Chapter Twenty-Four

Jake

I was getting way too comfortable in the house and with our routine. Every morning I woke up thinking about two things: Avery and what I was going to make for dinner. My focus and purpose in life had entirely changed. Before Tracy died, the first thought in my head was how I was going to make more money. What could I do to get richer?

My priorities had changed. Work was no longer exciting and enjoyable for me. I wanted more. I wanted the other part of life that had nothing to do with one of the biggest bank accounts in the country. I was learning there were things money couldn’t buy, and I didn’t like that.

I nearly chopped off a finger thinking about last night. I had originally planned to stay in California at my condo. Then, on a sudden whim, I’d had the jet fueled and flown back. I hadn’t wanted to be away from Avery even though we had nothing going on between us. There was something that made me want to be near her.

When I had returned home, I couldn’t find her downstairs. When I checked our bedroom, it was empty. Then I looked out the window that overlooked the back patio and there she had been in all her naked splendor. It had taken every ounce of self-control I had not to race downstairs and fuck her on that lawn chair like I had wanted to do the other day. I smirked, thinking of the woman’s penchant for nudity outdoors. She tended to be so uptight all the time. It was hard to imagine her being so free-spirited when she thought no one was looking.

When she had discovered I was home, there had been a moment of awkwardness. I had pretended not to know what she had been doing out there. I had a feeling she didn’t believe me, but she hadn’t pressed the matter.

I had been rock-hard when I crawled into bed last night. I had kept my back to her, to keep her from accidentally rubbing against me and making matters worse. The fantasies and crazy dreams I had been having all week had left me in a perpetual state of arousal. My balls were so blue, I was in pain. My plan had been to hook up with a random woman in the Valley last night, but I couldn’t do it. It pissed me off that I had lost my old self somewhere in the middle of all this.

“Gonna lose a finger, man,” I chided myself as I brought the knife down on some carrots.

Images of that night with Avery had been dancing around in my head. I remembered how tight she had been. It had taken a great deal of self-control to hold back. She had been a virgin, and I hadn’t wanted to scare her by letting my passion loose.

A moan escaped my throat as I remembered her riding me. She had been awkward at first, but the moment she found her rhythm—good god, I had thought I would die of pleasure that night.

I glanced at the clock, trying to focus on anything other than Avery’s naked body riding me. She would be home soon, and Janice would arrive shortly after. I had no time to let myself walk down memory lane. I willed away the erection that was straining against my slacks. Working in the kitchen with a sharp knife was not a good time to be sporting an erection.

“Jake?” Avery’s voice rang throughout the house, and I felt my dick stir to life.

“Down boy,” I hissed, not wanting to scare the woman off by greeting her with a raging hard-on. “I’m in here!” I called out.

“Hi,” she said, coming into the kitchen with a brilliant smile on her face.

“Hi. You look happy,” I said, noticing she was very upbeat.

“I am. I’m looking forward to seeing Janice. I mean, two more home visits and we’re good, right? Plus, my boss stopped by to let me know he was happy with my performance.”

“Congratulations. That sounds like a reason to celebrate.”

“No wine. I don’t want the woman to think we’re lushes. After she’s gone, though…” She smiled and winked.

“You’re on. I could use a glass or four myself.”

“Rough day?” she asked, sliding onto a stool to watch me work.

It had become our thing. Usually, I would pour her a glass of wine, but she was right; we couldn’t give the impression we were big drinkers. We could unwind with a glass once the sour-faced Janice was gone.

“Not really. I was stumped about what to make for dinner. I went with lasagna. I know it’s messy, but it’s a recipe I’ve been wanting to try for a while.”

“It sounds good and smells delicious. Are you making your own sauce?” she asked, looking at the pot on the stove.

“Of course! No self-respecting chef would buy the stuff in a can!”

She giggled. “I’m going to go freshen up before our lovely guest arrives.”

I nodded and got back to making dinner. I was behind schedule. I didn’t want to spend any more time with Janice than we had to. I had hoped to have dinner served within ten minutes of the woman arriving. That wasn’t going to happen. Avery was going to kill me. We were going to have to keep Janice entertained while the lasagna finished.

The doorbell rang, announcing Janice’s arrival.

“I got it,” Avery called out.

I was impressed. She seemed to be more at ease than she had been that morning. That was a good thing, though I was bummed I didn’t have an excuse to kiss her.

Within minutes, Avery was walking into the kitchen with Janice following behind her.

“Good evening, Janice,” I said, checking the lasagna in the oven. “Dinner will be done in about fifteen minutes. I hope you don’t mind waiting.”

“Not at all. I wanted to check out the backyard area while it’s still daylight. I didn’t do it the last time I was here.”

“Sure. I’ll take you,” Avery volunteered.

They walked outside with Avery chatting away. I listened to her describe the fencing around the hot tub and the pool area. I had hesitated to rent the place because of the pool, knowing most child protection agencies would see that as a risk. Unfortunately, the kind of house I wanted in Arizona was hard to find without a pool. Pools were as standard as ceiling fans in this city.

When the women came back in, Janice seemed more relaxed than she had ever been.

“Can I set the table, hon?” Avery asked sweetly.

