Page 79 of Close to Falling

“Wanna get in the shower with me?”

“The kids,” I say, looking back at him as the mirror starts to steam up.

“Fisher has Bre. Come on. It’s been a while.”

“Are you feeling neglected?” I turn around in his arms.

“Between the kids and your work, yes, I am,” he says, leaning down and spreading kisses on my neck. I giggle when he bites, and his hand starts to travel below my waist. I’ve got blue jean cut-offs on, and he undoes the button and slips his hand inside after he unzips them. He runs his hand over my most private place and circles his thumb. Heat trails across my cheeks and down my neck when he enters me, and my legs grow weak. “You want to come, B?” he asks, his voice husky with want.

“Yes,” I murmur. He removes his hand and slides my shorts and panties down my legs. Lifting me up and setting me on the counter, he spreads my thighs before he leans down and kisses me where I want all of him. I moan, and the back of my head hits the mirror. He sucks and bites, circles and kisses, then puts his fingers back in and curls them. His lips touch the inside of my thigh as my legs start to shake, and I grasp the back of his neck. His tongue traces along my center, and I bite my lip to keep quiet, curling my toes as I orgasm.

He stands up straight, giving me a sexy grin. I exhale before I grab his belt, and he helps unbutton his jeans. I remove him from his pants, and River steps forward, grasping my hips and pulling me to the end of the counter. He slowly sinks in and groans, “Fuck, you feel good.” He starts to move and takes hold of my thighs as he pushes forward. I clutch the edge of the counter, and my other hand holds on to the mirror behind me as River keeps going. Tingles run up my calves, and fire spreads across my lower back. My legs tighten around his waist as a second orgasm breaks through me. He kisses my mouth and picks me up. Opening the shower door, he steps inside with me in his arms and shows me love all over again.

***

Friday nights used to mean parties and doing things we were too young to do. Campfires by the beach with kegs and drunk teenagers. Popping pills, smoking joints, and laughing at how stupid we all were. But those things weren’t funny, and picking up any drug can lead to serious problems later in life. Some people can’t do it just once and be okay. An addictive personality is no joke. It can ruin your life and the lives of people around you. Making bad choices is what most teenagers are known for, but that doesn’t have to be the case. You can say no. My bad choice is something I have to live with every day. When times get tough, I have to fight to stay clean. Pills are always at the back of my mind because I’m an addict and that thought doesn’t go away. David was right all those years ago. It doesn’t necessarily get easier. You just get used to how difficult it can be, and you push through it. I have my family to keep clean for, and I smile thinking about how much my Friday nights have changed. They now consist of laughing at my husband and playing dress-up with my little girl.

I’m in the living room picking up my little girl’s toys when the front door opens and I see Fisher and Pops.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Mom,” Fisher says as he sets his board down.

“That doesn’t go there,” I say.

“I’ll move it,” he calls back to me. I roll my eyes and look at Pops.

“Thanks for letting me take the kids tonight,” he says.

“Sure. They love being around you.” I smile. “Want a drink or something?”

“I’m good. Where’s the princess?”

I hear tiny heels tapping and turn my head.

“Pop Pop!” Bre yells and tries to run to him, but seems to be having a hard time in her little pink shoes, so he meets her halfway and scoops her up.

“River, your dad’s here,” I call back to our bedroom. Bre tells Pops about her day, and I smile at the sight of them. Pops is big and tattooed-up like his son, he has a scar on his face and looks mean as hell, and then there is my little Bre. She has him eating out of the palm of her hand. Fisher and River walk from the back together, and River grabs him and tousles his hair.

“Pops,” River nods toward his father.

“Son.”

“No bars. No bike rides and—”

“No fun,” Fisher interrupts River.

“That’s right. No fun.” River smiles.

“We’ll be good,” Pops confirms. “You two enjoy your evening out. I’ll have them back tonight.”

***

“I can’t believe Fisher will be seventeen soon,” I say as we step out of the truck.

“I can’t either. It makes me feel old as hell,” River says, reaching for my hand. I link my fingers with his, and we walk down the sidewalk.

River and I did eventually go eat with Pops, and he made every effort to try to have a relationship with us and Fisher afterward. River finally came around, and even if he wanted it to stop, I don’t think it could. Our kids love their Pop Pop, and to be honest, I’m glad they have more family. I don’t like the things that man does, but family is family, and you gotta try to hold on to the ones you got. As long as he keeps it clean around my kids, I don’t have an issue with it, even though I have a sneaky suspicion Pops is taking Fisher on bike rides. I’m pretty sure that’s why the kid wants to hang out with the old man. What other sixteen-year-old do you know is glad to hang out with their grandfather? Well, to be fair, Pops isn’t an ordinary grandfather. Turns out, one of the Brothers was working with the men Rozz owed money to, and Pops didn’t make the call for them to trade Rozz and money for our safety. He just said give them what Rozz owed, but those men wanted to make a lesson out of Fisher’s dad. I heard the man who made that call paid for it, but I didn’t ask for the details.

---