AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eli walked in the door as I was giving Wyatt his bath. Hearing the commotion, he looked in the bathroom to see Wyatt with a soapy head, me with soapy arms, and water covering every square inch of the bathroom. He chuckled. “Need some help?”
“Bath time is not my favorite,” I mumbled.
“That’s because you don’t know the tricks,” he said with a wink. He got down to his knees in front of the tub. “Wyatt! Can you show Mama how you dump your head?”
I looked on as my son’s eyes brightened with excitement. He grabbed a cup and scooped it in the water. Half the contents were already back in the tub by the time his hands reached his head. As he leaned forward and dumped the water over his head, Eli added a cup of water of his own, careful to shield Wyatt’s eyes from the deluge of water and soap.
Wyatt squealed with joy and looked at me to see my reaction to his ‘trick.’
“Good job, buddy! Can you show me again?” Wyatt, and Eli, performed the trick a few more times until they rinsed the soap from his hair.
As I was about to inform Wyatt that bath time was over, Eli gave a serious shake of his head and took over. “Ready for airplane, buddy?” Once again, the child lit up like a Christmas tree. Eli lifted Wyatt from the tub and swooped him over to the towel rack. “Grab the towel,” he told Wyatt. My son, who gave me so much shit every time it was time to get out of the bath, giggled and grabbed the towel. Eli made swooping noises as he maneuvered the towel around Wyatt and zoomed him into his room for pajamas.
Eli had been living with us for weeks, though he babysat often before that, but he had my child all figured out. It both warmed my heart and pissed me off.
I pulled myself up off the floor and joined the boys in Wyatt’s room. Eli already had him diapered, a task that took me no less than ten minutes due to his kicking and escape tactics, and halfway into his pajamas. “It’s like you’re a magician,” I remarked.
He smiled and finished dressing the toddler, pleased with the compliment. I was tempted to tell him he was free to relieve himself of bedtime duty, but he seemed to enjoy it. Wyatt did too.
We settled him in and left the bedroom together. “Did you eat?” I asked him when we were far enough from Wyatt’s room.
“No, but there’s some stuff in the fridge I can eat.”
“Go take a shower.” I made a shooing gesture. “I’ll make dinner.”
“I’m slightly terrified right now.” He gave me a side-eye.
“Why?”
“You are being unusually nice, but I’m not going to think about it. I’m going to shower.” He kissed my temple and went to the bathroom. My skin tingled where his lips had been.
I pulled some leftovers from the fridge, becoming hyperaware of how weird I was acting, and popped them in the microwave. A few minutes later, I had the plate on the counter next to a glass of iced tea. He came out of the bathroom wearing only a towel going down the hall to his room.
Eli returned to the kitchen wearing only basketball shorts. Before he could sit at the counter to eat the meal I had slaved over, I reached out and grabbed his arm. Fuck, he smells good. “Cee—”
“I need to show you something. Um, in my room?” Not my smoothest moment. I pulled him toward my room without a clue as to what my next move would be. I wanted to kiss the fuck out of him and then do far more indecent things.
As soon as he crossed the threshold of the bedroom, I went for it. For the second time today, I was kissing my best friend. He let out a low moan and kissed me back, running his hands through my hair. “Katie. Wait.” He pulled our faces apart.
“Eli, please.”
“What is this? What’s happening?” His eyes bounced between mine.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to do it.”
He took a deep breath. “I don’t want to be one of your random fucks.”
“Seriously?” I flinched. “You think I’d risk our friendship for a quick fuck?” I backed away and sat on the bed.
“I just want to be clear.” He kneeled in front of me. “Because I’ve wanted this since I was sixteen fucking years old, and it would break me if this isn’t more than a hookup. If we do this, you’re mine.” His voice was low and forceful, his gaze penetrating mine.
“You know I love you, right?” I whispered. The emotions clogged my throat.
“Of course, but I need to know if you are in love with me.”
I’d done this all wrong, but it was too late now. I couldn’t take it back. “The decision to kiss you today comes after years of trying to hold back because I was afraid of it backfiring. Afraid of losing you. I’m sick of being afraid, E. I just want this.”
“What is this?” He made air quotes around the last word.
