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Over the past few hours, I haven’t thought of her as Bhodi’s mom or the reasons why I came to meet the two of them. It’s only been us, enjoying one another’s company; Clothed and naked, consenting adults.
“Hadn’t crossed my mind.” I white lie. I don’t want the men she’ll bring to this bed after me ruining the here and now when it’s at an end.
I cross the hall to the restroom, dispose of the condom, and clean up. Holly’s eyes are closed and her face is relaxed when I walk back into her room. She’s gorgeous, but with that just-laid contented expression—the one I put there—she’s stunning.
I snag my jeans off the floor, cautious as I sit on the mattress to pull them on. I stand, losing my footing and she cracks a lid.
“Are you okay to drive?”
“Probably.”Not.
I’m not a lightweight. I can handle my booze. But Holly’s a bartender and she sees through the bullshit.
“Lie back down for an hour. I couldn’t live with myself if, you know.” She pushes the blanket to the side, uncovering a glimpse of her soft curves and the warm, welcoming sheets.
I’m not stupid. This is over when I leave, so what difference will adding sixty more minutes make to a lifetime of regrets?
I climb in with my pants on and skim the bell of Holly’s hip with my palm. Her breath evens out, and I drop off to sleep.
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8
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“Bhod, turn that down, please.”
I touch the center of my forehead and the volume of the manga kid’s cartoon on the television lowers. My eyes flutter open to a view of my t-shirt tented on the floor. It takes a second for me to realize the bottle from last night is underneath. At about the same time, the tingle between my thighs reminds me of what I did with Cary. I hear him mutter an expletive underneath his breath.
He’s still here and, like every uncomfortable parenting moment since the dawn of time that’s landed a mom flat on her back, I’m thinking on my toes.
Clutching the sheets to my chest, I roll toward the center of the bed. Bhodi has wedged himself between us. He’s intent on the high-pitched voices competing over red and white balls with alien-like animals inside.
Cary is stock still, reclining in my bed. His hand is over his brow. I don’t think it’s because he has a hangover, more like he’s wondering how the fuck he got himself into this.
Right there with ya, buddy.
“Why’d you guys have a sleepover without me?” Bhodi places one hand on my thigh and the match on Cary’s.
Oh Sweet Jesus, thank you for the easy opening!
“After you went to bed, Cary was telling me about the fun you had before the car problems. It was late, and he was tired. I didn’t want him to have an accident on the way home.”
So, that last part wasn’t a lie. And Cary had shared what they’d done with the boys; how they’d eaten ice cream sundaes out on the curb while waiting on the tow truck.
Bhodi’s focus is on me. He doesn’t recognize Cary’s attempt to find the rest of his clothes and make a hasty retreat. He takes my explanation at face value.
“Now that you’re up, can we have pancakes? I’m starving.”
“Sure thing. Can you go tell Aunt Laurel we’re making breakfast and see if she and Emory have eaten?”
“Yup. Are you staying, Cary? Did the car get fixed yet?” he asks with a measure of excitement laced with trepidation.
“Uh.” Pulling his shirt over his head, Cary freezes like a deer in headlights. “We have to order the part. Do you want me to stay?”
“After we eat, we can go fix it together.”
I can’t help smiling at how sweet my son is in comparison to how mortifying this scenario will be for him years from now when Bhodi figures out his mom had a one-night-stand with the guy from the big brother program.
