Brock
After checking in on Ripley, who is thankfully asleep, I head back downstairs and find Alex asleep on the floor with Tiny lying in front of him like a giant protector. I squat down in front of them and stroke my hand over his blond hair. I can’t help but look him over and try to see if I can recognize the other half of Alex’s DNA.
I can’t though; Alex is all Ripley, just the male version. I cover his little body with the afghan from the couch and then grab the clothes out of the washer and put them into the dryer. My phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket to see that it’s Tiffany calling. I don’t really have time for this, but I can’t be a jerk.
“Hey. Tiff,” I say as I answer.
“Hey. Sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to see how you were doing.” She’s sweet as hell, and I wish I felt more for her.
“I’m good. I’ve got my mom all settled into her new place, and Tiny’s being spoiled rotten by everyone.” Her light laughter through the phone is a welcome sound after a stressful week.
“That’s great. H-How are things g-going with your ex-girlfriend?” Her voice is quiet, unsure. A part of me wishes I had just kept my mouth shut about Ripley; Tiffany is hurt, and that’s on me.
I keep my voice casual. “We’re heading toward closure, which is a good thing. Things ended ugly before, and when I come back, I’ll feel better about things between her and me.”
“Well that’s good then. D-Do you still have feelings for her?”
This is getting into territory I’d rather not venture into. “It’s complicated. I’ll always have some sort of feelings toward her.” I want to lie, but that’s not fair to her. Even if the truth hurts her, it’s better than lying and leading her to believe there’s something between us.
She’s quiet for a moment. “I get it. I truly do.”
“Brock?” I turn to see Alex standing at the mouth of the kitchen, and of course, Tiny is standing right next to him.
“Tiff, hold on a second,” I say into the phone before turning back to Alex. “What’s up buddy? How’s your stomach?”
“Good, I’m hungry. Tiny wants you to make me peanut butter and jelly.” The bond they already have is amazing; I’ve never seen anything like it. Tiny looks at me then at Alex before butting the boy’s head until his arms wrap around his neck.
I can’t help but smile widely at them. The difference in their size is fucking cute; Tiny is tall—so tall that when he jumps up on his hind legs, he’s almost taller than I am—and Alex is just a little boy. “Okay buddy, go watch your shows and I’ll make you something in just a minute.”
“Okay. Come on Tiny.” They disappear back into the living room. Alex’s little boy voice can be heard talking to the dog, and again, he makes me smile.
“Brock?” Oh shit. I forgot Tiffany was on the phone.
“Fuck, I’m sorry.”
“He sounds adorable.” The hurt in her voice is clear, but I don’t really know what to do about that right now. I have bigger things to worry about. My eyes drift up toward the ceiling.
“He is.”
“Well I’ll let you go. I just wanted to check in. We’ll talk later?” I can hear the hope in her voice.
“Yeah we’ll talk later. How about I call you when I get back to my grandparents’?”
“That sounds good. Bye Brock.” I end the call and stick my phone back in my pocket. To start, I make Alex just a half a sandwich. I figure if he keeps that down, then he can another half.
Alex is sitting in front of the TV when I bring him his sandwich and he gives me a big smile. Tiny starts leaning toward the sandwich as I hand it to Alex. “Tiny, no.” He backs off and then lies down like he’s in pout mode. “Alex, I’m going to go check on your mom. I’ll be right back.”
Silence greets me at the top of the stairs. I step inside her room and find Ripley curled up in the middle of her bed. Half of her is out of the covers, and I’m embarrassed to say I check out her body. She’s in a tank top and little white panties that turn me the fuck on. Six years ago, she was a petite thing, but now she’s got gorgeous curves. I should turn around and walk out the door, but I can’t. On autopilot, I move toward the bed. I grab the covers and pull them up and over her, and her eyes flutter open.
“Shit, sorry I woke you. I was just coming up to see if you were okay. How do you feel?”
“Where’s Alex? Is he okay?”
“Alex is fine, he’s downstairs with Tiny. I want to know how you are.” My hand reaches out of its own accord and strokes her cheek.
“I’m just tired.” Her voice is sweet, soft, and groggy. “Can I go back to sleep? Jonah will come get Alex so you can go.”
