Page 143 of A Love That Broke Us
“That was really sexy,” she says through a smile, brushing her lips against mine again. “Watching you with the kids.”
“Yeah?” I cock a brow.
“Yeah.”
Our lips meet again and again. “Keep it up, and we’re gonna get kicked out of the birthday party.”
Her head tips back as she laughs into the sky. She brings her smiling face back to mine. “I don’t even think I’d care.”
God,it’s so good seeing her laugh like that.
I chuckle against her neck. “I’ll have you on your back and naked in four minutes. We’re just two short elevator rides away from our bed.”
“Hmm. That’s tempting,” she replies. “But I think we’d be shunned by the entire family if we bail on a nine-year-old’s birthday party to have sex.”
Her expression shifts, voice softening. “I love you.” Her eyes search mine with a tenderness that makes me feel like the luckiest bastard on earth.
“I love you too, babe.”God, do I love her.
“Thank you for being here. I know I say it a lot, but—” She pauses. “I’m really proud of you.”
I never know what to say to that. Because there’s nothing to be proud of. It’s not like I deserve a medal for not being a fuck up.
“Thank you,” I say anyway, and kiss her once more.
“Ew!”
I turn to see Sierra glaring, her face scrunched with obvious disgust.
I chuckle, and Alley’s warm laugh skims my ear as her legs drop back into the water.
“Party’s over,” I whisper, leaning in. “You sure you don’t want to sneak out?”
Alley shakes her head, grinning. “How’s the pizza?” she calls.
“Good. You better hurry if you want any, it’s almost gone.”
Alley flashes me thelet’s golook, and I reluctantly follow her out of the pool and into the kitchen.
Things are almost back to normal—almost.My relationship with Megan is still a little strained, but hey, I was invited to her daughter’s party. I’ll take what I can get at this point.
We’ve talked it out, but Megan’s never been one to forgive easily. You have to earn it, and I’m not mad about that. It just sucks. She and Alley are so close. And when we double with her and Kevin, which isn’t often anymore, it’s not the same. There’s still tension.
Megan told me, even though I’m her brother and she loves me, that Alley and Amber are the sisters she never had. She’ll go to bat for them, always. And she should.
Alley deserves nothing less.
She also told me if she ever loses Alley because of me, she’ll cut my balls off. And honestly? I believe her.
I’ve been clean for ten weeks now. Truly clean. It’s the longest I’ve ever gone. Before this, my record was three weeks.
It’s still tough. Every day is a challenge, and I wonder how long it’s going to feel like this. It’s nowhere near what it was two months ago, but it’s still a fight. Every goddamn day.
When Alley left for Chicago, I checked myself into detox. That place is rough. I felt insane for signing myself up for it. It’s like walking into a medieval torture chamber and asking to be strapped to one of those iron stretchers—or whatever other nightmare they used to inflict pain.
But I did it.
Every minute, I had to think of Alley. If I didn’t, I knew I’d give in—and I almost did.
