Page 40 of Despite It All
“I had a lot of fun today with you too, Daddy. Can you come over again tomorrow?” Stevie mumbles.
“I’ll see what I can do, but for now get some sleep.” Jett moves to stand but Stevie sits back up reaching for a hug.
Jett leans back down and her little hands wrap around his neck. “Goodnight, Daddy. I love you.”
“I love you too, Stevie.” I can see Jett’s arm squeeze her a little tighter before she lets go and lays back down.
Jett hovers for a moment and the look on his face tells me he’s feeling something I’ve felt many times, that he could stand there and watch her sleep all night long. I nudge his arm and motion for him to follow me. “Sweet dreams, baby.”
“Sweet dreams,” Stevie mumbles as I shut her door.
“Come on, if we talk outside her door she’ll hear us and get a second wind. FOMO with a child is extreme,” I whisper.
Jett chuckles behind me as I make my way back into the living room. I spot Stevie’s book on the couch first so I grab it and put it back on her bookshelf. As I walk, I don’t have to step over any toys or muffle a curse when I nearly trip over one of Stevie’s tubs of crayons.
“Hey, thank you for everything you did today.” I walk over to Jett, probably stepping in a little closer than I should. “I didn’t mean for you to clean or cook for me. I try to keep the house clean but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming for me to get it all done.”
“Wy, I didn’t do those things because I thought you didn’t. I wanted to do them for you. Help ease a little offyour plate.” He lightly caresses my cheek. “Today proved one thing for sure, though.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I ask barely above a whisper.
“You are a fucking superhero. To do all of this, every day, by yourself… I loved it, every second, but I’m exhausted.”
I can’t help my laughter.Welcome to parenthood, Jett.
His hands find my waist and pulls me to him with a smile on his face. “I’m serious, Wyla. Stevie’s great, but damn she’s got a lot of energy.”
My hands rest on his hard chest and beam up at him. “She is pretty great, isn’t she?”
“She’s amazing. She’s amazing because of you.”
Gah, I think I’m a puddle.
“Hey, tomorrow, a group of us are going to the beach for the day. I didn’t say anything to Stevie because I know if I had, she’d wake up at six begging to leave immediately… but would you want to come with us?” Please say yes to give me an excuse to see you shirtless.
“Yeah, Wy, I’d love to.”
Thank fuck.
The corners of my mouth turn up. “Okay, why don’t you meet us here around 10:30 a.m. and we can ride together. Oh, and you can invite Anna too. My sisters will be there with their husbands and kids.”
Jett’s hands slide from my waist to my back, pressing me into him more. My eyes trail down from his to his mouth. What did I say earlier about one more taste?
My hands go up to wrap behind his neck, and I open my mouth for the words “kiss me” to come out but then something wet is nudging its way in between us.
“Poppy!” Damn dog pushes us apart then walks to the door and scratches lightly. Well, now I feel like a bit of a shit dog mom. I walk over and open the door for her. “Sorry, girl.”
Before I shut the door, Jett walks up and I know I’m about to hate what he’s going to say. “I should probably go,” he says calmly.
Yup, hate it.
“Yeah, probably.” I know he should, him staying any longer will definitely result in another round and that can’t happen.
We walk out onto the porch, and I cross my arms for my own good because touching him is a bad, bad idea. Now I only half regret inviting him tomorrow. Seeing him shirtless is going to be heaven and hell at the same time.
I need to get my shit together. Maybe I just need an orgasm to take the edge off… but from my vibrator, not Jett.Maybe Jett…Fuck, bad Wyla.
I try to focus on Poppy out in the yard, watching her as if she would run away which I know she won’t. “So, I’ll see you in the morning?” I ask nonchalantly.
