Page 68
I sit, watching him move around his kitchen.
It’s domestic in a way that makes my stomach twist—good and terrifying at the same time.
Dinner is easy. Theo talks a mile a minute about the playground, about how Henry almost ate a bug, about the sensory bin he got to play in today. Simon asks me about work between bites, actually listening instead of asking just to be polite. He remembers the name of the student I complained about last week and asks if he ever turned in his missing assignment.
Our kid talking over both of us.
It feels like something we've done a thousand times even though we haven't.
When Theo finally finishes and asks to be excused, he bolts toward his room before either of us can answer.
I roll my eyes and start gathering plates.
We clean up together without talking.
I rinse, he loads the dishwasher. It’s simple. Except there's nothing simple about standing beside Simon in his kitchen when I know what we need to have a serious talk tonight.
Every time he steps behind me to put something away, I'm painfully aware of him.
His chest brushes my shoulder once when he reaches past me for a glass and my entire body lights up.
I rinse another plate and hand it off to Simon, his fingers slide over mine.
He moves behind me again, and this time his hand settles briefly against my hip as he squeezes past.
My stomach tightens. “You know you could just ask me to move.”
“I could. But then I wouldn't have an excuse to touch you.”
Heat crawls up my neck.
Then Theo yells something unintelligible from down the hall.
We both close our eyes.
I start laughing first.
Simon drops his head. “Our son is a cock block.”
I elbow him for that comment.
His hand catches my wrist.
“I wanted to talk about something,” I say. “About tonight…”
He reads my expression and drops my wrist. “We’re not doing anything that you don’t feel ready for.”
My pulse jumps. “I want to. I just need to ask you something first.”
“Okay?”
I fold my arms and settle my nerves.
I have no reason to be nervous. We’re both adults. This is the responsible thing to do before having sex together.
“When was the last time you had an STD test?” I spit out.
Simon blinks. “Uh…recently.”
