Swiping out of my contacts, I checked to see if there were any texts from my sister.
ETA? Neighbor brought over food for us. Will you be home tonight?
I stared at the phone for a few minutes, waiting for the triple dot to pop up before Aspen started crying in long, overtired wails. Putting the phone down on the counter, I broke out the soothing butt-pat move that seemed to help him calm down while I paced back and forth. Motherhood was definitely training me to up my multitasking game.
About ten minutes later, I brought a finally sleeping Aspen back into my bedroom and placed him in the bassinet. I cringed when I heard adingon my phone, but he didn’t stir.
Thank Goddess.
I tiptoed slowly out of the room, taking my time to shut the door as quiet as a ghost. Shuffling to the counter, I inhaled the smell of breakfast for dinner. This momma wasstarved.
Apparently in more ways than one after tonight’s visit.
Yawning, I picked up my cell to see when Hazel would be getting back.
Atlas
How’s the new place? Still good for this weekend’s visit?
New place is great. Still good.
I debated if I was being too short with my ex in my responses, weighing out what might send mixed signals. Instead of writing anything else, I sent along a video I had taken of Aspen giggling as I made ridiculous faces at him from behind the camera.
Atlas
Looking forward to it! Thanks for the video.
Miss you both.
See you Saturday.
I exhaled, pushing off the unease that was aimed equally at him and myself. Every time I saw Atlas, it was all too confusing to juggle things between my heart and my mind.
I dished out some of the casserole: a blend of fluffy bread, cream cheese, sausage, and cheddar, and a few moments later, I had eaten two servings and was ready to pass out from a carb-induced trance.
Sneaking back into my room, I looked over the side of Aspen’s bassinet and watched him sleep. How come I always missed him so much when he slept but prayed so many times throughout the day that he would nap long enough for me to regain an ounce of sanity?
It’d been a few days since I showered, and I maybe had twenty-four more hours to get away with relying on dry shampoo. Now was as good a time as any to try to squeeze one in.
Throwing my clothes into the hamper, I moved through the steam, pulling my messy bun out and letting my auburn tresses fall around my shoulders. The hot water beat down on me and I let my mind drift to Lynx, clinging to those momentary prickles I’d felt when he’d been here. The warmth from the billowing steam reminded me of the electric feel of his finger when he traced the tattoo on my skin.
The way his shirt clung to his body.
The way his eyes didn’t seem to need to search to understand.
The smile that felt like it was meant just for me.
And much to my surprise, long-forgotten impulses stirred within me.
Chapter2
Oakley
Iwoke to the sound of Aspen’s coos, pulling me from the sienna eyes peering back at me in my dreams. My boobs were like boulders, my chest uncomfortably tight. I rubbed my eyes and yawned, glancing up at the illuminated numbers on the clock. 2:32 a.m. That meant I’d gotten two more extra glorious hours of sleep than usual with his feeding schedule.
As I rolled over, my excitement dissolved, spotting the dark wet patch beneath where I had been sleeping.
Great.
