Page 75 of Undone

“Fuck, Noah… I’m coming.”

I spilled into her, trying to hold myself up so I didn’t crush her tiny frame. Our breaths were wild, coming out in fast pants.

And then another fucking knock.

I jumped into motion.

“I’m sorry, peach. I gotta get the door.” I said, throwing on my pants and shirt before leaning in for one last kiss. “Bathroom is right there.” I pointed to the master bath. “Take your time.”

“Uh…” she panted, trying to catch her breath. “Thanks.” She nodded.

I ran out of the room, quickly trying to compose myself and think of spiders, bad sushi, or even singing the fucking national anthem in my head to try to push away what had just happened.

And how much I liked it.

Fuck, no. Spiders. Creepy crawly spiders crawling on my nuts.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming,” I muttered, opening the door.

There, on the porch, stood Gracie and my dad, looking a little too awake for this early in the morning.

Gracie’s face lit up the second she saw me. “Daddy!” They walked inside, and Walker's ears perked up at the sound of her voice before he greeted her with a flurry of excited kisses.

“Did you get a dog without me, Daddy?”

“No, that’s Walker, Noah’s dog.”

She laughed as Walker peppered her with kisses.

I couldn’t help but smile, crouching down to her level. “Hey, munchkin. What are you doing here so early?”

Dad stood behind her, scanning the living room, arms crossed. His expression was both amusement and knowing. “We tried calling. Guess you were a little… preoccupied,” he said, looking out to where Noah’s car was.

I rubbed a hand over my face. “Yeah, something like that.”

Before I could say anything else, Noah walked out, somehow looking completely composed, but she still had a flush to her cheeks, the only evidence of what had unfolded.

Good.

“Daddy, why is Noah here?”

“Uh, hi, Gracie. David.” She nodded.

“Who is David?” Gracie asked, her lips pulling into a thin line. “Isn’t your name Dorian, Daddy?”

“David is Papa’s name,” I replied.

“No, his name is Papa,” she argued with a small frown.

“Yes, but his real name is David. David James. Just like you’re Gracie James and I’m Dorian James.”

“Oh, like Aunt Dotty is Dotty James? And Noah is Noah James, right?”

My dad’s gaze moved between the three of us before he let out a howling laugh.

“No, Gracie. Her name is Noah Reid, remember?” I choked out.

“Oh, that’s right. Miss Noah Reid. I remember now.”