Chapter 11

Connor

I was furious with myself when I awoke that next morning, though not on account of my company. As I opened my bleary eyes, I turned my gaze to the sight of Alice lying in bed next to me, the early day’s light pouring through the window and onto her lovely form. She looked like an angel sleeping there, her beautiful features calm in sleep, her body on its side, the blankets hanging off of the curve of her hips.

And that’s to say nothing of her full, ripe breasts, right there in full view. Part of me wanted to wake her up right then and there and put my titanic morning wood to good use.

But I’d already made one mistake last night. I wasn’t going to do it again.

I slipped out of bed carefully so as not to wake up Alice. She rolled over as I put my feet on the floor, her chocolate-colored hair splayed out around her face in a manner I felt irresistibly drawn to. Her lips looked so kissable I could hardly stand it.

Thankfully, my phone buzzed at the exact moment I felt my will fading. I grabbed it from my pants pocket and walked into the bathroom as I checked the message. It was from the hospital—they wanted to know if I could come in today to do a few clinic hours for a doctor who was under the weather.

It was Saturday, and I’d been looking forward to a little time off, what with everything that’d been going on. However, I realized that putting a little space between Alice and me was probably for the best.

After a quick shower, I threw on a light blue dress shirt and some matching dark slacks, finishing the look with some coal-black oxfords. Once dressed, I stepped into the kitchen and prepared a large pot of coffee.

As it brewed, the soft breath of the percolation filling the air, I reflected on just what had happened last night. More than anything, I was struck by how hypocritical I’d been. After all, I’d told Alice that I was a changed man, that sleeping around and treating women like disposable objects wasn’t the man I was.

Then, I proceeded to impulsively sleep with a woman only moments later.

I couldn’t believe how incongruous my actions were with my words. The realization of my immaturity hit my gut with a hard pang as I poured myself a cup of coffee and stepped out onto the balcony and into the cool morning air.

Then again, I told myself, Alice wasn’t just any girl. This was no cheap chick I’d met at some hospital mixer that I’d decided to take into the coatroom for a little fun—this was a girl who meant more to me than I could even begin to understand.

I brought my coffee cup to my lips and took a slow sip, shaking my head as I brought the hot, acrid brew down in a hard swallow.

Before I could ruminate anymore, however, the elevator doors let out a ding and slid open. Through the open door of the balcony, I heard the rapid-fire pitter-patter of feet, and I didn’t even need to turn around to see that Hunter had come home.

“Dad!” he shouted, running out onto the balcony and throwing his arms around my legs.

“Whoa, kiddo!” I said, holding my coffee cup steady. “You’re up early! How was the sleepover?”

“Good,” he said, “but Sean’s parents started fighting so I came back. Can you make waffles?”

I shook my head and smiled.

“The man knows what he wants,” I said.

I checked my phone and saw I had enough time to make some breakfast for Hunter.

Back in the kitchen, I set to work on waffles as Hunter went over the highlights of his night over at Sean’s. As he talked, I remembered just how glad I was to have a kid like him in my life. As I listened to him eagerly recount his day, the thoughts that had been plaguing me slipped into the recesses of my mind.

That is until Alice stepped into the room.

“Morning,” she said, looking a little silly clad in one of my robes, her slender frame swimming in the massive, off-white thing.

I turned in time to see her eyes land on Hunter, a little bit of shock slipping into her expression as she appeared to remember that I had a son.

“Good morning!” said Hunter, nonplussed by our guest. “We’re having waffles.”

Alice stood in place for a moment, as if not sure what to do with herself. I gestured to the chair at the kitchen bar next to Hunter. She slid into it and folded her hands in front of her.

“Morning,” I said, stirring the batter. “Like the kid says, we’re having waffles.”

“Waffles are a little carb-heavy for this girl first thing,” she said as I set a cup of coffee in front of her. “You got any fruit?”

“What’s a ‘carb’?” asked Hunter.

“Uh, something that makes you fat if you eat too many of them.”

“But you’re not fat,” said Hunter, not missing a beat. “You’re pretty.”

I raised an eyebrow and smirked at this. I didn’t need a mind reader to know that the expression about apples and trees was likely on Alice’s mind.

“Someone’s a little charmer,” she said, taking another sip of her coffee.

Then, staying true to form as a guileless kid, Hunter opened his mouth and let out a question that cut right into the heart of the awkwardness that was thick in the air.

“Dad,” he asked. “Is Miss Alice your girlfriend?”

My mouth opened slightly. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I was speechless.