AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Isleep like shit—I should really know better than to drink whiskey before bed, especially when I’m upset—and wake to pounding at my door.
“What?What’s wrong?”I shoot into a seated position, swiping a hand down my face as I shake off the sleep fog.
“Mommy!Come quick, there’s a squirrel in the house,” Chase screeches from the other side of the door.“It jumped on my skyscraper!”
“What?”My eyes fly wide as I bolt out from under the covers, racing barefoot to the door.
I start to throw it open before I remember the reason I’ve taught Chase not to open my door without knocking and spin back to grab my t-shirt off the floor.Near the end of my marriage, I stopped sleeping in only my panties—the fact that Ben was disinterested in my nearly nude body was too depressing to face every night—but I’m back in the habit now.I love nothing between me and the sheets but a pair of panties.Reclaiming my preferred sleeping style after the divorce felt like reclaiming a piece of myself.
But my toddler is getting a little old to see Mommy running around the house half naked and on the off-chance Aaron is already awake, I should have something on top.
Tugging the oversized tee down until it hangs around my thighs, I dash out into the hall, scooping Chase into my arms when he reaches for me.
“Okay, where is it?”I ask, scanning the downstairs.
“There!”Chase points at the coffee table.“On my skyscraper.It’s eating the sheep!”
My gaze homes in on the top of Chase’s tower to see there is indeed a squirrel on top of it, with a tiny plastic animal in one paw.Its other paw holds tight to the top of the block structure, like a tiny King Kong, intent on taking New York City.
It would almost be funny, if the beastie weren’t also growling and waving the sheep around, arousing concerns that it might be rabid.Even if it’s just an eccentric rodent with anger issues, I don’t want it anywhere near my son.
“Okay, don’t worry, baby,” I say, kissing the top of Chase’s head.“I’ll tuck you into the big bed to stay cozy and safe, and I’ll go shoo the squirrel back outside.”
Chase clings tighter to me, his eyes wide.“No, Mommy.I scared.I don’t want to be by myself.”
“Okay, okay, don’t worry, buddy,” I say, my breath rushing out as my alarm starts to blare, signaling the start of the normal morning chaos.
But the normal chaos will have to wait until I return Mr.Nutty to the great outdoors.And for that, I’m going to need an extra pair of hands.Or at least one hand.One hand will do in a pinch.
Racing into my room, I turn off the alarm, then zoom back onto the landing and down the open hallway to Aaron’s room, Chase bouncing on my hip.I’m about to knock when a sleepy-looking Aaron throws the door open.
At the sight of him in nothing but tight blue boxer briefs and his sling, my jaw drops.
Damn, this man is a snack.
No, he’s a four-course dinner with extra dessert.
Thankfully, he’s also only half awake.He squints at me, making me hope he’s too out of it to notice that I was openly drooling there for a second.
Pulling myself together, I explain, “A squirrel got into the house.I need to get it out, but Chase is scared to stay up here by himself.Can you guys hang out in your room for a few minutes, while I take care of it?”
“Sure, but—”
“Thanks,” I cut in, setting Chase on his feet, and crouching down to cup his face in my hands.“Don’t worry baby, I’ll take care of silly Mr.Nutty in no time.Just go climb into Aaron’s bed.He’ll keep you safe until I’m finished.”
“Okay, Mommy.”He runs past Aaron’s legs as he shouts, “Good morning, Awin.Come on, let’s hide under the covers.”
“Let me throw on some pants and I’ll come help you,” Aaron says.
“No, stay with Chase,” I say, backing away.“I’ve got this.”
“But it could be that crazy squirrel,” he says, pressing on with a strained laugh at my blank look.“The crazy squirrel?Remember?The one who humped my face in your garage in November?”
I huff, smiling despite the rodent still barking and slinging plastic animals in my living room.“Oh my God, I forgot about that.”
“How could you forget about that?You filmed it,” he says incredulously.“It molested me.Right in front of you.It didn’t even buy me dinner after.”
Chuckling I nod.“Yeah, that was pretty awesome.And this is good news.”
