Page 83 of Wishing for Love

“I don’t know,” she said. “Why don’t we just whisper it to each other?”

He slid down her body, his chest to hers, his mouth barely touching her lips, her hands trapped over her head. “You know I love you,” he said so softly she barely heard. “Just say it back.”

“I love you too,” she whispered.

His mouth landed on hers and the two of them shared what they always did. Their bodies controlled the rest of their time together until they were both moaning during their release, him flopping down on top of her and rolling so she was on his chest again.

“That was intense,” he said.

“Do you mean it?” she asked. “What you said.”

He laughed. “As much as you mean it.”

A roundabout way to put it back on her. “Why is this so hard for us?”

“It’s going to get easier,” he said. “I think it’s the way it started for us. Once Elsie knows today, I’m hoping you and I won’t feel so insecure.”

“I thought I was the only one insecure,” she said, leaning up on her arm.

“No,” he said. “You aren’t alone. I’m glad we are doing this. Are you?”

“Yes,” she said. “I will say that it helps with those feelings of insecurity. If Elsie knows, then it’s like it can’t go away.”

“It’s not going anywhere,” he said, giving her a quick kiss. “But we need to get cleaned up and get her.”

“True,” she said. She wished they could have stayed there longer but knew they were on the clock.

They both cleaned up and left, drove to get Elsie and waited in line for the little girl to be brought to his car.

“Hi, Uncle Nix,” Elsie said, climbing in. “I didn’t know you were getting me. I’ve got lots of cards and candy.”

“You do,” he said. “Maybe you can have some after dinner. You remember we’re going to dinner now, right? Are you hungry?”

“Starving,” Elsie said. “I want a burger. A big one with bacon. Can I get that?”

Crystal turned to look at Phoenix. “I think that sounds yummy,” she said. “I might get one too.”

When the three of them were seated in the restaurant, drinks and food ordered, he turned to Elsie. “Remember how Mommy had a special friend named Nora?”

“Yes,” Elsie said. “That was Mommy’s girlfriend. She lived with us.”

“That’s right,” he said. “And you know that two people who love each other sometimes live together.”

Elsie looked back and forth between Crystal and him. “Do you and Crystal love each other? You live together.”

Why hadn’t she thought it might be this simple?

“We do love each other,” he said.

“But you don’t kiss like Mom and Nora did,” Elsie said. “Why?”

She looked at Elsie. “Maybe we didn’t want you to be upset. Would you be if we did that?”

“No,” Elsie said. “But will you still be my nanny?”

The little girl was frowning. “Yes,” she said. “I’m still your nanny, but I’m also Uncle Nix’s girlfriend. I can be more than one thing to you.”

“Just like Uncle Nix is my uncle and can be my father?”

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