Page 54 of Other Side Of Never
But I kept my back to him.
His chest rumbled with displeasure.“Your ex?”
I nodded.
“Who’s Jakey?”
“His youngest son,” I murmured.“I was his second mother until Gary decided I wasn’t a good influence.”
He spun me around and tucked me into his chest.“He’s wrong.On all counts, he’s wrong.”
I wrapped my arms around his broad back and clung to his solid form.“How do you know?”
“Bridge, you’re sunshine after the rain.You’re caring and nurturing and Jakey missed the fuck out because of his asshole father.”
I settled deeper into him.
Tucked my head neatly under his chin.
“As far as being needy,” he muttered roughly while I tensed in his arms.“A man can’t ask for more than the woman he loves to share her body with him.And if she’s generous?I’m not sure there’s anything better.”
“What if she’s greedy?Or,” I swallowed, “a little kinky?”
“Bridget.”His tone held a note of warning.
I moved to pull away, but he jerked me closer.
Dropping his mouth to the top of my head, he murmured, “I’d give my right arm.”
I closed my eyes.
We were skirting dangerously close to the edge.
I tipped my chin back and looked up into his serious face, doing my utmost to hide my smile.“Then I hope, for her sake, you’re a lefty.”
He grinned as his arms tightened around me further.“It’s a good thing I’m ambidextrous.”
13
No Shame
AftertellingKianaboutJakey, I went home and took the framed picture of Jakey sitting with his guitar out of my drawer.It was the only one I had, and I only had that one because I’d kept it at Cocoa Loco.
I sat looking at it for a long time before tucking it away again.
But I thought about it constantly, taking it out several times a day.
Jakey had been so happy that day, shocked and over the moon with glee.I’d been sure to get Gary’s approval before buying it, knowing it would only add friction, throwing fuel on the fire of Gary’s control issues every time he saw it if it wasn’t half his idea.
I touched his sweet face through the glass, remembering how he whispered, ‘Thanks, Mom’, that contraband word sliding off his tongue with ease.I had just snapped the picture, moving close to show it to him when he dared say it.
I froze, then leaned into him, pressing my hip against his shoulder in acceptance.
Acknowledgement.
And gratitude.
The alarm on my phone went off and dragged me back into the present.Looking at the time, I grabbed my book bag and ran out the door, laughing when I nearly plowed into my aunt on the street.
