DAVID
Life becomes a perpetual motion machine. June becomes July and Michelle’s things are still at her old house. Between my responsibilities at the farm, Michelle’s job, and getting the house ready for them to move in, we haven’t made the move official. Her lease is up at the end of the month so the time has come to stop making excuses and start making progress.
“Do you have any ideas yet about themes for the nursery?” I glance up from my iPad in time to catch Michelle glaring at her reflection in the full-length mirror in our bedroom. “What’s wrong?”
She meets my gaze through the glass. “Nothing.” She smiles and then shrugs as she turns to face me. “I just don’t want to go to work.”
“You’ve never said it out loud before, but I can’t think of even one time that you have looked like you want to leave when it’s time to go to work.”
“I never do.” She runs her hands through her hair and shakes it out, her eyes on her reflection.
“Why?”
Michelle crosses the room to sit next to me. “I don’t like teaching. I never have.” She watches me as that statement sinks in. “I barely even admit it to myself because it’s not like I have a choice of careers lined up for me. I skipped college to start my ballet career. And because of the injury, the only thing I’m equipped to do is teach. Why complain when I don’t have any other options? Focusing on how much I hate it only helps me find more reasons to hate it.”
“I’m not a fan of you doing something you hate.”
Michelle puts a hand on my thigh. “You can’t save me from everything. Besides, no one likes their job. It’s just the way of the world.”
I frown. “That’s not true. I like my job.” Michelle deserves to know the joy of living every day for herself.
“Okay, I guess I should clarify. Most people don’t like their job. And since we’ve already ascertained that you aren’t most people, your opinion doesn’t really hold any weight in this discussion.” She grins. “But, like it or not, it’s time for me to leave so I can keep making the big bucks.”
I make a face. She is not making the big bucks and that would be fine except for the fact that she so frequently makes zero bucks. The studio doesn’t earn enough money to support both her and her mother, and that’s just the hard truth of a small business in an even smaller town. Now that Michelle doesn’t have to support herself, I haven’t been all that bothered by the weeks that go by without a predictable paycheck because I thought teaching was her passion. Now that I know she doesn’t even like it? It’s going to start bothering me. I keep telling her that everything in this world comes down to time and money and she’s giving away her time, doing something she doesn’t even enjoy, and not making any money. The math doesn’t add up.
This topic is too big to dive in to right before she has to leave, so I switch the subject. “So, I ask again. Have you given any thought to a theme for the nursery?”
“Some. But don’t you think I should get all the way moved in first?”
I slap my thigh. “Hot damn! I was starting to think you were stalling so you would have an out if things went bad. I can’t wait to know you’re one-hundred percent mine.”
“Well stop waiting. Because I am.” She stands. “And I’m also running late, so if you’ll excuse me, I really need to go.”
I reach for her wrist and pull her back down onto the bed. “I will not excuse you.” I pin her arms over her head with one hand and grab her breast with the other.
“You’re going to make me late!” Her eyes glint with humor and she presses her hips against the thigh I shove between her legs.
“No, darlin’. I’m gonna make you mine.”
I flip her over and drag her pants down off her ass. Pull out my dick and climb up on the bed behind her. Slide into her and roll my hips. Her moan is my green light and I thrust into her. Once. Twice. A third time. She arches her back and I grip her hips, slamming into her again and again.
I bury myself to the hilt. “You’re mine.”
“Yours.” Her voice is silk.
“Damn right.” I slam into her and she buries her face in the covers to conceal the scream that’s building behind her tight lips. I increase my speed, reaching around to slide a finger across her clit as my own orgasm builds. Her muscles tighten around me and my balls draw up close to my body. She mumbles something into the blankets, something that sounds like fuck me, David and then she comes undone. And then, so do I.
“That was unexpected,” she says after I flop over on the bed bedside her.
“Just wanted to give you something to remember me by.” I throw an arm across my forehead and fight for breath.
