Page 64 of After Care

“Thank you. I’d like to get back to you. I just want to check my home calendar,” I offered, trying not to make it an adamant no and hurt his feelings. On that note, my phone buzzed.

Where are you? It was Masie.

Out for drinks. What’s going on?

Out for drinks? You never go out, she reminded me. She was correct, and I was starting to think I needed to change that fact.

Well, tonight I did. I paused a moment and sent another reply. Was there something you needed?

I have a surprise for you. You need to come home.

Soon.

Now, Mom. While texting didn’t inflict tone, I didn’t care for Masie’s.

“Everything okay?” Max asked, nodding toward the phone.

“I’m so sorry. This was so rude. I’m not sure. My daughter’s asking me to come home. I hate to ignore her. It won’t be for much longer that she’s home. She graduates in May.”

Max’s eyes roamed my body. “It’s hard to believe you have a high school senior.”

“I also have a twenty-two-year old son.” I laughed.

“And you had him when you were twelve?” Max’s eyes widened as he chuckled. “I’d forgotten.” His warm smile and roaming appraisal was flattering, but surprising. His roving eyes didn’t ignite me like Tommy’s did, but a flicker burned. He was just being complimentary, I told myself.

“I should probably go,” I said, slipping off the stool and reaching for my wallet.

“This is on me,” he said, reaching for his wallet inside his back pocket. “But you have to promise to do it again.”

My head shot up, and I caught his baby blues sparkling.

“Okay,” I said, my voice unsure, but willing myself to take chances. “Have a good weekend.”

“You too,” he said, and as I walked away, I sensed his eyes on me. I might have swayed my hips a little more than normal.

+ + +

“Tommy?” In all his rock star glory, he stood in my living room, wearing dark jeans and a gray V-neck sweater. My breath hitched, and I wanted to catapult myself over the coffee table and tackle him to the couch. Instead, I exhaled his name, and he stepped around the low table. With Masie as our audience, he simply reached for my hand and brushed his lips against my cheek.

“Darlin’,” he breathed against my jaw.

“Can I spend the night at Daphne’s?” Masie asked, forcing me to flinch under Tommy’s touch. Daphne was Masie’s closest friend and a bit of trouble.

“Are her parents home?” Masie rolled her eyes in response, but a few weeks before the winter break, her parents hadn’t been home. There was definitely drinking and boys involved before Daphne’s older brother broke up the party.

“Mom,” Masie drew out. I looked at Tommy and back at my daughter, torn between being the diligent parent and the sex-craved woman this man had turned me into. I wanted nothing more than him alone in my house, but my need for responsibility gnawed at me.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to leave.” My eyes shot to Tommy and back at her. Tommy nodded, and I realized I’d already missed some conversation. “Is West with you?” The question was insensitive. Masie hadn’t heard from West, and the dismissal stung.

“We just chatted about him. He’s not here, beautiful.” Tommy winked at me, and I turned back to Masie, noticing a bag already packed and at her feet.

“Fine, you can go.”

Once Masie left, I was suddenly nervous. My hands stroked my hips as I stood before Tommy, who had taken a seat after Masie grabbed her bag and left.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, lowering myself to a chair near the couch.

“I have business here. Came to see my girl,” he said, sitting forward, elbows bracing on his knees. “Is that all right?”