Page 104 of Always Been Yours

I’ll be honest… I’ve absolutely no idea what you were supposed to be but I would pay good money to see you in that costume again.

I didn’t realize that role playing was a kink of yours

I would try just about anything with you.

There are definitely a few things I can think of that I haven’t tried yet

Make me one of your pretty little lists and we can start work on it as soon as possible.

That’s probably the sexiest thing anyone has EVER said to me

I’m going to spend some quality time with myself and think about you now

Good night Grady ?

Call me before bed so I can tell you good night properly.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Grady

The evening after Halloween, I push Vivi up against her car with one hand on her hip, the other braced behind her on the car. “Thanks for coming to dinner,” I whisper only inches from her lips.

“Thanks for having me. It was really nice.” Her voice is just as soft as mine.

Tonight was the first time that Vivi came over for dinner with the girls. I told them that Vivi was my childhood best friend, and that I’ve been hanging out with her and her family more. It isn’t a total shock to them. They see Vivi at school—even seeking her out sometime—and at our parents’ monthly dinners. Not to mention they both are excited to attend the fair at the end of the semester.

They took the initial news about our dinner guest as I had anticipated. Daisy was practically bouncing in her chair, asking if the entire Davies family would be there. When I told her it would only be Vivi, she said that was perfectly fine. It gave them more time to show Vivi all of their toys and their new bedrooms. Everyone else could come see it another day, according to her. Stella sat there quietly, taking in the news and not having much of a reaction. When I asked if it was okay with her, she shrugged and said itwas fine.

I knew it wasn’t that simple, but I also know she likes Vivi. This whole situation is just harder for her than it is for Daisy. Which is understandable. I never expected me starting to date to be easy on either one of them. I also didn’t think I’d even be interested in a relationship for a long, long time.

Clearly, I was underestimating my feelings for Vivi. I don’t want anything to be halfway with her. She deserves everything, and I want to give that to her. My life has been better, and brighter, with her back in it these last few months. She would never replace their mom and I don’t want her to, but she could be that same light in my daughters’ lives too.

“I should get going,” she whispers, her breath warming my lips.

“I wish you could stay.” My hand squeezes her hip, not wanting to let her go.

“Me too but tonight was probably a lot for them already.”

Vivi’s understanding and commitment to my daughters makes me love her more. I’ve stopped denying that fact to myself but as always, I’m giving her the time she needs before we take that step. Her showing up to dinner tonight tells me more than enough.

“You’re right. Let me know when you get home though.” I place a soft kiss on her lips.

“Okay.” I can feel her smiling against my mouth.

“And call me before bed. I’m going to go get them ready now.” I give her another soft brush of my lips.

She nods. “Okay.” Her hands slip around my waist to my back, holding me close. I take a step into her and push her against her car. I wrap her hair around my fist and hold her head at the perfect angle. Teasing her for a few seconds with the promise of a kiss, I lean down and place my mouth on hers. Like how most of our kisses start now, it’s sweet and affectionate and unhurried. It isn’tuntil I feel Vivi’s fingers lightly tighten on my back that I deepen the kiss. I nip at her lips, and she opens for me, slipping her tongue along mine. I allow myself a few minutes of holding her against me before I buckle her into her car and watch her pullout of my driveway.

It has been two days since Vivi came over for dinner and things have… taken a turn for the worst at my house. Daisy’s been cheerful as usual but has FaceTimed with Arielle four times in the last forty-eight hours. I don’t mind at all that she misses her mom and wants to talk to her,obviously, but it’s hard for Arielle and me to make it happen every time she wants to. Arielle’s getting into a string of more frequent shows and longer road trips in between.

Stella has been bordering disrespectful, crossing the line in small ways she never has before. She’s beenforgettingher most basic manners. She slammed her door in Daisy’s face and refused to play with her last night. I know they’re going to have fights, but this isn’t about Daisy. Even her teacher pulled me aside this afternoon. She rolled her eyes when she was called to work on the whiteboard, and flat out refused to help her classmate when asked.

I haven’t told Arielle I’m dating someone yet. I don’t really know how to handle that conversation and I hate that I have to tell my ex-wife at all.

This all is just much more complicated than I’d really anticipated. I think I just got so wrapped up in Vivi and having her back in my life that I didn’t stop to really think about how it would playout with so many people involved. It’s completely unfair to her; all these extra people to consider come from my side of our relationship. She doesn’t have any baggage that’ll be around for the rest of her life. I don’t mean the girls, and I know Vivi is almost as obsessed with them as I am, despite Stella’s newfound attitude. But Brody isn’t a part of Vivi’s life anymore and he never will be. I can’t say the same about Arielle. She’s always going to be a part of my life in some way. I can’t find it in me to regret my marriage to Arielle because I wouldn’t have Stella and Daisy otherwise. The same way I can’t totally hate my younger self for everything that happened. I wouldn’t have my daughters if Vivi and I had been together our entire lives. It’s all just so complicated and none of it’s fair to Vivi.

It’s one of the thoughts that plague my insecurities the most these days.

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