Michelle bites her lip. “Consider the job done, and done well.” She shimmies back into her pants and kisses me on the lips. “I love you, David. Stay asleep when I get home and I’ll see you in the morning.”
* * *
“Darn it.” Michelle lets out a long breath and looks up from her phone. “The landlord wants to know if she can pick up the key tomorrow.” She stares at the piles of boxes and the empty walls in what used to be her living room. “Do you think I should ask if we can leave it under a rock or something? I’m ready to get everything moved out of here and not have to worry about coming back ever again.”
Claire bounds out of her old bedroom. “It echoes in there now.” She leans into her mom. “And it looks so small. I’m used to my bedroom at home.”
Michelle’s eyes go to mine. Home. Claire already considers the farm her home. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel good.
“You know what? Why don’t we stay here tonight?” I wrap an arm around Michelle’s shoulders. “We can hand off the key to the landlord in person and spend a whole night making one last memory in this old house.”
“Can we make s’mores?” Claire bites her lip and makes the face she knows I can’t resist.
I look to Michelle. “Do you have a fire pit?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing fancy like that around here. Especially not in that fire hazard of a backyard.” She bends to make eye contact with Claire. “We’ll wait until we get home and have some celebration s’mores then.”
Home. She glances at me as she says the word. My God. This is my family. After all that I went through, after swearing that I would never let another person into my life, they’re all that I want. I haven’t given them my last name yet, but I will. As soon as Michelle wins the battle against her ex and has full custody of Claire, I’ll have the ability to adopt her when we get married. And we’ll be getting married sooner than she thinks.
The rings are in my pocket. A diamond for Michelle and a little silver ring with an amethyst for Claire. The plan was to propose to them tonight, as soon as the landlord left with the key. I wanted it to be symbolic. The door on this old life is closed and locked behind them just in time for a new life to open up before us. A clean break and a fresh start. But now, with the landlord coming in the morning I don’t think I can wait. Symbolism be damned. I planned to propose tonight and damn it, it’s going to happen tonight.
“Tell you what.” I crouch down in front of Claire. “We’ll plan on s’mores for when we’re done with the move tomorrow. Tonight?” I glance at Michelle. “I’m going to head to the store and pick up some dinner and some treats. Maybe I can find some board games or something for us to play.”
Michelle tries to protest, but the more I think about the idea, the more I like it. I’ve never spent the night with her here. In the beginning, we were busy being careful around Claire and then we never came back after the break in. I’d like to be here with her at least once before we say goodbye to this chapter of her life.
“I might be gone a couple hours.” I slap my pockets to check for my keys. If I’m going to propose without the symbolism of the landlord locking the door on her old life, then I need to stop at some extra places and grab the stuff I need to make this a true celebration. I’ll get a fire pit and supplies for s’mores for Claire. Some candles. All their favorite foods from their favorite places.
“A couple hours?” Michelle widens her eyes. “How much food do you think we can eat?”
I point at her belly. “I’ve heard what that thing can do when it gets hungry.” I want to point out that she needs extra nutrients to feed the life growing in her belly, but we haven’t told Claire about the baby yet. We haven’t told anyone yet. We decided to wait until she’s out of her first trimester and that’s right around the corner. Maybe we’ll announce the pregnancy and the engagement at the same time. The thought makes me smile.
Michelle makes a face and slaps me on the arm. “My growling stomach is not that bad.”
Claire giggles. “It’s bad, Momma.”
I draw my girls in for a hug, kissing Michelle on the lips and wrapping my arm around Claire. “Maybe you two can get some sleep while I’m gone so we can stay up late.”
Michelle lets out a little humming sigh. “A nap sounds really nice.” She leans her head against my chest. “I think I’ll climb into bed as soon as you head out.”
“You lock this door. Deadbolt and everything.”
“Deadbolt and everything.” Michelle slides her hands into my back pockets and presses her body to mine, tilting her face up for a kiss.
I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I swear, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I never lose her.