Page 18 of Beauty Of Her

I watched her face morph from relaxed to tense in a second. Something was off as Julia slapped a hand over her eyes, throwing her head back into the cushions. “Okay, sure.” She hung up, tossing her phone beside me on the vacant cushion.

“Everything okay?” I stared at Julia, knowing everything was not fucking okay.

“It’s my ex-husband. He’s coming over with the girls.” Her shoulders slumped, and it wasn’t about her kids. It was over him.

“Now?” I popped my eyebrows.

“Yes. Now.”

I never got a break. Not one lousy break. Did Peter have some built-in censor made to toy with my happiness? My silly emotions? Because that was exactly what it felt like. Throughout our marriage, I always felt his dagger eyes watching me, waiting to see if I would question his rather questionable behavior. And when I didn’t, it was like it drove him crazier. Like my lack of curiosity was holding him back from revealing the truth. That he wanted to be with a man. And now that we were divorced, he still watched me because he was curious. He wanted to know what I did during my free time. While there was nothing to share, I always harbored a simmering fear that he would resort to asking the girls what I did during my days without him. It was weird to explain and an unfortunate fact I navigated.

And here I was, starting to move on finally with the most unlikely sort of person on my couch. Just when I reached that point, Peter had to ruin the moment. I was ready to explore this amazing kiss Brett just initiated, but the moment was shattered when Peter called. He claimed Zoe left her pajamas, and they needed to return to the house to ensure she had everything.

My eyes searched Brett’s, who sat helplessly on the couch dressed like a casual, sexy businessman, for what to do. “Shit, they’ll be here any minute.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No. God, no.” I paced the room. “Don’t take this wrong, but you can’t be in the house when they arrive. I’m not trying to hide you. It’s just my girls…” I trailed off, pointing to the front door they’d walk through any second.

Brett popped up from the couch, holding up a silencing hand. He surprised me when I thought I was about to lose him. “I’m going to grab those burgers and be in the backyard prepping the food.” He walked to me, swallowing my personal space, and snaked his arm around my back, pulling me against his strong body. “Don’t worry. I know what to do.” With a quick peck on the lips, Brett vanished from the room. The back door creaked open and shut just in time to the front door swinging ajar to reveal Peter and the girls.

I took a deep breath, put on my best smile, and focused on the task at hand. I needed to get through this without any awkward moments. The girls were my top priority, and I refused anything that would make them uncomfortable. “Hey, girls!” I said with a grin, pretending everything was normal. “Is everything okay?”

Zoe and Sara clambered into the house while Peter lurked in the background, looking put together like a country club golfer with hands clasped behind his back. I watched as Peter surveyed the living room, seeing the dented couch cushions and two glasses on the coffee table. I tried to ignore Peter's presence as much as possible. I didn't want his negativity to ruin the evening I had planned with Brett.

“I forgot my pajamas,” said Zoe, marching upstairs, not making much eye contact with anyone.

Sara watched her twin sister vanish and shrugged. She walked to me and wrapped her arms around me, letting us sway to a silent beat. I breathed in Sara’s flowery scent, kissing her head. “How was dinner, baby?”

“It was good. I got salmon.”

“Salmon?” My eyes popped. “Look at you eating brain food.” I hugged my girl tighter.

“I miss you.” She leaned in, and I swore she was trying to crawl back into me. Sara was always a cuddler, whereas Zoe was an independent cat.

“Oh, come on. You’ve only been away from Mom for a few hours,” said Peter from the corner, unamused.

I quickly glanced at him and realized this was what he wanted. He wanted a reaction from me. Well, fuck him. I’d give him nothing. I had handed him enough. While Sara clung to me, I caught Brett’s form over Peter’s shoulder from the window. He grilled the burgers and gave me a reassuring nod and thumbs up. His presence was like a warm balm on my frazzled nerves, and my muscles loosened, finally relaxing. It was strange to feel so connected to someone I barely knew, but it was undeniable that there was something between us. Even though he was younger, he understood me, unlike anyone else.

I pushed those thoughts aside as Zoe returned down the stairs with her backpack on her shoulder. “We’re ready to go,” she announced, looking at Peter rather than me.

“Got everything you need, kiddo? This is the last call until tomorrow night.” Peter pulled Zoe in, ruffling her pulled-back hair.

“Dad, stop.” Zoe shrugged out of his hold, rolling her eyes.

Sara peered back to me, knowing this was the final goodbye for the next thirty-six hours. Even though this routine wasn’t new, Sara always gave me a last look before going with Peter and her sister, as if silently asking me if I really wanted her to go.

“Have fun and behave.” I ushered everyone to the front like the best tour guide.

“We’re going to have a great time,” said Peter before turning to me. “You behave too.” He pulled the door open, then froze in the doorway, peering over my shoulder to the backyard window.

I pivoted, seeing Brett’s form hovering over the barbecue, prepping it for use. His shirt strained across his muscled back, and he squinted into the heat pouring off the grill.

“Who is that?” Peter’s eyes bulged, throwing an arm across Sara and Zoe’s bodies.

“Oh, relax.” I rolled my eyes. “His name is Brett, and he’s here to show me how to use the barbecue.”

Peter snorted, unconvinced, and tapped his boat-shoe-clad foot on the wooden floor. “You can tell me if you hired a pool boy.”

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