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AURA
My eyes flutter, but I squint against the bright light of the sun from the windows. I hear the bedroom door open and then close. Then the sound of Exie’s voice.
“Don’t you look well-rested?”
I sit up on the bed and grip the cream-colored sheet over my naked breasts. I rub my eyes, look around, and then look at my best friend. The memory of last night floods back and guilt slowly creeps up my neck from the throbbing soreness between my legs.
“What time is it?” I say in a sleepy voice.
“Noon.”
I push my hair away from my face. “Shit.”
“Relax,” she says and sits on the bed. “You rode the magic train, didn’t you?”
I fall back on the bed. “Is it obvious?” I moan.
She snickers. “The man is shirtless, dressed in sweats in all his tatted goodness, making pancakes for my nephew, when he let me inside. Looks like he liked the magic train just as much as you did.”
I look at the ceiling. “Go ahead, say it. I’m a hoe. A heartless tramp.”
“Was he as good as they say he is?”
“Oh my God, Exie,” I whine. “How can you ask me that?”
“I’m just curious.” She pats my thigh over the comforter. “Remember what I told you. It was bound to happen. It should have happened a long time ago, but it didn’t. Now it did. Stop feeling bad about it.”
“How can I not feel bad about it? My husband was his friend. A friend I have a child with.”
“My brother is dead and left you with a big mess to clean up, I might add, and you have mourned and cried. It is time you stop crying and feeling bad for everyone else because of what they think, and yes, they were friends, but as much as I hate to say it, and he does get on my nerves”—she points toward the closed bedroom door—“that man out there has suffered in giving you up. He loved you first, Aura. This is his second chance, and I have a gut feeling he wants you to give him that chance.”
I place my hands over my eyes to stop the sting. I feel guilty because of Lane. This is wrong, but my heart tells me deep down it isn’t. It was sex. That is all it was. Kalum doesn’t want marriage or children. I’m fine. I’m good.
I close my eyes, and the feeling inside my chest that squeezes and flutters tells me one thing I’m afraid to admit, even to myself. I’m in love with him all over again. I’m in love with Kalum St. Claire even though there is no way he will ever love me back the same way.
I tilt my head and look at Exie. “You’re aware that his parents hate me just as much as your parents do. His parents kicked me out of their house and tried to pay me off so I’d leave quietly.”
She snorts. “Yeah, I know, but he obviously gives zero fucks about what they think. To prove a point, he bought a house in the Hamptons for twenty million for you and my nephew so no one fucks with you. He also has a driver, security, and someone you trust to help you out with LJ. I’m sorry, but if that isn’t a signthat he cares for you or has some deep feelings swirling in that black heart of his, then I don’t know what is, but what I do know is he’s been on your side through it all.”
I change into simple leggings and a knitted cropped sweater and head to the kitchen with Exie trailing me. I stop short when I see Kalum on the couch watching cartoons on the TV with LJ. All the air escapes my lungs at the sight of them sprawled on the couch with LJ lying on Kalum’s side like they have been doing this every day.
“Jesus, I hate to say it, but he’s every single mother’s dream,” Exie whispers. “And you know how I feel about the way he goes through women, but with you, he was always different. The way he is with LJ right now, I can’t hate him even if I wanted to.”
“I know. That is what makes it so hard,” I whisper back.
Old feelings I thought were long buried in heartbreak are surfacing. Feelings that should have never resurfaced because I moved on with Lane.
“Hey,” I say with a smile.
Kalum and LJ turn their heads at the same time and both gift me a smile. My heart squeezes in my chest. One was my first love, and the other, the spitting image of his father.
“Hi, Mommy. Did you sleep well?”
“Hey, gorgeous,” Kalum greets me in a husky voice.
“Yes, baby. Mommy slept well. Have you been a good boy and been nice to Kalum for watching over you this morning?”
His eyes light up. “Yep, I even showed Kalum how you make pancakes, and he did a great job. Now when you sleep in, he can make them for me.”
