Page 8 of One Last Chance

He makes another step toward me, and I freeze. Like a deer in headlights. Like I’m fifteen again, on the verge of my heat, and a boy I liked touched my shoulder. I stare at our shoes, the tips inches from touching, and then slowly lift my head. Rowland’s deep blue eyes hypnotize me. The warmth coming from his body radiates toward my skin.

“I was worried that tonight would be a disaster and a waste of time, but it was certainly not that at all. Like I said before…I think this’ll be the last date I will go on for a long while, so thank you for making it one to remember.”

Rowland’ssoclose. I can barely pull my eyes away from his tongue, sweeping his lips to wet them when he suddenly reaches for my face. I don’t move back as I should. Instead, I let him touch my septum ring.Not the move I expected, but—

“Ha,” he huffs in disbelief, voice raspy. “I haven’t even noticed it.” The thumb doesn’t linger on the metal for long. It glides down, over my cupid's bow, and finds its place pressed against my bottom lip.

It’s been so long since I felt this kind of fire burning at the bottom of my stomach.

He hesitates, still such a perfect gentleman, so I willingly open my mouth. Thankfully, Rowland has been on this earth for long enough to get the message. His lips press against mine before I even close my eyes, and our tongues twist together. The stubble of his mustache and his beard tickle. Holding back a satisfied groan, I draw in his scent and squeeze his wrist while his hands rest around my hips.

I feel like I’m melting. Like I’m losing control…

My eyes spring open the moment I feel him draw breath. He’ll notice my pheromones and this entire memory will become tainted. I begin sinking into panic when a car honks next to us. I tear away from him and jump back.

Capable of bearing his confused, wide-eyed look for only a second, I murmur a quick, “Have a good night,” and nearly run into the taxi. I shut the door behind me and tell the driver to go, head between my knees.

Fuck.

I cover my face and sigh. So that’s it. The best date I’ve had in years. Maybe there was something the universe wanted me to take from this. Maybe I should cherish this evening like Rowland, and just like him, maybe I should give up on this foolish chase of a perfect partner when I am so, so damn imperfect…

It’s better this way. I’m old enough to stop dreaming and start living in reality.

Chapter 4

Rowland

I jerk awake the moment I hear the entrance door downstairs open. Seconds later, Mac’s boisterous chatter flows right into my bedroom. Time to get up.

Rolling around the bed, I check the time.10 AM? I haven’t slept this long or well in ages.Mother’s voice is another one I hear, so I spread out on my back and use the few more minutes she’ll manage to keep Mac contained downstairs to close my eyes for a bit longer.

I see his face. I think I even dreamed about him.

As I look down, I wish mom would have brought the kids in a little later, so that I had the time to take care of myself. For the first time in a while, the urge grows at the back of my mind. These days, I only get like this when I’m in rut.

Glancing at my phone, I wonder if I should’ve texted him after getting back. I figured sending a message right after he ran off like that might have been too much. But I should’ve made sure he got home safely, at least.

Was I coming on too strong? Was he really just tired from work, or simply too polite to say out loud he wasn’t comfortable with me?No. The way he kissed me… That wasn't a pity,get it over withkiss. He would’ve told me the truth.

“I’m coming, Daddy! Get ready!” Mac shrieks, followed by his loud steps rapidly advancing up the stairs. I sigh deeply and sit. The thought itself of him walking up on me likethatis enough to persuade my lower member to clock out, and by the time the bedroom door swings open, I am in full dad mode—ready with a smile and wide-open arms.

“There’s my little man!” I shout and catch Mac as he launches at me. We both fall back laughing. “Did you have fun at Grandma’s?” I ask while I wrestle him off me and pin him down, ruffling up his hair. He screams and giggles at the same time, nearly choking up.

I missed my little bean. Even if it was just a day.

“It was okay,” he says. Pushing me away, he stands up and starts jumping on the bed.She gave him sugar for breakfastagain, didn’t she? Ugh…“Look, look!” He stops and starts fishing something out of his pants pocket. “Ha!”

He nearly punches me, putting the little plastic baggie with a tiny tooth in it in front of my face. Proudly, he pulls his lip up to reveal a new missing spot between his teeth.

“Wow! Look at that, another one,” I say in excitement. “You’re going to have big boy teeth in no time. When did it happen?” Before he answers, I get off the bed and put some pants on. Mac continues running around with the bag over his head like it’s some trophy.

“This morning. I nearly choked on it. I could’ve died!”

“I’m glad you’re okay, buddy,” I say with a smirk, faking concern. “Must’ve been scary. But you are fine now, ‘cuz you’re big and strong, aren’t you?” On the way to the stairs, I pull him up and let him sit on my shoulders.

With each passing day, I worry he’s outgrowing it, and I am getting too old, but I refuse to acknowledge that my little boy is growing up, so I hold on to our little tradition for as long as possible. Taking him to school for the first time not that long ago was a hard enough blow.

Once we’re downstairs, I notice Mina sitting at the kitchen island, head down over her portable console and ears protected from the nagging of adults with her headphones, as always.

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