“Yep. I think we’ll be ready to eat in about five minutes.”

“Perfect. Janice, you remember where the dining room is. Go ahead and have a seat and I’ll be right in,” Avery told her.

The second Janice left the kitchen, I looked at Avery. “You certainly seem different.”

She smiled. “I am feeling much better about all this. Janice is just a woman. I can handle her.”

I laughed. “I hope so. She can be intimidating.”

“Oh? I thought she didn’t scare you,” she teased.

I laughed as she walked out of the kitchen carrying the plates. I had a feeling this dinner would be easier. Janice had seen the house, had witnessed us together, and had to know we weren’t crazy people. We were perfectly suitable parents.

When I carried the lasagna into the dining room, I was not surprised to see Janice at the head of the table once again. If that made her feel more powerful, she could have it. I took a deep breath, sat down, and prepared myself for another interrogation.

“So, tell me about your relationship again,” Janice said. “I know you said you were together and then parted ways. Why? I’m sorry, but I’m not believing it.”

I smiled. “Well, it was really a case of the right girl—no, the perfect girl—but the wrong time for me.”

I looked at Avery, and she seemed surprised by my words.

“How do you mean?” Janice asked.

I started into my story. “Well, as you know, I’m five years older than Avery. That isn’t much when you’re twenty-five and thirty, but back when we were together, the age gap was a huge issue. We were at two different points in our lives. I had finished college—as much as I was going to do anyway—and was working on starting my own company. Avery was getting ready to start college.”

Avery nodded and smiled. “I was way too young for a serious relationship, but I knew I wanted to be with him. He kept telling me I needed to have fun in college and not be tied down in a serious relationship. I knew he was right, but it never stopped me from thinking about him.”

Her words washed over me. I looked at her and couldn’t stop myself from pouring out my heart. I could do it all under the guise of holding up our story. I didn’t have to feel vulnerable. I could hide behind the mask.

“Avery is beautiful inside and out. She has a huge heart and is always thinking about other people’s needs. I could go on and on about the many reasons why I love her, but I don’t need to bore you with the details,” I said, looking into Avery’s eyes for a moment before turning to look at Janice.

The look on Avery’s face was nearly my undoing. Tears were shining in her eyes. I had never thought I would say those words to any woman, and certainly not to my little sister’s best friend. It was all part of the act, I told myself. I didn’t really love her. I couldn’t. I didn’t know her.

Yes, I did. I lived with the woman and had seen her at what I had a feeling was one of the lowest points in her life. Together, we had gotten through the first couple weeks of grief, even if we weren’t all mushy and loving on each other. It was more of a quiet strength I drew from her, and I hoped she got it from me.

Janice nodded and smiled. “It all sounds very romantic.”

I laughed. “Well, I don’t know about romantic, but I am glad we are together. She isn’t getting away from me so easily this time. I’ve got that ring on her finger to keep her close.”

Avery giggled. “I want to say you had me at hello, but that would sound completely cheesy and fake. But, we both know you did.”

Janice seemed to accept Avery’s words and relaxed a bit. Once again, the woman dug into her food with gusto, offering compliments about how much she enjoyed it.

Avery cleared the table while I chatted with Janice a bit longer. The entire time, the woman was writing on that yellow pad. I desperately wanted to get my hands on it to see what it was she was thinking. Her expression revealed nothing. Did she still hate us, or was she warming up to the idea of us being together and raising Iris?

Together, Avery and I walked Janice to the door and said good night. This time, I waited until we heard her car leave before I turned and leaned against the door, sagging my shoulders in relief.

“We killed it,” Avery said with a grin.

“I need wine,” I said and headed for the bottle in the kitchen.

Once again, Avery and I found ourselves sitting on the couch, sharing a bottle of wine. She had brought glasses into the living room this time.

When I raised an eyebrow at the glasses, she smiled. “We’re not complete animals. We can use a glass.”

“Are you sure it isn’t because you don’t want to put your lips where mine have been? Are you afraid of cooties?”

She burst into laughter. “I’m pretty sure I would already have them if that were the case. I would have little Jake cooties all over me. We share a bed. I don’t think we can get much closer than that,” she said, taking a long drink from her glass.

I lifted one brow. “Oh, we could definitely get closer, and I could guarantee you would catch Jake cooties with what I have in mind.”

She shook her head. “Get your mind out of the gutter, big boy.”

“I can’t help it. That is right where you send it every time.”

She ignored my comment and suddenly got serious. “I think she’s changing her mind about us. Don’t you?”

I took a drink of wine before answering. “I’d like to think so. I mean, it seems like it, but I don’t want to get my hopes up or let my guard down.”

She nodded. “You’re right. We need to keep doing what we’re doing. I got a copy of my probationary review from work. I forgot to give it to her. I will next time we see her, though. I want her to see I’m serious about my job and being able to provide a stable environment for Iris.”

“Good. I’m sure it will help. It will speak to your character as well.”

We both fell silent as we drank our wine, lost in our own thoughts. My thoughts were probably not the same as hers. All I could think about was her naked as she climbed out of the hot tub. It was a vision I would be bringing up quite often.