Page 33 of Something Like That

Something thumped upstairs.

She glanced at the ceiling and then at him. Who was sitting on her sofa in his skivvies. Talk about a compromising position? And how on Earth could she have forgotten about Em? She was lucky her daughter hadn’t come bounding into the room already.

Sending a silent prayer to the universe for the bit of privacy to last a few more minutes, she stood and grabbed the crocheted throw that hung over the back of the sofa. It was awfully holey, but would have to do. She tossed it at him. He grabbed it and draped it over his lap.

“I’m just going to check on Em. I’ll be back. Remember, after fifteen minutes, take the ice off.” She didn’t wait for a reply, just headed toward the stairs, letting her annoyance with herself and her hormones kill her libido. Or at least tamp it down. She wasn’t sure anything except him going back to New England was going to wrestle her hormones under control.

Or, you know, you could just sleep with him. Get him out of your system.

Nope, not happening.

Except, she often found giving in to her cravings made them go away. Depriving herself just made her want something more. Maybe this thing with him was the same.

She got to the top of the stairs, pushing that thought aside for dissection later. The hallway was dark, the only light the sliver under Em’s bedroom door.

“Em?” She made sure the name carried. The last thing she needed was to walk in on another yesterday. Not that she thought Em was foolish enough to make the same mistake twice. At least not on back-to-back days.

Silence.

She knocked on Em’s door, straining to hear something. Still nothing.

Bracing herself for anything, she opened the door.

Her heart melted into a big old pile of goo.

Em was in bed, sound asleep. Her book lay on the ground beside the bed, which was probably what had thumped. She looked so young and sweet it made Alex’s chest ache.

She went over and picked up the book, placing it on the nightstand. Bending down, she placed a kiss on Em’s forehead. Em felt a little warm. She pressed her hand to her daughter’s forehead. Yup, definitely warm.

Em’s eyes fluttered open. They were a touch glassy. “Hey,” she said, although it came out more like a croak.

“Hey, baby.” Alex sat on the mattress next to her, and brushed the hair off Em’s forehead. “Not feeling well?”

Em made a little noise in the back of her throat. “Just a headache. And I’m really tired.”

“You’ve got a bit of a fever. I’m going to get you something for it, okay?”

Em nodded and closed her eyes. Poor baby.

Alex hurried into the bathroom and grabbed the ibuprofen and a glass of water. She sat back on the bed and helped Em sit up so she could take the pills.

“Thank you,” Em said, and snuggled back against the pillow.

Alex stood and bent over to place another kiss on Em’s forehead. She snapped off the lamp. Em reached out and grabbed her arm.

“What is it, baby?”

“Mom, would you stay with me?”

“Of course, sweetheart.” She sat back down, taking Em’s hand in both of hers and rubbing it. This time, Em made a contented noise in the back of her throat.

Alex’s heart swelled so big she was afraid her chest might burst. She loved this girl so much that sometimes it hurt.

Unable to resist, she climbed into the bed and wrapped Em in her arms. Em snuggled against her. The fact she didn’t protest was all Alex needed to know about how yucky her girl was feeling. It had been some time since Em let her get away with this sort of stuff.

She smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of Em’s head. She’d take what she could get, when she could get it. “Feel better, baby,” she whispered. She started to sing the lullaby she used to sing when Em was a baby. Everything else melted away and she soaked in the moment. This right here was all that mattered.

Nick didn’t know why he followed Alex upstairs, but as soon as she disappeared, he slid his pants back on and headed after her. He could probably come up with all kinds of excuses if he sat down and thought about it, but he didn’t want to.