Page 42 of Misconception (Unrequited 2)

I placed my hands on my hips and looked her over. Red bikini this time, her brown skin shining in the sun like a Don Henley song. My dick jumped in my swim trunks.

“I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d pop in.”

She flicked her wet hand in the air. “I suppose you can stay.”

After tossing my T-shirt on a chair and kicking off my flip-flops, I lowered myself into the pool, waded over to where Michaela floated, and splashed some water on her bare stomach.

She smiled and splashed me back. “Hey, Mo.”

“Hey, Mic. Quite the cushy life you have going here.”

“Right?” She picked up her drink from the cup holder in her float and took a sip. “I’m a lucky bitch.”

My hand hovered over her stomach. “Can I?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Her skin was warm under my palm. I smoothed my hand over her, rubbing back and forth, and then in circles. She sighed and raised her arms over her head. “I feel like a Buddha being worshipped.”

I laughed, keeping my hand on her. “It’s fascinating and adorable and sexy all at once.”

She propped her head up. “You really think this is sexy?”

“On you? Yeah. I’ve never looked at another pregnant chick and thought that. Pretty sure it’s just you and knowing it’s our baby cooking in there. Who, by the way, is the size of an apple this week.”

That made her smile. “You’ve been doing some reading, huh?”

“Yael downloaded an app on both our phones. She’s all over this whole thing.”

“I’m glad someone is. Contrary to appearances, I’ve been working nonstop. I am surprised I was able to detach myself from my laptop and phone. They’ve been practically fused to me over the last week.”

“Ah, so being busy is your excuse for blowing me off?”

“No, it’s not.” She held her hands out to me. “Help me off this thing. I can’t talk to you while I’m laying down.”

Instead of taking her hands, I scooped her off the raft and lowered her into the water. Her body dragged down the front of mine, her eyes going wide when she felt my erection under the water. When her feet hit the ground, she took a step back, leaving a foot of space between us.

I shrugged, unashamed of my reaction. She bit her plump lip, and my dick pulsed. I wondered what she’d do if I grabbed her and kissed the hell out of her.

I resisted. As badly as I wanted to get inside her, I needed more from her than a quick bang in her brother’s pool house.

“Moses.” She shook her head.

“You can’t be mad you make my dick hard. Not when you’re in front of me in a tiny bikini, all shiny and warm.”

She groaned and shoved some water in my direction. “Is that how you talk to your buddies?”

“If they looked like you, I probably would.”

She splashed me again. “This is why I didn’t get in touch. The lines between us are too blurred. We need a little space.”

“I had three months away from you and divorce papers shoved in my face, and I still want you. You think staying away from me for a week will change that? I agreed to be your friend because I assumed you were serious about the offer.”

“I was. I am.” She shoved her sunglasses on top of her head so she could meet my eyes. “I’m leaving in a week, but if you want to hang out a few times between now and then, I’m there for it. I just need you to keep your dick to yourself.”

Michaela had no idea how gutted I became each and every time I saw her, knowing she didn’t remember the things we said to each other, what we promised. Even worse, the parts shedidremember seemed to mean jack shit to her.

But I wasn’t giving up. Not yet. Over the last week, I’d sobered up. Instead of spending my days wallowing and drinking, I left my apartment, got some sunshine on my face. I worked out for hours, jammed with Murray, cooked dinners with Yael. Little by little, I was getting back to myself, but didn’t know how to rid myself of the lingering anger and resentment that had built up in my chest. Being drunk had numbed it, but now I was aware of it, and seeing her was like wearing a pair of new shoes that rubbed the same tender spot until it blistered.

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