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She saunters off in the direction of the bedroom.
Chapter 17
Aura
The sound of the bedroom door opening and closing wakes me, and my eyes flutter, but I squint against the bright light of the sun from the windows.
The sound of Exie’s voice filters through my foggy brain. “Don’t you look all well rested.”
I sit up on the bed and grip the cream color sheet over my naked breasts. I look down and then up at my best friend, rubbing my eyes, and the memory of last night comes flooding back, guilt slowly creeping up my neck from the throbbing soreness between my legs.
“What time is it?” I say in a sleepy voice.
“Noon.”
My hands brush my hair from my face. “Shit.”
“Relax.” She sits on the bed with a knowing smile. “You rode the magic train, didn’t you?”
My eyes widen as I fall back down on the bed. “Is it obvious?”
She snickers. “The man is shirtless, dressed in sweats in all his tatted goodness, making pancakes for your son, my nephew, when I knocked on the door and he let me inside. Looks like he liked the magic train just as much as you did.”
“I’m such a harlot.”
“Was he as good as they say he is?”
“Oh my God, Exie. Please? Are you crazy? How can you ask me that?”
“I’m just curious.” She taps me over the comforter I’m currently hiding under. “Remember what I told you. It was bound to happen. It should have happened a long time ago, but it didn’t and now it did. Stop feeling bad about it.”
“How can I not feel bad about it? My husband was his friend and I have a child.”
“My brother is dead and left you with a big mess to clean up, I might add, and you have mourned and cried. It is time you stop crying and feeling bad for everyone else because of what they think, and yes, they were friends, but as much as I hate to say it, and he does get on my nerves”—she points toward the closed bedroom door—“that man out there has suffered in giving you up. He loved you first, Aura. This is his second chance and I have a gut feeling he wants you to give him that chance.”
I place my hands over my eyes to stop the stinging from my eyes. I feel guilty because of Lane. This is wrong but my heart tells me deep down it isn’t. It was sex. That is all it was. Kalum doesn’t want marriage or children. I’m fine. I’m good.
Liar.
Closing my eyes, the feeling inside my chest that squeezes and flutters tells me one thing I’m afraid to admit, even to myself. I’m in love with him all over again. I’m in love with Kalum St. Claire and there is no way he will ever love me back the same way.
I tilt my head and look at Exie. “You are aware that his parents hate me just as much as your parents do? His parents kicked me out of their house and tried to pay me off so I’d leave quietly.”
She snorts. “Yeah, I know, but he obviously gives zero fucks about what they think. To prove a point, he bought a house in the Hamptons for like twenty million for you and my nephew to live so no one fucks with you. He also has a driver, security, and someone you trust to help you out with Lane. I’m sorry, but if that isn’t a sign that he cares for you or has some deep feelings swirling in that black heart of his, then I don’t know what is, but what I do know is he’s been on your side through it all.”
I get changed into simple leggings and a knitted cropped sweater and head out to the kitchen with Exie trailing behind me. I stop short when I see Kalum on the couch watching cartoons on the TV with Lane. My stomach flutters at the sight of both of them sprawled on the couch with Lane lying on Kalum’s side like they have been doing this every day.
“Jesus, I hate to say it, but he is every single mother’s dream,” Exie whispers. “And you know how I feel about the way he goes through women, but with you, he was always different. What he is doing with Lane right now, I can’t hate him even if I wanted to.”
“I know, that is what makes it so hard,” I whisper back.
I can’t read too much into this. He is doing it because he was good friends with his father and it has nothing to do with me. I need to get a grip and get over these feelings I have for Kalum. Old feelings that I thought were long buried in heartbreak and sorrow. Feelings that should have never resurfaced because I moved on with a man that was there for me when I had no one. He died and now I’m all alone raising his son among the wolves that want to destroy his reason for choosing his career path and for choosing me. The young girl with no parents, no money, and no education. I’m no one and they will do whatever it takes to remind me and everyone that I’m nothing.
“Hey,” I manage to say.
Kalum and Lane turn their heads at the same time and both give me a smile that has my heart conflicted. One was my first real love, and the other, the spitting image of his father.
“Hi, Mommy. Did you sleep good?”
