Page 60 of Pull
“Thank you guys so much for your help,” he breathes.
“Hey, we believe in love here,” Ben winks, pulling me and Ryan closer.
Lance stomps down the walkway, waving at us as he goes back to his car. And we wave back.
Hailey rests her head on Oliver’s shoulder. “I hope it works out for them.”
Ryan turns his face to Ben and me, giving us a knowing smile. “Me too.”
Head back. Eyes closed. Warmth seeping into every crevice of my muscles, tight and hot. Sweetsweetcomfort.
It feels so good. Much needed. And wonderful.
“Papa!”
My eyes roll. I can't help it. They just do.
I was having such a nice time relaxing in my hot tub. Well-deserved silence for once in a great while, I carved out a spot in my crazy day, between work and supporting my beautiful family, coming home to be with Ethan and the loves of my life, then slinking off to bed for adult play time, which is beyond delicious, but let's be real…it's not quiet or calm in any way shape or form.
I don't get much of this, so when I do get, I savor it. I hold on tight and squeeze because God only knows… as much as I love my life more than even imaginable, I sometimes miss the quiet.
Jess and I were all set for early retirement before Ethan came along. And he’s the best unexpected blessing ever, besides his daddy of course. My son is fantastic, and truly a low maintenance kid.
But still… I'm almost thirty eight, and I haven't yet been able to reap any of the benefits of teenage pregnancy.
Sure, there was the Thailand vacation before Ethan was born. And then the epic Pride weekend over the summer. But at this point we've been back in the fold of regular life for months.
Schedules and meetings and plans with friends and play dates for Ethan and all the stuff that sometimes makes me forget I'm in a throuple with my wife and our daughter’s ex-boyfriend.
It's a hard fact to forget.Especially when your friends remind you constantly.
But right now, soaking in the beautiful hot tub my husband and wife got me for our anniversary while my adorable one-year-old squeals, having awoken from his half-hour nap that seems to have blown by in an eye-blink, I'm having a little craving. I'm feeling the unsettling desire deep in my bones again…
We need a vacation.
“Papa!” Ethan, rather dramatically, shrieks once more from his play pen.
And I sigh out loud, hoisting myself up out of the hot tub to attend to him, ending once and for all what was supposed to be a relaxing hour of Ben time.
“Okay, buddy,” I kneel down next to him, lifting him out of the pen where he's holding himself up on the side. “Papa's here.”
Ethan giggles, warming my chest a thousand times more than that hot tub ever could, reaching up to touch my face with his tiny hand. His smile really rounds out his chubby cheeks, teal eyes sparkling up at me while he coos his version of words, telling his father a story. And I think I can understand it…
“I love you too, buddy.” I grin, standing up to swing him around the way he loves. “You like spending time with Papa, huh?”
His full-bellied baby laughs give me all the satisfaction I need. This kid is worth it… All of it. All the inconveniences of parenting late in the game, every time in the middle of the night I hear his tiny sad whimpers while I'm knee deep in my wife, or on my back with my legs in the air and my hair in my husband’s fist… It's all good because Ethan is the reason we're even here.
If Jess hadn’t gotten pregnant two years ago, who knows if the three of us would have found our ways back together?
He's a little blessing baby, which is why I'm so glad he looks so much like Ryan. I mean, it’s still a toss-up as far as which of us is genetically his father, since he seems to have my nose and chin.
Honestly, I’d be more than happy to find out my son has my husband’s genes. But Ryan and Jess don't want to know, and I get it. He’soursregardless of the blood swimming in his veins.
“Oh, bud,” I chuckle, “You’rewaytoo peaceful right now. You jacked up my quiet time, now it’s only fair I return the favor.”
Lifting his tiny t-shirt, I bring my lips to his fat belly and blow, doing the best raspberries around until he's damn near hyperventilating he's giggling so hard.
“God, I love that sound,” my wife’s voice interrupts Ethan’s laughter and I glance up to find her walking onto the patio, smiling wide, blue eyes locked on our adorable son.
