Page 66 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Isshecoming?” I jerk my head toward Hayley as I continue to breathe in and out loudly.

“Nope. Just us. Just a walk around the complex. We can talk it out. Maybe we can make a deal with the TV.”

Get away from Hayley for a little while... Maybe I can get the TV back sooner?

“Okay. I’ll walk with you.”

“Cool.” He looks over at Hayley. “We’ll be right back.”

“Fine. Enjoy your walk without me since I’m not invited.”

“Don’t be like that,” Peter says.

“Yeah, don’t be like that!” I run down the stairs and out the door. When I walk outside, I look up at the sky and smile.

Hayley

“FIFTEEN NEW POSITIONSThat Will Have You Both Craving More.” Sounds promising enough. Page twenty-five. I flip to page twenty-five and read...What? Are they serious? I can’t even do a cartwheel! Yeah...I don’t think Peter can move that way either. This is so dumb. Who wrote this shit, an acrobat?

I mean, it’s not like Peter and I have much sex, anyway. He’s always too tired, and when we do have sex, Peter has to make sure Danny is definitely asleep—twice. It’s so annoying, and then we have to be like really, really quiet. If I moan too loudly, he literally covers my mouth with his hand. I fucking hate that.

I should just stick to the fashion and astrology stuff. Maybe good sex just isn’t my thing anymore.

I close the magazine and put it on Peter’s side table. I wonder if I could figure out how to hook this TV up. Then I could watch something, anything to distract myself from the cravings. That could work, right? I think so.

“Hey.” Peter walks in the room and closes the door behind himself.

“Has he calmed down?”

“Yeah. He’s feeling much better,” he says with a sigh.

“How are you feeling?”

“Me?” He clears his throat.

“I don’t know. You look...stressed.”

“I’m going to take a hot shower and go to bed.” He digs through his dresser and pulls out plaid pajama pants and a white tee.

“I still don’t understand why you got yourself into this.”

“Into what? What are you talking about?”

“Parenthood, I guess. It’s a lot. It’s too much. I can hardly stand watching you do it. It could have been just us.”

He walks over to his end table and pulls out a pair of underwear. As he closes it, he sees what’s on the table.

“What is this shit? Why do you read this crap?” He picks up the magazine.

“I don’t know. It’s entertaining, I guess. Why do you care about a magazine? Don’t change the subject.”

“I wasn’t changing the subject. I love Danny. That’s why I did it. I already told you that.” He rolls up the magazine like a tube and squeezes it. “But you’re right. It is hard, and I’m clearly not very good at it either.” He sits on the bed and hits the magazine against the end table.

“I think he’s a lucky kid,” I respond.

“Do you mean that?”

“I do. He has someone who loves him, and cares about him—a man, too. What are the odds!” I laugh.

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