Page 228 of Small Town Firsts
“Daddy will wash your face.” I gave him a pointed look and escaped.
Not that I got too much of a head start. Five minutes later, he was bounding upstairs withThe Care Bearsblaring from the living room.
I’d slipped into my dress from the night before.Hello, walk of shame.
“Do you really have to go?”
“I do.” I didn’t want to turn and look at him. He was too good at making me forget just what this was between us. I had to remind myself that we weren’t a happy little family.
No matter how much I wanted it to be so.
He crossed to me. “Can you come back tonight?”
“I’m tired, Seth.”
He tugged me close and linked his arms around me. “We have babymaking to accomplish.”
One more reminder.Thanks, buddy.
I pushed out of his arms. “Can we take tonight off?”
“Is everything okay?” He slid his fingers into my hair and turned me toward him.
“Fine. I’m just tired. Someone didn’t let me sleep last night.”Please don’t see my fake smile. Just let me get out of here.
“I’d really like to not let you sleep again tonight.” He tipped up my head and pressed a kiss on my lips.
I closed my eyes and almost let myself slide back into him. Back into the status quo we found without skipping a beat.
I cupped his face and ended the kiss, reluctantly opening my eyes. “Maybe tomorrow, okay?”
He sighed and pressed his forehead to mine. “All right. I have a ton of meetings this week anyway. I guess I should get ready for them. The birthday party kind of took over.”
“See? Perfect.” I swallowed down the lump in my throat and stepped back. “I’ll text you later.”
He frowned and twisted his fingers around mine. “All right.”
Grabbing my purse, I strode out of the room and jogged downstairs. I didn’t wait for him. I couldn’t.
Not if I really wanted to leave.
I stopped in and said goodbye to Laurie, but she barely looked away from the screen.The Care Bearswere far too enthralling.
He followed me to the door and dragged me back before I could go down the front porch steps. The kiss was hot and heavy and the lump in my throat grew even larger. So much that I thought I was actually going to choke.
I wouldn’t cry. It wasn’t his fault I didn’t know how to keep up with how things were supposed to be.
I wasn’t supposed to want more.
I pulled back and smiled. “I’ll see ya.”
His smile was soft and sweet and it took everything inside me not to let the tears brim over. “See ya tomorrow.”
“Sure.” I turned to leave and he snagged my hand.
“Hey. The munchkin’s graduation?”
God, I’d almost forgotten. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
