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“Oh, I’ll be here,” I answer instantly, already counting the seconds by the time Bowdie’s car peels away down the street. I know he’s watching me in the rearview mirror for as long as he can, making me the last one in behind my dad before he shuts the door for the night.
I’ll be here, Bowdie, and I’ll do whatever you want.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Bowdie
The house is still the same. It’s empty of many things Lucy’s gonna need, like food. Me telling her to go on a shopping spree tomorrow to buy whatever she needs and wants doesn’t even seem to lift the strange mood she’s been in since I arrived.
She stabs a few nods and only hums her replies, obviously having other things on her mind. As soon as we’re in the door, she heads straight for her room, leaving me, my luggage, and the bags she’s brought back from Beth’s lingering in the foyer. I tell myself it’s because it’s so late, but Lucy’s always been a night owl. I know tonight, even minus the jet lag, there’s no way I can sleep myself.
Pacing the rooms, I notice the maid service's fine job keeping the place immaculate. Everything just feels so… empty, especially my bed, by the time I surrender to the idea of trying to sleep. It’s the place I told myself a thousand times I’d prefer to be when I was working late on research in London or missing home.
Tonight, it feels cold and sparse, though—empty of the only thing I know could ever make it feel right, which is having Beth here with me and neither of us doing any sleeping.
I stare at the ceiling until the gray dawn of light paints a strip between the curtains, feeling my hands sliding toward my still-aching erection over and over. I know it would be as useless as lying here alone, kidding myself that I can sleep. The only thing to stop me from having a fit of frustration is knowing that I’ve got the perfect reason to see Beth again today. So, I’m out of bed as soon as it’s daylight. The sounds of Lucy knocking about upstairs make me wonder if she slept either. Her face at the breakfast table tells me she didn’t.
I order some breakfast from the nearest place that delivers. Both Lucy and I pick at our food, leaving me to make conversation. All the while, I can’t stop glancing at the clock on the wall and counting the seconds until I see Beth again.
“You get any sleep?” I eventually ask her, making her face contort before she lashes out at me.
“I’m trying to get things cleaned up around here. That maid service did a terrible job. The state of my room—” she snaps, making me frown.
“The place has never looked cleaner, Lucy,” I remark instantly, but it looks like every time I say anything, she’s gonna tear me a new one, so I decide to stay quiet. I work hard to conceal my emotions, which is the complete opposite of Lucy’s cranky pants this morning.
“I was gonna head over to Beth and Brad’s,” I let her know once we’re done eating in silence, and I’m doing the dishes by tossing the takeout packaging into the trash.
Lucy only shrugs, “Whatever.”
I would ask her to come along, expect it of her even, but it’s clear from her frosty reply that she’s not interested. It makes me wonder if she and Beth had some kind of falling out.
“You got plans today?” I ask, wincing as soon as I do, already forgetting how mad she is for no reason, while I’ve got nothing but reasons to smile bubbling through my brain.
“I’ll just stay here,” she murmurs. “I still feel—”
“You still feel sick?” I ask, which is a Dr. Bigg reflex question, but Lucy’s never been one to want me anywhere near her if she is unwell. She always takes care of things herself with her own diagnosis and doctor. She sighs loudly, giving me a cautionary look, and then I remember.
An eighteen-year-old daughter with hormones at an all-time high. Just let her be, Bowdie. She’ll come to you for help if and when she needs it.
She’s her father’s daughter, all right, so with a signal of surrender with both my palms flat in the air, I shower and get ready. It pains me a little that Lucy doesn’t confide in me like she used to.
My top teeth gnaw at my lower lip. I feel cheated about how slow time is going this morning. Lucy’s not the only one with raging hormones here, ya know? Seven thirty… hardly the time to show up at Beth’s to collect the rest of Lucy’s things. She’s probably still asleep.
The thought of her alone in a bed, wearing next to nothing, sleeping, makes me hard as a beam in seconds, but no, I’m not wasting another drop of my seed down a drain hole. It’s her sweet little pussy I wanna fill with it. If the look in her eyes last night is anything to go by after I told her, yes, I do indeed have a romantic interest. The very thought makes me shudder with excitement. I feel a need from her, too, pulling me to her like there’s an invisible thread already connecting us.
I leave as late as I can, and even though Brad’s place is a half-hour drive, I still pull up before he’s even left. He’s not even running late. He’s just stepping out his front door as he heads off to work and showing no ill effects from the beers he had last night, fortunately. Brad likes a brew, but he keeps it special by only enjoying a little too much rarely.
“Whoa! I thought you just left?” he quips, beaming a best buddy smile and clapping his hand on my shoulder. He squeezes me too, and I’m not sure if that, mixed with his almost maddening grin, is a warning or if he really is still glad to see me after so many months away.
“I figured I’d—” I start, ready with my raft of excuses, but even I’ve forgotten just how prompt I am with things—first to arrive and last to leave. So, it’s not so unusual for me to turn up so early, but without Lucy?
“Where’s Luce?” Brad asks casually.
“Uh… she’s tidying up her room. The place is spotless, but she thinks it’s dirty,” I remark, the word “nesting” suddenly blooming in my mind.
“She always likes to keep things tidy,” Brad observes, glancing at his watch. “I’d love to stop, but…” he says with raised brows, the knowing look of a man with work waiting.
“Sure thing. Maybe I’ll catch you later?” I ask, fishing to find out when he’ll be home. I already imagine I could have his daughter on her back for the whole day uninterrupted.
