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“Can’t you go any faster?” I hiss at Dean, one hand covering the speaker on my phone. We are in his car, speeding up Sixteenth Street toward Silver Spring. When I don’t get a response, I glance up at Dean and find him staring straight ahead. I can see his jaw flex in annoyance. I'm about to reiterate my question when my mother’s unusually panicked voice pulls me back to our conversation.

“Milly, he won’t leave. Anthony’s gone up to his room, but he’s just sitting here, saying he needs to speak with you.”

She's whispering, obviously trying to keep Kevin from hearing our conversation. I feel a wave of guilt at the idea that she’s alone and uncomfortable with him.

I planned on being home two hours ago, but I’ve overslept. I woke to my phone ringing. My mother’s anxious voice had me out of bed and pulling on my clothes before I even checked to see if Dean was awake or still sleeping beside me.

He’s been awake, for hours apparently, and he had no idea I needed to be home so early.

He’s been quiet since we got into the car. He insisted taking me home would be faster than me trying to call a car. I didn’t feel like arguing that point because my sole focus was getting home and getting rid of Kevin.

Now though, as I’ve talked my mother down from her third call in the last twenty minutes, I second guess the wisdom of taking him home with me for Kevin to see.

It has been three months since our separation. But, I don’t think I want him meeting Dean now, or ever.

“Mom, we will be there in less than ten minutes. He can’t do anything to you, and I promise he will leave as soon as I get home.”

I pray I am not overstating my abilities and hang up before she can say anything else.

I lean back into the seat and close my eyes. I try to gather my thoughts and calm myself with the time I have left.

“Milly, are you going to tell me what’s going on? You act like you’ve been caught cheating on him. He’s at your house. So, what?” His voice is cold and clipped.

I open my eyes and look at him again. He’s sporting stubble and his hair is finger mussed. We only had time to brush our teeth and throw on clothes, but I think he looks like he could have stepped out of the pages of a Ralph Lauren commercial right now.

I avoid looking down at myself. I already know I don’t look like anybody’s commercial.

“I don’t feel like I’ve been caught doing anything. I would have liked to have been home when Anthony got there, but otherwise, the only thing that’s bothering me is that my mother is upset.”

I know I sound as clipped as he did. But I don’t care. I'm tired, annoyed, and not sure what he's getting at.

“Well, he better not say shit I find disrespectful or we are going to have a problem,” Dean clips out.

Oh, dear Lord. This is equal parts annoying and hot. But I know I don’t want to even know what Dean means by “a problem.”

I reach for his hand and he looks up at me. His eyes, so clear and full of anger, leaving me momentarily speechless.

“Milly, I’m your man. What do you expect me to do?” he asks when he sees my expression.

My chest constricts, I'm scared and delighted all at once.

“So, I'm going to let you know right now. If that motherfucker even looks at you the wrong way, we’re going to have a problem. He has no say, at all, in how you live your personal life. He has no say, at all, in anything that doesn’t have to do with your son.”

His hand grabs more firmly onto mine, and he looks back out of the window. The muscles in his jaw flex. I feel compelled to be the voice of reason.

“There is so much we have to talk about and decide . . .”

“Red, have you ever felt anything like what is between us?”

I shake my head. I haven’t. The knowing between us. The draw, the need, the comfort, the heat, I’ve only ever felt it with him. I start I start to tear up at these thoughts.

I make myself stop. I need to get ready to face Kevin.

I squeeze Dean’s hand and look out the window on my side of the car just as we turn onto my street.

I see Kevin’s Mercedes sedan parked in front of my townhouse and my stomach tightens and my heart rate picks up.

When we arrive at my house, I don’t wait for Dean to come to a complete stop, I jump down and march up to the front door. My mother opens it as I approach.

“Thank goodness you’re here. He’s pacing, talking to himself,” she says as I walk into my house after her. I don’t look back to see if Dean is behind me. I don’t need to; I can feel him like a balmy breeze propelling me forward.

I walk into the living room and see Kevin standing there, dressed casually in jeans, T-shirt, and running shoes.

“Hello, Kevin.” I use an unaffected voice, as I slow my pace to stroll into the living room, my mother hot at my heels.

“Mil, where have you been?” he says, looking agitated. His normally handsome face marred by a sneer.

“Out,” I return shortly. I'm not trying to antagonize him, but I also don’t want him to think he can walk in and demand to know my whereabouts.

“Yeah. I know . . .” he trails off and his eyes move beyond me. I know Dean has entered the room because the energy has changed completely.

