“You stopped needing me,” I whisper. “All of you did.”
“What?” His disbelief cuts through me.
“Ceci had you... and her work. You grew more independent. And whenever you or Alicia needed something, you went to your mother.”
Ethan shakes his head. “Becauseshewas the only one who actually showed up,” he says. “Even the talk about condoms andSTIs, she was the one who had it with me. You gave me the basics before that, sure. And I wasn’t exactly clueless at thirteen. But I listened to her. I didn’t roll my eyes and tell her I could just Google it.”
His voice tightens. “I knew she was doing it... because you had other priorities.”
I stare at the floor. There’s nothing left to defend.
“I always needed you,” he murmurs. “Even now.”
I lift my head, but he’s turned away from me, looking out at the city.
“Even now,” he continues, barely above a whisper. “Now that I have a girlfriend for the first time... and there are things the internet doesn’t answer. Not the way I wish my father would.”
I step closer and rest a hand on his shoulder. “Let me be here for you now,” I plead. “Ask me anything, I’ll answer. Ask me for anything, and I’ll try to give it to you.”
Ethan shakes his head.
“It’s too late.”
“No,” I say, desperate, turning him to face me. “It can’t be too late. I can’t accept losing you too. I won’t. I’ll keep trying for as long as I have left, Ethan.”
I grip his shoulders, trying to keep him right here. When he looks up at me—eyes the same blue as his mother’s, drowning in tears—something inside my chest fractures all over again.
“My girlfriend broke up with me because of you.”
“What?” My heart jumps. “Why? I don’t even know her. What happened, Ethan?”
He drags the back of his hand across his face.
“She called me two days ago. I was studying. I always keep my phone on focus mode.” His voice tightens. “She didn’t believe me. She thought I was with another girl. Being long distance made her so jealous and suspicious.”
He swallows hard. “She broke up with me yesterday. And she said I was just like you... a cheater.”
I know it’s wrong to feel anger toward a girl who’s barely eighteen. But the pain in my son’s face wipes out any rational thought.
“No,” I say firmly. “You’re already better than I ever was. I can talk to her if you want, and—”
He shakes his head. “No. I flew in earlier, after class. I went to her place—she wasn’t home. Her roommates didn’t know where she was. She’s not answering my calls.” His voice wavers, and I can see him fighting tears.
“Let me hold you,” I ask, my voice breaking. “Just... let me hold you for a minute. Let me give you the small comfort I have left to give.”
When he finally steps closer, I wrap my arms around him and pull him in tight. “I’ll wait as long as it takes, Ethan,” I murmur into his hair. “And whenever you need me, no matter the reason, I’m here. I will always be here for you.”
At last, he returns my embrace. I close my eyes, hoping that one day he’ll believe how fiercely I love him again and let me be there for him, when it matters most.
I bury myself in her wet warmth, feeling the grip of her pussy clenching around my cock. Maya locks her legs around me, pulling me closer as I begin to thrust faster. I crash my mouth down on hers in a hungry kiss, our tongues sliding together in time with my hips.
I bite her neck, sucking hard before taking a nipple in my mouth and biting down with force.
“Harder, Colin, I need more,” she begs, her voice pleading for what she knows I can give her.
I pull out, looking down at my cock, glistening and soaked with her slickness. I drive back in with a single, powerful thrust, needing to feel that heat again. Then, I flip her over and bite her ass cheek sharply. I yank the plug free and toss it onto the bed, slicking her up again using my fingers.
Then I press into her ass slowly, until she starts grinding back, desperate. I lose control—slamming into her in one hard thrust.
