Page 82 of Enough
“No… really, it’s okay. I can sleep in this.”
I follow him into his closet and pause when I see the row of finely tailored suits to my left. “Wow!” I lift my hand andrun my fingers along them as he stands near the back, pulling a t-shirt off a hook. “You have a lot of suits.”
“Yeah. I have to wear one every day, so… variety.”
“How about this?” he asks as he brings me a University of Wisconsin t-shirt.
I smile down at it. I’ve worn it before. I glance up and see in his eyes he remembers it too. “I’m not sure it’ll fit anymore,” I mumble.
He shakes his head at me. “I’m double your size, Ever. I’ve worn that shirt a thousand times. It’ll fit. Try it on. Do you want some shorts or maybe a pair of my boxer briefs?”
The idea of wearing his underwear sends a small chill through my veins. “This is fine,” I manage as I turn and head toward the bathroom.
I slide on his t-shirt and pray it’s not too small. I leave my bra on so he can’t see when I’m cold. It fits me well. Not as loosely as I might like, but it’s enough to cover all my girl parts. I’m a little concerned about the amount of thigh that’s exposed, but I figure I’ll dart into his bed before he notices. I consider using his toothbrush but feel like I’m crossing a line, so I don’t. I squeeze some paste on my finger and quickly rub my teeth. I bend down, gulp some water, and then spit it out. I use the restroom and wonder what possessed me to agree to stay.
I open the door with my dress in front of me to hide my thighs, and he’s pulling the sheets back on the bed. He stops and stares.
“I thought you looked gorgeous in that dress, but damn. You look even more beautiful in my shirt. That shirt has never appealed to me more than when it’s on you.”
I blush and twist my lips into a frown. He shakes hishead. “Can’t you just say thank you or I know?” he asks. “You still haven’t learned to take a compliment, and you’re going to have to work on that around me because I fully intend to shower you with every well-deserved one of them.”
“You say that like you’ll be seeing me again.” I laugh playfully.
His jaw clenches, and he rubs the back of his neck with his hand. “I’d hoped youwouldsee me again. Is that not on the table? I’d be willing to negotiate. It’s my specialty.”
My head drops, and I realize that in my heart, I somehow doubted this would last more than one night. He senses the shift in me and slowly approaches me.
“What’s going on? What are you thinking?”
“Honestly, I’m thinking this will never work.”
“What do you mean, this?”
I point back and forth between us and he sighs. “Why is that?” he asks sincerely.
“Come on, Nick. Is my world what you’re really going for? I’m a single mom with two kids, a dog, a mortgage, and a new job. I barely have time to brush my teeth, much less see you.”
“You’re here now. Tonight seemed to work.”
“That’s because Kay has the kids.”
“Doesn’t Mike take the kids on soccer days? He said they spend the night three days a week.”
I pause and glare at him. “How, exactly, do you know that? And how do you know Mike?” My foot begins to tap and my eyes flutter back and forth between him and the door.
He sighs and runs his fingers over his chin. “I met Mike at soccer. He introduced himself to me. He talks my ear off at every practice. I think he thinks we’re friends.”
“Are you? Friends? With my ex?”
“Not really, no,” he asserts with a shake of his head.
“How much do you know? About us, or me for that matter?”
“Well, before I saw you today, I didn’t know you were the ex he talked about. Now that I know it’s you, I feel even more strongly about what an ass he is.”
“Did he say something bad about me?”
He rolls his eyes. “Ever, no. I’m not going to do this. I’m not going to get in the middle of you two and cause a fight. It’s obvious he has some lingering feelings. Especially after what I saw today.”
