It was loving and spontaneous.
And I came.
Oh, my God, did I come. I had to be helped back to the picnic area, and Mercer carried me halfway home.
And he wants to do it again.
Eli’s voice still exists in my head, but as I do my Saturday morning chores, it’s more like static.
He didn’t see all your rolls, chubby.
So? He’d love them if he did.
You didn’t show him your saggy tits.
They’re not saggy. They’re soft and round, and they made Zack into the healthy kid he is. Mercer would love them simply because of that.
That cock is going to split you in two.
Yeah, baby. Jealous much?
“Mama, you’re singing.” Zack holds up a picture of a purple dinosaur and a collection of letters over it. “T-Rex. See the t? See the x?”
“That’s so good!” I cry, kissing his head in passing.
“No swimming today?”
“Not today,” I hum. “But Mercer will come over when his shift is done, and he’s going to help make dinner and put you to bed.”
“And we can watch a new movie from the library?”
“Yep.”
“Can he have a sleepover?”
“I...” I swallow. “Sleepover?”
“Petey says I can come over for a sleepover this summer. They camp in the backyard. Can we camp in the backyard?”
“We don’t have a tent, buddy.”
“Oh. Well, can Mercer still have a sleepover sometime?”
“We’ll see.”
“Does he sleep underwater?”
“Yes, but I don’t think he has to.”
Zack nods.
I tense and wait for him to resume the “I want Mercer for my dad’ spiel again. I don’t know if my answer would be quite as panic-laden as yesterday.
“I’m going to draw an excavator now,” Zack grabs a yellow crayon and a fresh piece of paper.
“You do that. I’m going to do boring mom things. Pay the bills.”
“Yay, Mama!” Zack says, absently but with his heart in the right place.
