Page 48 of Delay of Game
“Right there.”
“Fucking hell, Astrid.”
He said my name like a curse and a blessing. Each time he said it, he urged me closer to the edge until…
“Rob?” Gloria’s singsong tone acted like a cattle prod. One minute, Rob had his hands all over me, but at the sound of her voice, he was on the other side of the patio, face red and chest heaving.
He raked a hand through his hair before pulling his pants up. “Yeah, just a second.”
His eyes locked with mine, panicked. “Your dress.”
I glanced down at the fabric wadded around my waist and pulled it down, smoothing it with shaky hands. My underwear were stretched out of place and chafed my inner thighs, but with Gloria inside the studio, I couldn’t exactly take them off.
“How did the lunch with Mercy go?” She walked through the studio and to the open door.
She spotted Rob first. Under his mother’s gaze, Rob feigned nonchalance, leaning against the gate barring the kiln before springing away.
“God damn, is that on?” he shouted, rubbing his red elbow.
“I started a bisque fire last night,” she drawled. “I told you that this morning.”
A faint breeze rushed through the patio and across my ass. I grabbed my dress, pulling the hem out of the back of my underwear and elbowing the shelf in the process. Gloria whirled around, surprised.
One lingering glance from her, and I knew I looked like a disaster. Her eyes caught on the hem of my dress and then the neckline, finally resting on my face. I fluffed my hair, thinning my lips into a tight smile.
“Gracie, honey, I didn’t expect to find you here. Are you doing some pottery?”
I nodded, not trusting that I wouldn’t blurt out, “Nope, back here rounding third base with your son.” Of course, the pile of broken bisqueware shattered across the concrete proved I hadn’t done anything except destroy a ton of greenware and make out.
Her eyes followed mine to the ground, head tilting. “How did the lunch go?”
“Good. Mercy thinks I’m Jimmy, who maybe was an ex-boyfriend. Did we ever land on who he was exactly?” Thehuskiness from minutes earlier left Rob’s voice, replaced with a muted indifference.
“Well, that sounds interesting.” Gloria pursed her lips. “I’m going to play with Mila for a bit before starting dinner. I’ll let you two…” She raked her eyes over the floor. “Clean up.”
The awkwardness that Gloria introduced into the studio stayed after she left. Rob rubbed the back of his neck, eyes anywhere but on me. “Let me grab a broom and clean this up.”
EIGHTEEN
ROB
I peeledmy eyes open at Mila’s excited squeal only a second before she launched herself on top me. I hadn’t gotten more than a fitful night's sleep, tossing and turning, dreams of Astrid in my arms, moaning into my ear, lips against my neck, haunting me every time I fell asleep.
“Wake up, Daddy! It’s game day!” Mila wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me with a shocking amount of strength.
“Damn, girl,” I grumbled, hugging her back. “Are you lifting weights in dance class?”
She laughed into my ear, aggravating my quickly forming headache. “No.”
“What time is it?” I sat up, taking Mila with me.
“Breakfast! Gigi made eggs and bacon and toast.”
“Coffee? Did she make coffee, too?”
“Yes.” Her mouth screwed into a frown. “I think. There’s definitely orange juice.”
“What’s your game day plan? Gigi taking you?”
