His dad reached for my hand, holding it tenderly, and kissed my cheek.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Michaels.”
“The pleasure is truly mine, Sophia,” he said with a wink. A total flirt and I finally knew where Kayden learned his charm.
“I’m going to get us a drink. What do you want?”
“Whatever you’re having is fine,” I said.
His dad sat down and motioned for me to sit. Kayden and his mother walked to the bar and left me behind. The group around me began to chatter about Kayden and how well he looked. They kept saying how happy he appeared.
I watched from a distance as he spoke to his mother. It had been months since they had seen one another. The joy emanated from her body as she touched his arm and spoke to him. The bartender placed our drinks on the bar, and they both stood there and finished their conversation before returning to the table. He sat down and pulled my chair close to him.
The conversation flowed easily. He knew them well and cared for these people. I listened to the discussions and heard the concern in their voices when asking him about his life. The group cared for him like he was a member of their family.
After a couple hours, we left and followed his parents to their home. Nervousness filled me at the thought of being alone with them. Would this become an interrogation? My stress was unnecessary. They were kind, warm, and welcoming. We sat outside on the lanai and talked. I mainly listened. Finally, I excused myself from the table, wishing everyone a goodnight and kissed Kayden on the lips. He stayed outside with his parents for a few minutes before joining me in the bedroom.
“Hey, baby,” he said, entering the bedroom as I was undressing.
“Hi, love. Happy to see your mom?” I asked.
“I’ve missed her a lot, yes. It was great to see her under happy circumstances for once,” he said. “She really likes you and thinks you’re good for me.”
“I’m glad,” I replied as I watched him walking around the bed, beginning to undress.
I observed him closely. He wanted our skin to touch when we slept, and I loved it. He crawled into bed, and I adjusted myself so I could nestle into his arms. He held me as he watched television, and I drifted off to sleep.
I woke early the next morning and made my way out of the bedroom in search of coffee. I didn’t have the energy to fix my hair or put on makeup. I needed the caffeine to function. An empty cup sat on the counter, and a freshly brewed pot called my name. I poured myself a cup of coffee and opened the sliding door to the lanai.
I froze.Goddamn it.
“Good morning, Sophia,” Joe said.
Shit.Maybe I should have at least brushed my hair. “Good morning. May I sit with you?” I asked.
“You don’t have to ask. Sit down here. It’s nice to have you both here,” he said as he turned back toward the television.
We sipped our coffee and talked about sports. He was surprised by my knowledge of sports and love of football.
“I have to get ready for work. I’ll see you guys later today, though,” he said as he stood up and grabbed his empty cup.
“You will,” I said, slurping the last drop at the bottom.
He chuckled, “There’s more in the kitchen. Help yourself, kid.”
“Thank you,” I replied, needing the extra infusion.
I walked behind him, quietly closing the door. I filled my cup as strong arms wrapped around my waist.
“Morning, beautiful,” Kayden purred in my ear.
“Morning,” I said, stroking his hands.
“What do you want to do today?” Kayden asked me.
“Anything is fine with me.” I turned around, kissed his lips, and inhaled deeply.
“Um, I haven’t brushed my teeth yet. That’s kind of gross.”
