“We sometimes used our son to be together in some way.”
My jaw flexes side to side, as she caught me out. “You know it’s true.”
“You put in a lot of thought with gifts.”
“It was my responsibility to guarantee that he bought you gifts for your birthday, Christmas, and Mother’s Day,” I say, brushing it off.
She takes a decent sip of wine. “And I’m the one who maybe enjoys the fact that I know you had a hand in picking out this very expensive, beautiful, and perfect necklace with a little boat on it, which I’m certain Connor has no idea what it means.”
I don’t flinch, instead soaking in the truth of her theory. Walking around the table, I lean down and touch her chin to bring her lips up, and I capture her mouth for a kiss. “You are so incredibly smart. I have no doubt you will pass the Bar. Then maybe I can give you a gift without using Connor as the middleman.”
“I don’t want gifts. I want you.” Her voice is raspy, and her smile never fades.
Recementing our lips, I take more, maybe I’m even greedy, and she murmurs as our breaths mingle.
“I swear, Elle, after he goes to bed, I’m finding a way to make love to you,” I speak against her lips.
Brielle giggles and sinks back in her chair. “I think my beautiful glistening pussy needs a rest from your cock.”
My mouth drops open in shock. “Your mouth!”
“What?”
“I’ve never heard you use such language. It’s…” I don’t know what it is. She is so prim and proper, yet she has just blown my mind. Do I like her like this? It’s a surprise. Maybe I get my kicks out of her acting innocent half the time. I think about it for a few seconds. “Fucking hot.”
She shoos me away with her hand, but I ignore her and dive in for one more kiss, only to quickly step back when we hear footsteps.
“Nobody is home, so I put Pickles behind the gate.”
I swipe my hand through my hair as I see Connor in the corner of my eye. “Hey, kiddo. Sorry, I still need to grab the ice cream.”
He walks back to his seat at the table.
“I’m not an idiot, Dad, I know this whole family-time story is so that you can both tell me that you’re changing custody or someone is moving to someplace else, something like that.”
Oh shit, we need to rectify this.
“Hey, no, wait, why would you think that? If anything, we’ll be doing more things together.”
Brielle is quick to jump in. “Exactly. Nobody is moving or changing custody, just more together time. That’s great, right?”
Connor looks between us, skeptical. “Oh.”
I blow out a breath and rest my hands behind my head. “You okay? Is that what you have been thinking this is?”
“I mean, you’re both always awkward around one another, but today you both seem extra… I don’t know, like you’re happy and gearing me up for something.”
Brielle taps her wine glass and nods her head in understanding. “You can relax, really,” she promises.
“Okay, cool.”
“I’ll grab the ice cream.” I begin to walk in the direction of the house but stall. “Connor, you don’t see it as a bad thing that we’re all together the next few days, right? I mean, now that you know nothing bad is happening.”
He shrugs his shoulder. “I guess, it still sucks being the only child, though.”
My eyes grow big. “Just add it to your never-ending wish list, okay, kiddo?”
Brielle snorts a cute little laugh.
