Page 80 of After Care

“Because I didn’t know I was staying with my ex-husband. I knew better than to trust David to handle everything.” I swiped a hand over my longer hair. I’d had it cut again into a stylish swipe, longer at the bangs but still trimmed up the back. Tommy’s eyes roamed over my hair.

“I like it, darlin’,” he said. “You look beautiful.” Without thinking, I stepped toward him, reaching for that scruffy jaw I adored and tugging at his face to draw him to me. It was my turn to capture his lips and kiss him like I’d never let him go.

“I’ve missed you,” he said after I released him.

Masie jokingly groaned in the background. “Ewwww, minor here.”

“I love you,” I mouthed to his handsome face. The curl to the corner of his mouth told me I was forgiven, for the moment.

16

Declarations of Commitment

We passed on dinner with David and Masie, for obvious reasons, and West went in my place. While I initially thought we would go out to dinner, Tommy opted to stay in and ordered room service. When it arrived, I set my phone on the table, but it vibrated against the surface.

I can’t believe you are allowing this. The text from David didn’t surprise me. Most issues, according to him, were my fault. My thoughts deepened to decide he meant the sleeping arrangement, and guilt ate at my stomach that Masie had to fight my battle with her father.

Tommy set the serving plates on the small dining table and poured me some wine. Looking over at me, he asked, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just David.”

Thick hands set the bottle down and reached for the phone in my hand. He glanced at the text and then tossed my phone toward the couch.

“Talk to me, not him,” he demanded. Instantly, I sensed we were headed for a heavy discussion, and I took my seat. Taking a hearty sip of wine, I glared over the rim to find Tommy watching me. “I’m biting my tongue, darlin’, but it’s starting to ache.”

“I know,” I said, lowering my head, staring at my plate. “But I wish you wouldn’t.”

“Wouldn’t what? Bite my tongue? I’d like to bite yours, but only once I have answers,” he teased without humor.

“What do you want to know?”

“Why doesn’t he know about me?”

“I told you, I don’t talk to David. We don’t share these things.”

“Like that you have a boyfriend?”

“I definitely do not discuss dating with my ex-husband,” I snipped, my voice harsh, and my heartrate rising. “Besides, I didn’t know you considered yourself my boyfriend until you told him.”

Tommy slid his chair sideways, angling his body toward me.

“I told you I love you. What did you think that meant?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered, shrugging my shoulder and flipping the fork on a linen napkin back and forth for something to do. A thick hand covered mine, enveloping it, and then tugging me towards him. He patted his thigh, and I stumbled onto his lap.

“Darlin’, those three words are treasure, not a rash statement to get in your pants. If I say them, I mean them, and that means I’m committed to you. Do you understand me? I’m not saying them casually, not saying them to get you in my bed, which I miss, by the way. I’m saying them because I feel them.” He took my hand and pulled it up to his chest, pressing it against the firm pec that thumped under my touch. “Do you not feel the same, beautiful?” His voice lowered as did our collective hands and sadness coated the words.

“I do feel the same, it’s just…” Liquid filled my eyes and the emotion of the altercation with David caught up to me.

“Just what?” His voice hardened, fear mixed with irritation.

“I don’t like the separation. I don’t want to sound needy or desperate, but I just want someone more present. I know we talk all the time. And I love the attention you give me. But I just thought…I thought if I ever dated again it would be with someone within the same state as me.” I sighed, feeling like I’d said too much but relieved a little to let the weight off my shoulders.

“Why haven’t you said something before?” he asked, shifting me on his thigh and I decided my weight was too much for him. I scooted off his lap and sat facing him again. My hands reached for his knees.

“I didn’t want to lose you. I still don’t. But this is hard for me. You’re so busy, with a crazy schedule and night life, and I don’t know what you’re doing—”

“I tell you what I’m doing,” he snapped, and I started at the curt sound in his throat.