Page 69 of Then Came You

“Yeah, and you’re a lucky cunt.”

I wasn’t going to deny that.

Row’s body was made for fucking me.

Every dip and curve. The softness of her skin. How warm and wet her tight pussy squeezed when I was inside her. Her gorgeous chocolate eyes that were full of wonder and lust. How she still smelled like honey after rounds and rounds of sex, but it was her sounds that heightened my time with her. She moaned and mewled, sighed and stumbled over her words when I made her illiterate, but then she’d shock me with breathy promises of what she wanted me to do to her.

“I don’t envy the position you’re in, my man,” Alex says, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Of all the girls in the world, I go and fall for my son’s best friend.” I pop a handful of crunchy peanuts in my mouth before making the decision to leave. “As much fun as this has been. I gotta get Haven to bed, and think about what the heck I’m going to say to Row tomorrow to let her know that I’m all in.” Trudging over to the stairs, I call for Haven. “Hav, Princess, time to go, say goodbye.”

Chapter 30

Blade

Nothing screams "desperate jittery loser" more than showing up at the day-care door exactly at six in the morning, just to drop off your daughter and rush to work. Haven still had her pyjamas on when I left her with the day-care educators, making me feel like a terrible father all over again.

After three cups of coffee, it was only half past seven.

I tried to sit, but even my ergonomic chair didn't feel comfortable. Standing was worse; I fidgeted relentlessly. A sense of fear bubbled up from my gut, through my upper chest cavity, and into my trachea. It was an uncomfortable burning sensation that could easily become paralysing in mere seconds. My nervous system was in disarray from the excessive caffeine, and my mind was numb from considering all the possible outcomes of this morning.

Not only did I appear like a drug addict going through withdrawal, but I had also sweat through my pale blue shirt, now showing dark sweat patches. It was repulsive. I reeked, and I looked as if I had taken a deliberate dip in water. What was worse, I had chosen to wear light grey trousers today, which also had darker patches around my ass and groin area.

I couldn't let Row see me like this.

The only other option was a quick shower in the gym and changing into a pair of gym shorts I had stashed there, along with a Leukaemia Foundation polo.

By five past eight, I had managed to regain my composure, but moments later, all my calmness shattered when I spotted her heading my way.

She wore a tight black skirt and her signature black salon tee, knotted at the side. The best part of her outfit was her shoes. Her signature Converse, but a new pair adorned with little black sparkles. They were so uniquely her, and a smile spread across my face—not because they screamed "Row," but because she had indulged in herself.

"Hi," she stammered, looking like she was walking toward her own execution as she locked the door to ensure privacy.

"Take a seat," I motioned, indicating the chair in front of me. She lowered herself onto the edge of the seat, shifting from side to side until she settled in, crossing one leg over the other.

"Start talking, Tink." I leaned back in my chair, ready to sit here as long as necessary. She shot me an annoyed look, as if this was a waste of both our time.

"Don't we have somewhere to be?" She shook her head, the annoyance fading moments later. "I don't even know where to begin," she whispered, her gaze dropping to her knees. "I genuinely want to be closer to Tori... And I know that if I stayed with you, we'd never come up for air. You would consume every part of me."

I swivel my chair, resting my knuckles against my chin as I contemplate her words. "Is that really such a bad thing?"

"It's bad because we've betrayed Xander." Her fingers fly to her temple as if saying the words gave her a migraine.

"Row, darling, I understand this. Don't you think I already feel terrible? But what's happening between us, what's happened, was and is inevitable. Let's set Zee aside for the moment. Tell me why else you're running away," I encouraged. Leaning forward, I could see shadows beneath her eyes, as if she had been tormented all week, anticipating this conversation.

She rolled her head in frustration. "Can't you see? I have nothing to offer you. I'm not educated or wealthy. My family's background is basically skid row. And I have pink hair, for God's sake." She paused, adding in a small voice, "I'm not girlfriend, wife, or mother material."

Her eyes glisten, a lone tear sliding down her cheek, quickly followed by another on the opposite side, leaving her face and neck damp.

My heart aches at how she perceives herself.

She's tearing me apart.

Anguish washes over her face, and she bites her lip so hard that it seems she's trying to prevent tears from bursting forth.

My poor, unloved Tink.

The fact that she entertains such thoughts reminds me that I haven't properly fulfilled my role in taking care of her soul.

---