Page 17 of Fourteen Years

“Who is he?” I asked. “What’s so bad about him? Trevor?” I was begging as he was avoiding eye contact.

Trevor finally stopped and stared at me.

“He was my drug dealer, Monica.”

My stomach felt like it hit my feet and my head jerked back like I’d been physically hit.

“Are you on drugs?” I spun on my daughter.

Her eyes were huge, staring at us.

“What? No! I’ve never even met his parents and didn’t know who they were?” she exclaimed.

I spun back to Trevor, believing her, seeing the shock on her face, knowing it couldn’t be an act.

“Trevor? How bad is this?” I asked.

“Bad.” he replied, staring at Lacey and me.

“Fucking horrible.”

Chapter 09

“She’s asleep.”

My head came up, staring at my ex-wife as she came into her living room. I had taken up residence on the couch, my mind racing, trying to think of any way to avoid further contact with this man, his family and mine.

Monica came over, sitting beside me, turned towards me.

“Trevor-” she began.

“Monica. I am sorry-” I said at the same time.

She jerked back, her brown eyes wide with surprise.

“Sorry? What are you sorry for?” she asked.

“I did this. I brought him into my life all those years ago, and now he’s back and-”

“Trevor. Shut the fuck up.”

I stilled, looking at her.

“This isn’t your fault. This is a relatively small city. They went to school together for a year. I’ve even seen him at sporting events. It's not your fault. You’ve been clean for over a decade.” she shook her head at me.

I sighed, leaning forward, the leather on the couch rubbing against my fireman uniform pants roughly. I’d removed the suspenders to hang loosely at my sides and had a white fitted shirt on. I scrubbed my hands over my face.

“Fuck!” I cursed into my calloused hands.

I felt Monica’s tiny hand meet my back, rubbing soothingly.Damn. That felt good.

“I don’t know how, but I promise to keep him and his son away from you all.” I said, sitting up straight again, leaning into her touch, rolling my neck on my shoulders.

Monica leaned in suddenly, wrapping her arms around me tightly. Without a thought I brought my arms around her again, drawing her against me. It just felt right. Like no time had passed between us at all. Her body still seemed to fit mine perfectly. She was everything to me still. She even still smelled the same.

She was curvier and softer though. I found my hands moving along her back again as she snuggled closer, and let out a little sigh.

Shit. This feels too good,flitted through my mind briefly, but I needed it. I’d hold onto her as long as she’d let me. I felt her head move back and she tilted her neck up to look at me.

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