Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“No, he wasn’t,” Melissa says, laughing as she appears behind him. “He was giving me a neck rub. My neck is really sore from carrying all those heavy glass crates today.”
Chase looks up at her, frowning.
Mel widens her eyes and props her hands on her hips. “Hey, you know me. Would I let someone pull my hair and get away with it? No chance, man. I’d tell him to get out of my house and kick his bootie on the way out.” Chase laughs and she shoots a smile my way. “But Aaron is welcome to stay. He’s a great guy who gives very good neck rubs.”
“And is good at Legos,” Chase adds.
“And giving orgasms,” I mouth, while Chase’s back is turned.
Mel narrows her eyes, but her smile remains in place. “That’s right. He’s very good at Legos. But maybe not as good as me. I think we should have a Lego competition after school tomorrow. The person who makes the highest skyscraper gets extra dirty green beans with dinner.”
“Oh, I wuv dirty green beans,” Chase says, hopping up and down. “I’m going to win.”
“I hope so,” she says, bending down to press a purple stone into his tiny palm. “But if you’re going to build a giant skyscraper, you need your rest. Go put your magic rock under your pillow to keep the night meerkats away and get back in bed. I’ll be up to tuck you in again in just a second.”
“Okay, Mommy, wuv you,” he says, kissing her cheek.
It’s a sloppy, toddler kiss that leaves a hint of drool on her skin and warms my heart. What a sweet little guy this kid is, a fact he proves when he waves to me and says, “Night night, Awin. Be good to Mommy’s neck.”
“Oh, I will, buddy. I promise. Sleep well.” I watch him climb the stairs before I turn to Melissa and whisper, “Cute kid, but I’m going to win those dirty green beans. I want all the dirty green beans I can get.”
She shakes her head and laughs. “Stop it, you psycho. That could have been bad. Really bad. I don’t want to confuse Chase or God forbid, risk him saying anything to Ben about you ‘pulling my hair.’ Jesus, that would be a real nightmare.”
“Yeah, I don’t like lying to kids, but it’s too soon to talk to him about how some sexy, grown-up ladies like getting their hair pulled. The neck rub was a good cover.”
“Thanks,” she says, sighing as she glances toward the stairs before turning back to me. “Would you mind sticking my glass in the dishwasher and turning out the lights when you’re ready to go upstairs? I’m going to head to bed once I get him tucked in again.”
“Sure thing,” I say.
She starts to go, but turns back to me after just a few steps, adding in an almost shy voice, “And if you could hide the book, like you said…I’d appreciate it.”
“No problem. I’ve got you.”
“Thanks,” she says, but it’s clear she doesn’t really believe I’ve got her.
But I do, and I’m going to prove it.
Chapter 11
Melissa
I sleep like shit—I should really know better than to drink whiskey before bed, especially when I’m upset—and wake to pounding at my door.
“What? What’s wrong?” I shoot into a seated position, swiping a hand down my face as I shake off the sleep fog.
“Mommy! Come quick, there’s a squirrel in the house,” Chase screeches from the other side of the door. “It jumped on my skyscraper!”
“What?” My eyes fly wide as I bolt out from under the covers, racing barefoot to the door.
I start to throw it open before I remember the reason I’ve taught Chase not to open my door without knocking and spin back to grab my t-shirt off the floor. Near the end of my marriage, I stopped sleeping in only my panties—the fact that Ben was disinterested in my nearly nude body was too depressing to face every night—but I’m back in the habit now. I love nothing between me and the sheets but a pair of panties. Reclaiming my preferred sleeping style after the divorce felt like reclaiming a piece of myself.
But my toddler is getting a little old to see Mommy running around the house half naked and on the off-chance Aaron is already awake, I should have something on top.
Tugging the oversized tee down until it hangs around my thighs, I dash out into the hall, scooping Chase into my arms when he reaches for me.
“Okay, where is it?” I ask, scanning the downstairs.
“There!” Chase points at the coffee table. “On my skyscraper. It’s eating the sheep!”
My gaze homes in on the top of Chase’s tower to see there is indeed a squirrel on top of it, with a tiny plastic animal in one paw. Its other paw holds tight to the top of the block structure, like a tiny King Kong, intent on taking New York City.