Page 107 of Shameless Expectations

“Don’t ever stop,” Athena murmured, her eyes shut tight.

Monti wanted to ask her what she wasn’t supposed to stop. The movement of her fingers? Asking the hard questions? Being there for her? The massages that had landed them in this position? But Athena was clenching around her, tightening as she cascaded through another orgasm and slyly wrapped her arms around Monti’s shoulders, pulling Monti down on top of her.

The kiss was sloppy, wet, and full of raw emotion. Monti leaned into it. This was where she wanted to be. At this moment, they were nothing more than two women exploring. They were finding themselves and each other, and they were learning how to face the world. But Monti wanted to do that together. She wanted to take Athena by the hand and look whatever came next dead in the eye.

Monti slipped back and pressed her forehead against Athena’s. She listened to her steady breathing, to the quiet in the room. And she whispered the only thing that she could think of, the one thing she’d always held true in her heart.

“I never want to hurt you.”

thirty-four

Athena spent the morning in her office at the beach house. She managed to get some work done for the upcoming trial, but more than that, she’d hired a divorce attorney. The last few days with Monti had given her new life, and she didn’t want to wait any longer.

She wanted her life to be different.

Immediately.

She’d lost so much time keeping the world away from her, and it had left her nothing but lonely. And that night with Monti…she smiled at the memory. She’d never have done something so crazy on her own. Monti had pushed her to take chances and think about the world in different ways.

Something had changed that night. Athena had never felt so close to someone before, even with Kevin. He knew everything there was to know about her, but Monti had reached in and tenderly caressed her soul with all the hope she had alive in her. It was contagious.

Athena sent off the text to Kevin, updating him on the fact that she’d retained a lawyer and the divorce was underway. She then added one last thing.

Athena: I’ll tell Simon.

It was the one thing she hadn’t wanted to do, but someone had to. And since she was the one who had initiated the separation, it was her responsibility. All she could hope was that it wouldn’t throw Simon too hard off track. He was such a good kid.

Which was something Athena was glad about. Simon had advantages she hadn’t had growing up, and hopefully that would make him a better person in the long run. She received Kevin’s response, his sweet wish of good luck and to call him after if she needed, and she called Simon.

If she waited any longer, then she would just put it off. Rubbing her lips together, Athena held her breath as she waited for Simon to answer.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, baby.” Athena smiled, but the nerves reared their ugly heads. She wished she was better at this. Talking with Monti had helped, but that still didn’t make any of this easy. She sighed. “You got a minute to talk?”

“Sure?” Simon sounded nervous now.

She hated to put him in that state, but there was no good way to deliver this news. There were better ways than others, but no matter what, Simon was going to be shaken. She ran her fingers through her hair, remembering the way that Monti had threaded her fingers through the tangles, pulling on them.

“This is serious, and I know it’s going to disrupt your day,” Athena interrupted her own thoughts. She needed to keep focused on what was important, and that was first and foremost always Simon. “So I want to make sure that you’re not rushing off to go somewhere.”

“Okay?” He was scared now. She’d recognize that tone of voice anywhere.

Athena wasn’t doing a good job at this. She was already regretting doing it over the phone instead of in person, but with school in session, she wasn’t sure when she’d see him next. Swallowing that lump that clawed its way up her throat, Athena chose her words. She played with a pen on her desk, distracting herself.

“Mom?”

“Your dad and I have been talking a lot lately about our relationship moving forward.” She bit her lip and cringed. “We’re getting a divorce.”

“What?” It was an accusation, and it rang through the phone and deep into Athena’s soul. “But nothing’s changed.”

“Yes and no.” Athena picked up the pen and dropped it loudly on top of her desk. “Your dad and I are best friends first, you know that. And even with this divorce, that’s not going to change. I can promise you that.”

“Have you met someone?” Simon whispered it, like he was too scared to ask the question but like he had to know the truth.

And the truth was yes, she’d met someone. But it wasn’t like he was thinking. Or was it? No, it wasn’t like that at all.

Athena’s face pinched. Honesty. That was what she had to use for this conversation. “I did, but not like you’re thinking. I’ve been seeing a therapist.”

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