“She's in a hurry.” I try to make light of the situation as Ryan gets out of the car, pulling the seat forward so I can get out. This car is not made for tall people. I need to have a good stretch after being crunched up in the back seat for the last twenty-five minutes. Instead of all of us going into the grocery store, Amberlee insisted on going in alone after getting everyone's favorite flavor of ice cream.
“Guess so. Let's get inside. I'm starving,” he says, as he heads for the porch, and I fall in step behind him.
True to her word, Maddy has food waiting for us. Ryan had let her know when we were on our way back, so when we step inside, a huge bowl of pasta is sitting on the table, along with salad and garlic bread. My mouth waters at the sight. I've learned how to cook over the last seven years, and I’m okay, but my skills are nothing like what Maddy can do. Hell, she can turn peanut butter and crackers into a gourmet meal.
“Wash your hands and take a seat,” Maddy orders, and we both listen. I head to the kitchen sink and Ryan takes off down the hallway, no doubt to the bathroom in his bedroom. Looking around, I don't see Amberlee anywhere in sight.
“She went to use the bathroom. She'll be right back,” Maddy whispers from behind me.
“No, um, I was just wondering—”
“Yeah, I know what you’re doing. How that husband of mine doesn't see it astounds me. You need to tell him soon because if he finds out another way, he'll kill you. And I really don't want to raise three kids all on my own.”
“Is it that obvious?” I turn around, leaning back against the sink. Fuck me. If Maddy knows, does Ryan? Is he just not saying anything, waiting for me to come to him?
“Honestly, I don't know which one of y’all is worse, you or her. But my husband? He’s clueless. Now get out to the table. These babies want to eat.”
Pushing off the counter, I head over and wrap my arms around her, hugging her, but not too tight.
“Thank you, for not telling him.”
Letting go, I take her arm in mine and escort her back to the dining room. The kids are already in their seats and Amberlee has placed herself right in the middle of them. Clever maneuver on her part. I will remember this for future dinners.
I lead Maddy to the head of the table and take a seat across from Angel. Ryan comes jogging into the dining room, now sporting a clean shirt and shorts and wet hair. “Sorry guys, I needed a quick shower,” he apologizes.
“Let's eat!” RJ cries out and we all burst out laughing.
Ryan looks over at me and winks before a devilish grin crosses his face.
“Hey baby, Jeremiah had an amazing idea.”
“My daddy did?” my sweet angel asks.
“That's it, Ryan Michaels, you are a bad influence on my sweet, precious daughter. You have her thinking I can’t come up with a good idea.”
A look of shock and disbelief flashes on his face. Almost like I've scorned his good name.
“What was this amazing idea of yours, Jeremiah?” I'm thankful that Maddy is trying to steer this conversation back to my brilliant plan.
“So, we have a four-day in a couple of weeks, and I was thinking it would be a perfect time for a joint family trip. Call itan end of summer, I'm about to have twins, and congrats on the new job trip.”
She just sits there, and I begin to get worried I’ll have to pull out the big guns to help me; the kids. But just when I am about to reel them in, she speaks up.
“Sounds fun. Where do we want to go? I can get us a timeshare down at the beach or if we want to go to the mountains, I can check there.”
I don't have to think. “Beach.” Just the thought of seeing Amberlee in a bikini has me wanting to rush home and rub one out.
“Yes, the beach!” both kids squeal at the same time.
“Okay, I'll go ahead and look at the hotels and see what we can get. I'll see if we can get a suite. If not, I'll ask for three rooms near each other.”
I know Amberlee will spend the next two weeks trying to weasel out of this trip, but there's no way in hell I'm going to let her. She doesn't speak much throughout dinner and barely eats anything. Once she's done, she gives some apologies about not feeling well and heads down the hallway toward her room in the house, not her apartment.
She doesn't come out the rest of the time I'm there, and once we're done eating, I help clean up and we leave.
I had to take a cold shower when I got home. I was so worked up from seeing her. It took all my energy not to take hold of my cock and jerk off, like I’ve done so many lonely nights. Only then I had a picture, an image of what Ryan would show me, but now I have her. The way she looked the day we helped her move in will forever be burned into my brain.
Lying in my bed, all I can think about is her. How good she felt in my arms. Her plump lips and how badly I wanted to taste them, to see if the shine was from her favorite cherry lip gloss I remember her always carrying around. It's crazy. It’s been seven years and I can still remember the lip gloss she was wearing back then.
