Page 34 of Tomorrow Belongs to Us
It's decided. “Okay. I’m staying!”
“Yay!” Cassie jumps up and down with excitement.
“If I take her to school tomorrow, you’ll let her stay up with me and watch a movie?” I ask her mother.
“You’re watching a movie?”
I look at Cassie and wink. “If you pick the movie, can I pick the popcorn?”
Cassie vibrates with excitement and runs towards the door.
“Slow down!” I yell after her.
“You can sleep in my bed,” Vivian whispers as soon as we’re alone. She’s like a cat in heat, the way she creeps around me.
I fold my arms. “Why would I do that when you have so many spare bedrooms?”
“It’s just an offer. A man has needs, and I do, too. I miss you, baby.”
“Is the pool boy away on vacation?”
She raises her hand to slap me but I grab her wrist in time. “We were separated then.”
I let go of her and step away. “Hmmm. I recall a certain personal trainer who had a very personal touch.” I give her a big grin because I know how much it angers her. “We both know how closely he liked to instruct you.”
I move away before her hand tries to connect with my cheek again. She toys with a lock of her hair. “We weren’t married then.”
“But we were engaged.” I should have broken it off then.
“So, I’ve had a few indiscretions,” she says, trying to grab my hand and failing, “but I love you, Lance.” She walks after me as I step into the huge hallway. I glance up at the spiral staircase waiting for Cassie to come bounding down the stairs.
“Do you have to ignore me so blatantly?” Vivian’s scent wafts into my personal space. It’s the one she always wears, spicy and overbearing, and suffocating my senses. She slips her hand around my waist.
Here it comes. My gut turns hard, like ice, as I prepare to ward her off again. The divorce papers can’t come fast enough. “Let’s try to get along as best as we can, Vivian,” I say, removing her hand. “For Cassie’s sake.” My daughter is my Achilles heel and Vivian knows it.
“Is that perfume?” She edges closer and sniffs around my neck. The woman has the scent receptors of a bear.
“Perfume?” I joke and move away.
“Are you fucking someone?”
“Are you kidding me, Vivian? Cassie’s had a head injury and this is all you can think of?”
“Daddy! I got the film. This is what we're watching.” She thrusts a DVD in my hand. It's Beauty and the Beast.
We've only watched it about ten times. “Awesome!” I say. “Let's make some popcorn.”
She slips her hand in mine and we walk towards the kitchen.
It will be awesome. I get to spend time with my daughter though I'm slightly unnerved that Vivian is on to me. But it's not her who is in my thoughts as Cassie and I snuggle on the couch, a big bowl of popcorn on my lap.
This is the best feeling in the world, spending the evening with my princess, but I can't help thinking about Megan. That kiss was dangerous. That kiss brought it all back.
Chapter 15
MEGAN
I was a bundle of nerves by the time I walked out of my interview.
