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“It’s just been a long day,” I say, stirring the sauce simmering on the back burner of the stove.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on?” he says, snagging the spoon from my hand before sitting it on the counter.
I turn my gaze to find him watching me intently like he’s just waiting for something big to happen.
“I said it’s nothing,” I snip, spinning toward the fridge and proceeding to pull the milk out.
He follows me every step of the way, not giving me an ounce of space to avoid him. He waits patiently until I’ve poured three glasses and placed the milk back in the fridge before taking me by the shoulders and forcing me to face him.
“Bree, this is me. Just tell me what it is. Is it something I did?”
I feel an immediate knock of guilt as I realize what this must look like to him. Last night we shared an incredible kiss and then today I’m totally shutting him out. I can see it in his eyes, he thinks this is his fault.
“No. Of course not,” I say, watching relief flood in his eyes.
“Then what?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“After you move, you’ll still come see Jack, right? You don’t just spend time with him because you’re staying here, do you?”
“Are you seriously asking me this right now?” His question is serious, but there’s a bit of humor playing on his lips. “Bree, I love the hell out of that little boy. Of course I will still come visit him after I move. You can’t get rid of me that easy.” He smiles, the action easy and genuine. “Is that what you’ve been worrying over?” He pulls me into his arms, dropping a kiss on the top of my head as he does.
“My grandma found out you were living here. She’s concerned,” I admit, pulling back to look up at him.
“And she got into your head and now you’re concerned,” he states.
“She just got me asking myself a lot of questions I hadn’t thought to ask before.” I let out a slow breath.
“You know me, Bree. You know I would never intentionally hurt you or your son.”
“Intentionally,” I repeat the one word.
“What?” He seems confused.
“You said you would never intentionally. Maybe it’s the unintentionally I’m worried about.”
“I can’t promise that I’ll never do anything to hurt you. I’m human, and I’m bound to fuck up from time to time. Even someone as perfect as me has his moments.” He winks and then laughs when I shove him and take two full steps backward.
“You take nothing seriously,” I accuse, wagging my finger at him.
“Trust me, I take this seriously. I may be trying to lighten the mood by joking, but I promise you I’m hearing every word you’re saying. No, I can’t say I’ll never hurt you. But I can promise you I’ll do everything in my power to never let that happen.”
“You mean a lot to me, you know?” I’m not sure where the statement comes from, but it just rolls right off my lips like it’s nothing.
“You mean a lot to me too.” He steps forward, pulling me back into his arms.
I take a moment to relish in the feel of him, to pretend for just a brief moment that our actions truly have no ramifications on any of us and that nothing will change. Only it is changing. Moment by moment, bit by bit, touch by touch.
“Mama.”
I pull out of Ant’s embrace at the sound of Jack’s voice. He bounds up to where we’re standing in the kitchen and holds his tablet out to me.
“What is it, buddy?” I ask, looking at the screen where the phonics game he’s playing is currently paused.
“I can’t get through this level.” He sighs, exasperated, and the action has me covering my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing.