“Who is this?” Kevin snaps. Like a stranger has entered his home.

“This is my . . . this is Dean,” I stammer, and I want to groan for not having a response to this question ready.

“I’m Dean Orleans. Milly’s boyfriend.” Dean reaches around me and puts his hand out for Kevin to shake.

Kevin ignores his offered hand and only gawks at him. I want to gawk, too. My boyfriend?

I speak instead. “I'm home. What do you need? My mother says you need to speak with me. What is it? Couldn’t you have said it over the phone?”

This seems to wake him up. “It’s private, family business. I'm not talking about it with him here.” He tips his head in Dean’s direction.

I roll my eyes and sigh. “Okay, then why don’t we set up a time to talk about this over the phone?” I look at Kevin, raise an eyebrow and wait.

“It can’t wait. I need to talk to you now.” Kevin insists.

“Look, either tell me now or call me later. I’m tired.”

And I mean it. I'm tired and I’m anxious for him to leave. Dean walks over to me, puts his arm around my waist and pulls me against him.

“Red, why don’t you go up and see your son. I’ll walk him out for you,” he whispers audibly.

Kevin rears back. “You don’t need to walk me out of my own fucking house, man. I need to talk to my wife. You need to leave.”

I bristle, stepping away from Dean and toward Kevin.

“Don’t you dare call me that. You lost that right a long time ago. Even before you left. This may be half your house, but it is my home. You need to leave. Now.”

“You can’t do this.” Kevin starts toward me.

“Man. Don’t take another step toward her. I'm fucking telling you right now, if you do not leave, I will put you out,” Dean rumbles, stepping between Kevin and me. This time, I decide not to stop him.

My mother hasn’t said a word since we walked into the room. I look at her to find her staring at Dean, eyes wide and glittering, with a look of utter surprise on her face. I need to get this scene over with. Now.

“Please. Just go,” I plead, not caring how I sound right now.

Kevin looks between the three of us and then shakes his head in resignation and anger.

He turns to face me. The expression on his face is soft, his annoyance and arrogance completely gone. For a moment, it reminds me of the old him. The Kevin I married, and I feel wistful and sorry. Sorry this man, the one who looks capable of contrition and honesty, isn’t really who Kevin is. Sorry for our younger selves who thought they could build a marriage on insecurity and mediocrity.

I step toward Dean, wanting to make a point.

Kevin’s swallow is audible, before he says quietly, “Mil, I’ll call you tomorrow. I miss you.”

He walks past me and then he's gone. My mother walks out of the room after him without a word.

“I’m sorry for this scene . . .” I whisper, my throat suddenly tight with unshed tears.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he returns and then he draws me into his arms.

We stand there and for the first time since I woke up, I feel a sense of peace and calm settle around my shoulders.

“Red, I’m going to get going. I know you’re eager to see your son, and I’ve got to get home for a call and get ready to get back to the office tomorrow.”

I want to beg him to stay. “Okay. Yes. Thank you.” I hug him again, reveling in the feel of his hard body.

He leans down and presses his lips to mine—it’s a soft kiss, yet it’s also heavy. I want to wrap all four limbs around him.

“Have a good week. Can I see you soon?” he asks, pulling away from my mouth, but holding me in his bottle green gaze.

“Yes, that would be nice. I’ll plan something.”

I smile at him as he draws away. He passes my mother in the hallway and she stops him with a gentle palm laid on his chest. He stops and smiles softly down at her.

“My daughter has the heart of a lion. Do not underestimate her.” She says all of this while staring straight into his eyes.

Dean looks perplexed and slightly startled, but only says, “Never,” while he puts a hand over the one she has on his chest and pats it. He leans down to kiss her cheek.

I feel like they are having a conversation that I’ve missed a huge part of.

He looks back at me and smiles. “See you, Red.” And with a wave, he walks out of the living room.

I turn to my mother. “What was that about?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to remind him you are stronger than you may appear.”

Not satisfied, but not willing to push it right now, I just say, “Right.”

I turn to leave the room and she calls after me. “I like him.”

For the second time today, my heart catches. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear this until she said it. And I also realize that although she treated him with kindness and respect these are words she has never said to me about Kevin.

I smile to myself as I start up the stairs to my son’s room. He's passed out on his bed, his sweet mouth parted, and his arms and legs splayed wide.

I run my hand over his curly head of hair and lie down beside him. The rest of the world melts away, as I drift off to sleep again.