He knew full well that if he’d brought Claire to this shindig, she would have been uncomfortable.
Things are good.Why are you trying to complicate it?Most men would kill to be in your situation.
Fuck those guys.
Nick wanted nothing more than to be able to get over himself, to stop analyzing everything and to set his sights on the horizon.He had a bright future ahead, and he deserved to enjoy every minute.There was no reason he shouldn’t enjoy having sex with Claire, and a few good times.
Although there had been a moment last night when things had gone south.And he knew exactly why.
During those phenomenal moments with Claire, he’d kept telling himself, ‘No emotions.’
No emotions.No fucking emotions.
And yet to see her like that, so open and unguarded, had dragged every last emotion from his core.
He was crap at this no-emotions thing, at least with Claire.
After dessert, when everyone settled in the living room, Nick escaped to the back deck with his beer.The sun hadn’t quite set yet, and was casting a rosy glow across the sky.
Just like the beautiful pink of Claire’s ass after he’d spanked it.
His cock reacted at the memory.He cursed under his breath.
When the patio door opened behind him, Nick rid his brain of any Claire-related imagery.His father joined him on the deck, beer in hand, and leaned on the railing next to him.
“Hey, Dad.How’re you doing?”
The elder Zorn rolled his eyes.“I’m fine.I didn’t mean to start up the waterworks back there.I guess everything just hit me.”
Nick understood.After his mom’s cancer scare, everyone in the family had a new appreciation for life.“No one would blame you.”
They stood quietly, enjoying the sunset together.As Nick glanced at his father, he noticed several new grays in his hair.After last year, Nick was surprised he didn’t have a few himself.He didn’t normally notice his parents aging, but every so often, it hit him.
Once he started filmingNick of Time, he wouldn’t have his parents just a short drive away.No more Sunday night dinners, at least not on a regular basis.No more popping over to help his dad with a task.
More than ever, he was starting to feel like he was losing all his connections to home.
“The deck’s looking good,” said Nick, fighting another unwelcome wave of stupid emotion.
“Of course it does.I have the best deck guy in the business on speed dial.He takes care of us.”
Nick grinned.He and his dad had built the deck when Nick was sixteen.His dad, a master carpenter, had taught him everything he knew.The deck had been one of the many projects they’d tackled together.Just last summer, they’d given it a new coat of stain.
“So,” said his dad, “Michael let it slip that you’re seeing someone.”
“Did he now?”
“Don’t be annoyed with your brother.Your mom was fussing over him and Emily.I think he was just trying to deflect some of the heat.”
“I get it.”
“Tell me about your lady friend.”
“There’s not very much to tell.We’re keeping it casual.”
“Casual, huh?I see.”His dad took a swig of beer and trained his gaze toward the coral sky.“As long as you’re both happy with your arrangement.”
Was he happy?
