My face lights as I say, “We’ll get delivery to the bedroom window.” I glance toward a walking stick leaned in the corner by the bed. “We can use that as our little helper.” I snuggle deeper into his arms, satisfied with my idea, until the urge to pee strains my bladder. “Shoot.”
“Shoot, what?” he sighs contently. “We just got everything all figured out.”
“Almost,” I groan, sitting up slowly, “except for using the bathroom.”
“You gotta go?”
I nod. “Pretty bad. Snuck up on me.”
He rolls toward his bedside table and grabs an empty glass. “You could use this.”
I grin. “Umm… no. I think I’m going to have to venture from the bed.”
“Never!” His arms squeeze around me tightly. “You sold me on this stay in bed forever thing. Now I can’t unsee it.”
“Oh my God,” I laugh and squirm against his touch. “You have to let me go or I’m going to piss myself.”
“Maybe that’s my new kink. Let’s try it.”
“Get out of here.” I fight my way out of his flexing, inked-up arms, squirming and poking playfully. I know he could hold me here if he wanted to, but thankfully, he takes it easy on me.
Heart full, I push off the bed and race toward the bathroom.Why does life feel so perfect since I rode away with him?Maybe it’s because we both know this could never really work. Like perfection only lasts when it’s borrowed.
I’m washing my hands when I hear Silas in the kitchen, confirming that our little game of‘never leave the bed’is officially over. I shouldn’t feel sad, but I do. I do because reality isn’t ours. It belongs to consequences we can’t outrun.
God, I sound like a crazy person. I knew what I was getting myself into. One night of fun with an older guy I’ve been lusting after. That’s all. Now, I have to refocus on getting ready for this new job and possibly fighting off a crazy ex who’s apparently been tracking me for months.
What has my life become?
The sun is peeking up over the horizon as I tug on Silas’ T-shirt from yesterday and step into the kitchen. He’s shirtless and standing before the sink, rinsing out a mug, bacon popping behind him on the stove, the coffee maker dripping into the carafe. The whole scene is like something from a very wholesome porno or a very racy cooking show.
“Teasing me again this morning,” he says, staring toward me a beat too long.
I glance down at my disheveled self. “You’re a very lonely man if you think this is a tease.”
He narrows his heavy brows. “You’re wearing my T-shirt, you’ve still got my come in your hair, your cheeks are pink, and there’s a smile on your face. Looks like a tease to me.”
I try to hide the smile that’s lifting my cheeks, but it’s impossible. I’m happy. So happy that I let myself picture a life where Silas and I are a family. Where this little cabin is ours, and we decorate the halls with pictures of family vacations and paintings we stumble upon while thrifting on a slow Saturday morning. Where we cut down a Christmas tree to surround with our children’s presents, one boy and one girl.
God, I want that!I want it so badly that I’d give just about anything to have it!
That’s when my brain short-circuits and Adam’s face comes flashing in like a flood I should’ve seen coming.
Adam.
My ex-boyfriend.
Silas’ son.
The reason none of this would ever work.
Squeezing my eyes closed, I recenter my thoughts and head to the little round table to the left of the kitchen where Silas is settling breakfast.
Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and coffee. I can’t remember the last time I’ve eaten this well. I also don’t remember the kitchen looking this great. The cabin has always been nice, but I don’t remember those dark wood beams, the natural stone counters, or the built-in bookshelves.
“Did you remodel the kitchen?”
“Late last year. It gave me something to do while I was—” He stops and takes a sip of coffee as though he’s redirecting his thoughts.
