AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When she swims away, my eyes flick back to Theo. He’s so close, I can smell the hint of mint on his breath, mingling with the chlorine sticking to his skin. The pain pulsing across my chest dulls, the heat of being this near seemingly melting everything around me.
The deep blues of his irises shift, the color darkening as his gaze scans over my face. His eyes linger on my mouth briefly, and my own breath catches. If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume he’s about to kiss me. To devour the lingering tension, I swore until this moment, wasn’t really there.
But that can’t be right. He was just daydreaming about some girl he’s lovesick over.
Maybe I hit my head in my tumble, and I’m imagining him inching closer. Making up the way his gaze is trained on me as if I’m the most captivating thing he’s ever seen in his life.
Despite every fiber of my being wanting to believe that this man has an inkling of something for me, I hear my ex-husband’s words ringing in the back of my mind.
“Some men just need more options, hon. It’s hard for some of us to settle when there’s so many.”
Without another thought, I put up the wall that’s kept me alone, but safe, since my divorce. “Do you think I need a tetanus shot?”
Theo’s eyebrows tick together briefly before he backs away an inch. “Um, yeah. If it’s been longer than five years, I think it’s recommended.”
A shield similar to my own moves over his face as he peeks behind the towel and grimaces. “And stitches. You definitely need stitches.”
I groan, the pain starting to expand across my breastplate with the acknowledgment of it. “Let me call Gennie.”
Theo shakes his head. “I’m taking you.”
I open my mouth to refuse, but he narrows his eyes in a silent command, and calls to Lyn over his shoulder. “Grab your stuff, little beaver. We’re going to get your Mom fixed up.”
Theo had stayed with Lyn in the hallway of my urgent center room while I got my tetanus shot and eight stitches. The entire time, he kept her entertained and laughing while I tried my hardest to ignore the way he’d surpassed the walls she always has up and dug his way under mine too.
When he dropped us off at our car, I contemplated what I would say. If I had enough nerve to ask him out or maybe even drop a hint that I was interested. But like before, my inner thoughts and doubts shut me up, only allowing me to give him a curt thanks.
He also didn’t say anything, so I figured my doubt was right, and all the little things had simply been in my mind, wishing for something that wasn’t really there.
What had totally slipped my mind was that would be the last time I’d see him at the pool. That he had graduated, and his side hobby of repairing computers would become his full-time career.
Part of me was annoyed with myself that I’d let the chance slip away, while the other reminded me he was inexperienced at life and if anything did come out of it, it wouldn’t end well.
Luckily, the self-berating was short-lived because the next day at the pool I overheard some younger women talking about him dating a fellow sorority sister. I’d guessed he went after the crush he had and left it at that.
Those slight feelings—the curiosity—shrunk over time, and I was able to forget about it until two hours ago.
It forced me to realize those sentiments hadn’t completely dissipated, and whether I wanted to admit it or not, I still wondered if there had been anything between us. Or if the tension had simply been an effect of his natural personality.
“Mommy, I think he’s here.” Lyn’s voice echoes through the hall.
Almost seven years old, and she still refers to her father as “him” or “he.” The pediatrician said it was part of her way to dissociate from his lack of a presence in her life. Not saying she doesn’t love him; she’s just aware that he is not a constant
An inconsistency.
“Coming,” I call out, making quick work of drying off and slipping on the clothes I’d left on my bed.
When I make it downstairs, my ex is standing in the doorframe, an annoyed scowl on his face as he makes a show of checking his watch. His hair—now more salt than pepper—is combed to the side, neat and perfect, as always. The three-piece suit and shiny loafers only add to the professional appearance. The look was once hot to me, but now it just reminds me of what an asshole he is.
“Three minutes, Livia.”
I do my best not to ever let Lyn see me stoop down to his level, so I swallow my retort and grab her bag off the nearby entry table. “Apologies, Sam. We stayed at the pool a little longer than I meant to.”
He accepts the bag and looks down at Lyn. After a quick inspection, he twirls a stray hair around her bun and steps back so she can pass. “Regardless, my time needs to be taken into consideration. I’ll still be bringing her back at our arranged time tomorrow. I expect you to be here.”
Ignoring him, I lean down, wrapping my arms around Lyn and pressing a kiss to the top of her head, knocking the strand loose. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she says, smiling wide.
