Page 75 of Unexpectedly In Love

“I remember he loved planes; he would point them out to me in the sky. To me he was a giant, a superhero. It destroyed my mom when he died.”

“How so?”

“I think we remind her of him, so she runs. She loves us, she took great care of us, but somewhere after college we just kept seeing less and less of her.”

I haven’t even met her since we got married as I think of it.

“She is always travelling, moving and shaking. I think it pisses Sage off. But I get it, she wants to live so I say let her,”

“Do you have any pics or videos?” I ask, she pulls a pillow to her chest.

“Apparently, they made a video when I was born, but it got damaged in a storm. I never saw it. Rosemary has them, she is looking for someone to repair them for her.”

A sweet melody surrounds us. Aladdin and the princess are on a carpet flying into clouds.

“I love this sound. There is something about seeing the world from a bird’s eye view. You realize how small and insignificant we really are.”

The idea hits me. “Get a sitter for Kai, we are going on a date tomorrow.”

“A date? Are sure that is wise because?—”

“Get ready by 8.”

She pulls her foot from my lap and begins to sit crossed leg. “Where are we going? What should I wear?”

“It’s a surprise. Dress code semi-formal.”

She folds her lips in like she is debating in her head. “Eryx, I don’t think?—”

“Well don’t think. I’m taking Kai upstairs. My door is always open to you and my bed is always warm for you. Good night.”

“I’m not sleeping with you tonight. You can’t always get your way, Eryx.” She sounds so firm in her resolve. I am also firm in mine.

This conversation was over. I take my son into my arms, and I make my way upstairs. As I pass Anise’s bedroom, I chuckle. Khaos did what was requested.

I know she will run in her office to regroup then she will make her way up here. A sinister chuckle emits from me. She will be so tired, after all we did have a full day. All I can do …is wait.

* * *

ANISE

Logging off my laptop office, I look at the large digital numbers on the screen. 12:45 a.m. I came into my office to chill. Eryx and I are becoming closer and closer. I want to embrace this relationship fully but the word divorce still looms to the back of my head. Now we are going on a date tomorrow night. Grabbing my phone up I sent a quick text message to my sisters. If we helped Sage get dressed for her date with Zac, we are going to do the same for me.

Running up the stairs, I entered my bedroom, flicked on the light and stopped in my tracks. My bed looks like it just came out of an Ikea box.

The pieces of wood are all stacked neatly, the screws are all aligned with an Allen key sitting on top of the headboard. My two pillows and a blanket are folding at the top of the headboard. Even the cute fainting couch that I had in the corner of my room is gone.

Notably my very comfortable mattress is missing. Part of me wants to go into Eryx’s room and rant. But I won’t. This house has six bedrooms. Three are already in use. I use the other three.

Five minutes later, I recognized that all the three-bedroom doors were locked. Even the rocking chair in Kai’s room is gone.

I would rather drag my coochie over hot coals than go to Eryx’s room on my own. I should go downstairs and sleep on the sofa, but my pettiness comes to the front. I march back into my room and begin to put the bed back together.

* * *

ERYX

Craning my head to the side, I spy two fifty-three on the clock. She may have gone down to sleep on the couch. Knowing Anise, she would try to put that bed back together herself. Unfortunately for her, Khaos has taken two essential screws from the bed as instructed.

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