t thank the universe that this little girl inherited all her mother’s tenacity.

I set Christine on my hip and put an arm around Mason’s shoulders to lead him inside. By the time I close the front door and put Christine down, Katie has busied herself tidying up the living room. She’s bent over with that perfect ass in the air, and I swear I try to look away. I really do.

But I can’t.

“Mason,” I say, trying to keep the roughness out of my voice. Katie immediately stands and looks at me. I cou and try again. “Mason, go help your sister wash her hands for dinner.”

“Sure. Come on, Chrissy.” He leads her down the hall and into the bathroom.

I don’t waste a second. I cross the room to Katie in two long steps and slide my arm around her waist, pulling her toward me. Her eyes sparkle as she tips her head up to me. I lower my lips to hers. She opens her mouth immediately, allowing my tongue to slip in. I draw her bottom lip between my teeth and bite it lightly. She lets out a breathy laugh, and my heart just about stops.

That sound. That beautiful fucking sound. Like a wind chime. It goes straight to my chest, and suddenly I can’t breathe. I love her so much.