Page 21 of Pumped

It was really great sex. Maybe some of the best sex I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot of sex. The hard press of Owen’s body against mine. The way our mouths collided. The roughness of his hands on my body. The sound of his growl. The way he threw commands at me, and the way I jumped to obey.

I still think of that night sometimes when I’m jacking off. When I need something quick to take the edge off. It never fails to take me right to the brink in five seconds flat. It’s always a bone-melting climax.

Sometimes I wonder. What if he wasn’t a stuck-up snob? What if we didn’t annoy the fuck out of each other? What if we could channel all that volatile energy between us into sex rather than fighting? Could we have had another night like that? Could it have turned into a regular thing?

Can it still?

I shake my head. No. That’s crazy talk. A regular thing with Owen? Like a relationship? Enemies with benefits? He’ll kill me in my sleep before we ever get that far. Or maybe I’ll kill him. It’ll be a miracle if we both make it through the next twelve years unmaimed. Hell, I could barely make it through a week of seeing him every day.

“Well, we’re here if you need anything. Seriously. If you need to re-work your schedule or cut back on hours. She can come hang out in the staff room if you can’t find a babysitter. Whatever it is. Just let me know.”

With a groan, I push myself up and flash Beau a grateful smile. The weight of grief and responsibility is still heavy, but ithelps to know that I won’t have to carry it alone. The guys at Mars have got my back.

“Thank, Beau.”

“Always.” He opens his arms. “Come here.”

I stand and walk into the offered hug. It’s comforting, soothing. I’m going to need as much of these as I can get.

CHAPTER

EIGHT

OWEN

“Are you sure you don’t want us to stay an extra few days?” Mom asks as Dad loads up their car.

“I’m sure, Mom,” I lie. In fact, I’m not sure at all. I want them to stay. I want Everest’s parents to stay. I want them all to stay and be the buffer between me and Everest.

She studies me for a moment and I put on a brave face. I’m an adult. I own my own apartment. I have a successful career as a veterinary surgeon. I don’t need my mom to hold my hand through this, even though I secretly really want her to.

She’s caught me with tears in my eyes a few times this week already. We were never a boys-don’t-cry type of family, but I’ve never been very comfortable expressing my emotions. They get too big, too unwieldy. Then people look at you differently, like you’re suddenly not the person they thought you were.

“I go back to work tomorrow. Ivy goes back to school,” I continue when Mom still looks skeptical. “The sooner we can establish a normal routine, the better.”

She sighs then pulls me into a hug. “If you’re sure.”

I hug her back, a little embarrassed at how tightly I’m holding on. I have to stop myself from taking back everything I said and begging her to stay.

“Remember we’re just a phone call away. It’ll only take us a couple hours to get here. If you need a few days off, we’re happy to come down. Or Ivy can come stay with us. Whatever you need, okay?”

“Thanks, Mom.” My voice is a little thick with emotion and I force myself to swallow it all down. I’ve been so good at keeping my composure this week. I can’t afford to break down now when Ivy needs me to stay strong.

A few feet away, Everest and Ivy are saying goodbye to his parents. He’s holding her and she’s got her arms around his neck, clinging to him like she’s never going to let go.

She looks miserable. And scared.

I know the feeling.

Not for the first time, I question the wisdom of what we’re doing. Everest and I are completely unequipped for a task like this. We’re not parents. We don’t know the first thing about raising a child. I’ve loaded up my Kindle with every parenting book ever published, but I’m still terrified I’m going to fuck her up.

I don’t trust myself to be a good parent. I trust Everest even less.

Nell leans in to give Ivy a kiss, then gives Everest one too. Graham rubs Ivy’s back and claps Everest on the shoulder. We switch parents.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done this week,” Nell says, pulling me into a tight hug. “I know we don’t live as close as your parents do. But you can always call on us if you need any help, okay? Even if it’s just to vent about…” She casts a sideways glance at her son to finish the rest of her sentence.

I let out a strangled chuckle. “Uh, sure, thanks.” It’s comforting and alarming to know that even Everest’s mom questions his capabilities.

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