Page 42 of Absinthe Minded

He licked his lips. “I’m rethinking the sweats.”

I winced before I could stop myself. “This is what I mean about bring up old feelings. Sometimes this feels like it used to, but sometimes it’s like we’re strangers. I don’t want to get hurt again.”

“I’m not Justin, and I’m not the same jerk from four years ago. I’m not going to hurt you…” He must have seen something in my expression because he sighed and glanced away. “Sleep beside me tonight.”

“Just sleep?”

He crossed his heart. “Like you said, it’s been a tough day. The kids aren’t here to catch us. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not be alone.”

Knowing better than to give in, I curled against him. It wouldn’t end well. We wouldn’t end well. But damn it, I wanted one night to believe we’d beat the odds.

15

Gabe

For the secondSaturday in a row, I woke to a car door slamming and the dog going nuts in the living room. Cocoa ran from the window to the door, and back in a figure eight pattern that, along with her deep barks, set my teeth on edge.

Saturday. Shit. It’s little-girl-dance-recital day.

I extracted myself from Chloe and Ryan, who’d crawled into my bed during the night. A habit Maggie said I’d have to break sooner or later, but I didn’t have the heart to do it now. I got it. They missed their dad, and I missed my big brother.

The two weeks since Chantal had dropped Ella into my life had flown by. Maggie and I had established a comfortable routine. We pulled opposite shifts, which sucked, but it gave me an excuse to crawl into her bed when I came home. We’d talk about the kids, the bar, life in general until she fell back asleep. Then I’d return to my room alone—though I seldom woke that way.

Maggie worried about the kids finding us in bed together, but I was smart enough to know she had other reasons. Reasons like, the more we shared a bed, the more likely we’d have sex. I’d told her I’d wait, and I would, but my father’s ultimatum hung over my head—not to mention my balls had gone from sky blue to cobalt.

“Enough, Cocoa!” The damned dog made enough noise to wake the entire house. It had to be my mother coming early to check on Chloe. Who else would visit before eight on a Saturday morning?

Still in my pajama bottoms, I opened the door.

Nadine took me in from my bare feet to my unshaved face and bed rumpled hair. “Where’s Mary Margaret?”

“Maggie’s sleeping in. She was up late.” I took a step back and motioned for her to come in.

“Where are the children? Today’s Chloe’s recital. Shouldn’t they be up by now?” She nudged the dog out of her way, pulled her purse higher on her shoulder, and headed toward the hall.

I stepped into her path. “The recital’s not until ten-thirty. I’d rather you not wake Maggie. She doesn’t get a chance to sleep in often.”

“Who are you to tell me about my daughter?”

“Someone who cares a lot about her.” I folded my arms.

Nadine took another step forward, but I held my ground. We glared at each other until the doorbell rang. Again.

I grinned and went to the door. My grin didn’t last long.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Gabriel. Is this how you open the door? Half-dressed?” My mother pushed into the house, looking over Mrs. Guthrie like last week’s leftovers. “Nadine. Nice to see you again.”

“Evelyn.” Nadine narrowed her eyes.

“Where’s Maggie? We’re supposed to go to breakfast before the recital.” My mother dropped her purse on the sofa.

“She’s sleeping. Ella kept us up most of the night.”Maggie’s going to flip.I gotta get them out of here.

“The poor dear. Did the pediatrician change her formula?”

“Yeah, she’s on soy now.”

She kissed my cheek—likely for Nadine’s benefit. “Where are my grandchildren?”

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