Fuck, we really need to get her out of my house before the thought of walking away feels even more impossible than it already does.
After staring at my friend a while longer, I decide that I don’t want to speak about this anymore. “I’m taking off.” I stick my hand up at him. “We’ll wash the truck next time.”
I slam the door to my own car and start the ignition. That damned weight is bearing down on me even stronger than before. Soon it’ll be impossible to breathe.
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell Marco about the insurance fraud, but I can’t risk telling him. Not at the station when Keller could’ve been eavesdropping.
There was some truth to Marco’s words. I recognized what he was saying, though I don’t want to believe it.
Yes, I might still be in crazy love with Piper, but the facts about my daughter still stand. Ellie deserves every ounce of my love.
I went into foster care after the fire, and the fall hit me so hard that sometimes, I still feel as though I’m recovering. I have to pour all of my energy into Ellie, into making sure that she doesn’t have to live through what I did. We’re inseparable. Before Piper reentered my life with her son, all I cared about was Ellie’s safety and mine.
But now I’d climb mountains for their safety too.
And that is a fucking dangerous game to play.
Because while you’re busy saving someone else, another is falling.
13
PIPER
Fuck off.What gives these elementary teachers the audacity to flirt so openly in the school hallways? Or to flirt, period?
I’m still livid, unable to get the vision out of my head from earlier when I caught Ellie’s teacher laying it on thick with Caleb. I saw them through the window.
Caleb walked away. And she thought she had the right to check out his ass?
These past two weeks of silence have been rough, but it’s what I’ve needed in order to get my act together. Clearly, I’m still in the process of doing that…
We’ve been keeping our distance, but actions have consequences, and this consequence is a big one. I can barely contain myself now when we’re in the same room. My heart fluctuates. My stomach flips every time hebreathes.I remember how close we were to losing control, and feel an urge between my legs that requires immediate attention.
I’m getting withdrawals, not just physically, but emotionally. My body craves his arms. I get horrible chest pains every time Imake breakfast in the morning and see that he’s already taken off to work. He leaves for work early to make sure he doesn’t catch me.
All of this because I decided to boil some sunflower oil.
“I keep forgetting how to work out this equation.” Ellie’s voice brings me back to the kitchen table, where I’m helping the kids out with their math homework.
Caleb still isn’t back and it’s been an hour. My mind wanders many different avenues as I work out where he could be. Caught up at a job? Under another woman, getting some much-needed release?
The distance is tormenting me. I’m worried that Caleb is back on the dating app, searching for a hookup.
“Here.” I take the question booklet from Ellie and explain the multiplication method to them again, this time in more depth.
“I think I get it,” Sonny says, shuffling his booklet over to Ellie to help her understand.
My eyes are on that door again. I check my phone. 7:30 PM. We already ate.
The door flies open as if I’ve manifested the man into existence. Ellie looks up at her father, smiles, and continues listening to Sonny.
Caleb is topless. In nothing but salopettes. The suspenders clip over his giant torso and squeeze together his muscles, making them look even more compact.
What the fuck is he playing at?
“I got caught up at work. Apologies.” He’s breathless, and a thick layer of sweat lines his chest, like someone’s oiled him up in lube.
It was hot this afternoon—I understand why he has his shirt off. But it’s not really helping matters.
