“Thank you. I’ll check on the boys.”
Madison didn’t protest as I helped her into the shower, though she barely seemed aware of what was happening. Afterward, I wrapped her in a towel and guided her to her room, tucking her into bed.
“Thanks,” she murmured as her eyes fluttered shut.
Back downstairs, I found Will slumped in the kitchen looking wrung out.
“I should probably get my kids up and go home,” I said softly.
“Or stay,” he said, surprising me.
“With all the kids here?” I asked, trying to gauge his seriousness.
“It’d be a PG night,” he said with a small, tired smile. “I’ll give you my room and take the couch.”
I hesitated, weighing the reality of leaving versus the quiet comfort of staying. “All right, but I don’t have pajamas.”
He disappeared and returned a minute later, holding a T-shirt and a pair of Madison’s shorts.
“I don’t know if I can get my ass in these,” I said, laughing despite myself.
“Give it a shot,” he replied, grinning.
We stayed up for another hour, sitting on the couch, talking and laughing as the house fell silent around us. It felt natural, like we’d done this a hundred times before. The wine was long gone but I felt intoxicated by his presence. At some point, my eyes grew heavy, and I drifted off against the arm of the couch.
I woke early to the soft sound of birds chirping outside. Will was still asleep, his face relaxed, and for a moment, I just watched him. He looked so peaceful, so unguarded, and I wanted nothing more than to slip under his arm and into that space that felt like it was made for me.
Then reality pressed down. I couldn’t stay here, couldn’t let myself get lost in this moment, no matter how much I wanted to.
The house was still quiet, bathed in the pale light of early morning. I slipped off the couch, careful not to wake him, and grabbed my things. As I tiptoed through the hallway, pulling my sweater back on, I nearly collided with Madison.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice sharp, suspicion etched across her face.
I swallowed. “Bebe was here for a playdate, and your dad had to leave to pick you up. I stayed with the kids.”
“And then you slept over?”
“It just got late,” I said, trying to sound casual.
Her eyes narrowed. “Where’s your husband?”
Before I could answer, Will appeared.
“Madison, that’s not how we talk to adults.” His voice was gentle but firm.
Madison crossed her arms, glaring at him. “She’s your girlfriend, isn’t she?”
“Not exactly,” Will said, his voice careful as he glanced at me.
“Right,” I murmured, suddenly eager to escape.
I headed upstairs to wake Bebe and James, leading them to the car as quickly as I could. As I buckled them in, Madison’s voice drifted through the open front door.
“You’re a homewrecker,” she muttered.
Will’s reply was quiet, but the damage was done.
On the way home, I stopped at McDonald’s for breakfast. Fast food for two meals in a row. It was undeniably not a Mom-of-the-Year move, but at that point, I couldn’t bring myself to care.
