Page 28 of After Care

“Nothing, darlin’.”

I nodded not understanding what happened. Turning toward the clock, I gasped.

“Oh my gosh, is it really nine-thirty?” This wasn’t some play on escape and using the time as an excuse. It really was three and a half hours after we woke, and I could only imagine how my kids might react to my walk of shame across the resort complex. Thinking of that reminded me I had only my nightdress and bare feet to carry me back to the condo. I groaned, standing.

“How am I going to get out of here?” Tommy followed me up from his seat.

“Whoa, whoa, slow down, darlin’. You don’t need to rush off.”

“But it’s nine-thirty. Oh, my God, my kids are going to think…” I let the thought trail off and covered both my cheeks with my hands.

“They aren’t going to think anything,” Tommy said. “Why don’t you call Masie, ask her to bring you whatever you need.” He paused and looked around his room. “Where are your shoes?”

“I didn’t wear any,” I said. “You were making a small scene, and I just wanted to get you back to your room.”

Tommy’s face dropped. The edges of his jaw hardened and his cheeks angled.

“Don’t ever let me do that again, you understand? You kick me to the curb. Tell me to fuck off, but don’t walk across a resort without shoes for me.” His tone was serious, almost eerie, and I nodded to agree.

“I really need to go, though.”

He offered me a pair of way-too-large slides before he tugged on a T-shirt, slipped into his own flip-flops, and escorted me from his room. When we neared my room, after walking through the parking lot instead of the lobby, a sadness pressed on me. Each time I parted from him I felt as if it would be the last time I experienced him. It wasn’t just the sex, but sex with him. To my surprise, breakfast afterward had been equally rewarding. He was funny, smart, and nice to look at when he smiled back at me.

As we stood before my door, I awkwardly played with my key card, twirling it in my hand.

“I want to give you my number,” Tommy said. Although it was only a phone number, the thought warmed my insides. He pulled out his phone, and I realized I’d left mine in his room.

“I’ll just text mine to your number,” he said, typing in the digits.

“But I left mine in your room,” I said sheepishly. He smiled slowly, and I noted this meant we’d have to see each other again. “Come in for a second. I’ll write your number down.”

He followed me into the condo where I noticed all the lights were still off. The blinds for the balcony remained closed. The door to my bedroom was shut.

“Just a minute,” I said, stepping over to my room, and opening the door to find Caleb sleeping in my king size bed. My heart pumped faster as I crossed the foyer, and knocked on the door of the room Masie and Caleb shared. They hadn’t minded sharing a room. Caleb said it would be like when they were children in bunkbeds on vacation, only this time they each had a double.

“Masie,” I announced, opening the door to see Masie spring from her bed and West roll to the opposite side. I shoved the door completely open.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked, stepping into the room.

“Mom?” Masie questioned, blinking while she ran a hand through her long hair. I’d clearly surprised her.

“Weston?” Tommy said behind me, and my heart dropped. This didn’t look good for any of us.

“Nothing happened, Tommy,” West defended quickly. He tugged at his T-shirt, straightening it over his abs. “I swear, Tommy.”

Masie watched him as Tommy snarled, “If you touched her, you’re a dead man.”

“Mom,” Masie started, turning back to me. “We only slept together.”

I gasped, a hand covering my mouth to suppress the whimper.

“I mean…I mean, sleep. Mom, we literally only slept.”

“Get the fuck out here,” Tommy growled, addressing West, who quickly crossed the bedroom, not even glancing in Masie’s direction. He slipped past me as if I’d reach out and punch him, which I wanted to do.

“Masie, how could you?” I groaned, thinking she did this because I wasn’t present.

“How is it any different than what you did?” If she struck me, the blow would have felt the same.