“Baby, I’ve got him. Just sleep and I’ll check on you later.” She’s asleep before I even finish speaking. What would she have done had she been alone with Alex? Why doesn’t Alex’s father help? What is the story Jonah wouldn’t tell me? I lean down and press my lips against her cool forehead.
Downstairs, I find Alex leaning against Tiny, his little eyes droopy like he’s ready to fall asleep himself. Tiny has no problem taking the boy’s weight. “Alex, do you want to go lie down in your bed?” I don’t have a lot of experience with kids, but with Ripley, I wanted them—a lot of them. We wanted a big, loud home filled with lots of love.
Alex gazes up at me. “Will you read me a story? Can Tiny sleep with me?”
“Yeah bud, I’ll read to you, but I don’t think Tiny will fit in your bed.” The little boy’s chin wobbles and a sense of panic fills me. “Uh-Uh, how about Tiny comes with us and we’ll see if he’ll fit, okay?” Hopefully once Alex sees for himself that Tiny won’t fit, he’ll be okay.
“Okay.” I lift him into my arms to carry him upstairs, and he snuggles into me with his arms wrapped around my neck. In his room, I set him down and he climbs into his bed. Tiny looks at the bed and then looks at me. He curls up next to the bed and I wait for Alex to get upset, but instead he reaches down and rubs the dog’s head. I grab a book off of his bookcase, one about a llama. He scoots over when I come back to the bed, and I honestly don’t know how I’m going to fit.
I have Alex get up and I climb onto his bed, then he crawls into my lap and snuggles against my chest. I pick up the book and begin to read.
Ripley
The first thing I notice when my eyes open is that it’s pitch dark and my house is completely silent. I sit up, moaning because my body is stiff. Once I’m on my feet, I stretch and shake out my legs, which feel almost crampy. I slip on my shorts and put my cardigan back on. After going to the bathroom and cleaning myself up, I step into the hall and then into Alex’s bedroom.
Alex is on his side with his hands tucked under his cheek, and Tiny is lying next to the bed on the floor. Thank God we have plush carpet otherwise the poor dog would be in pain when he got up. I leave them be and head downstairs. Brock is asleep on the couch, and even in the dark, I don’t miss the fact that his shirt is off. He’s got a light sprinkling of hair that runs down his stomach and disappears into his shorts.
My breasts begin to tingle and I try to tell them to quit. Of their own volition, my feet carry me toward the couch. I sit down gingerly next to his hip. “Brock?” I keep my voice quiet, not wanting to spook him. “Brock?” A squeak leaves me because suddenly I’m flung onto my back and Brock is between my legs.
I open my mouth to speak, but his mouth hits mine and my brain shuts off. We’re a gnashing of lips and teeth, and my legs wrap around his waist as he grinds his dick against my aching core. I need to stop this, but I’m close to losing control and I can’t. We pull back, still close enough that our breath is mingling. “We should stop,” I whisper, but even I can hear that I’m not serious.
“Yeah,” he whispers back before his lips connect with mine again. I missed this, the simple art of kissing—or maybe it’s the magic of kissing the right person. His hand works its way up under my camisole until he reaches my breast, pinching my nipple and causing me to arch against his hand. I slip my hand between us, palming his hard cock. He grunts against my mouth and I feel myself get wetter. His shorts have an elastic waistband, and it’s easy to slip my hand inside and wrap it around his thick length.
We were each other’s firsts, and everything we knew, we learned together. We spent so much time learning each other’s bodies and what felt good to the other. Everybody since him has always felt wrong, but that did not stop me from being stupid and sleeping around. The only good thing that came out of that part of my life was my son, and I quickly push those thoughts away.
Before I know what’s happening, Brock has removed my sleep shorts and panties. I can feel his cock against my opening, and I quickly grab the blanket off the back of the couch and throw it over us, just in case Alex wakes up. Neither of us says anything, I just spread my legs a little wider and moan as he pushes inside me. God, this is a mistake, but I can’t make him stop. I’m selfish and want this so much.
In and out, he eases into me until finally he’s buried to the hilt. Out of nowhere I begin to cry, but only because it feels so right. I’ve missed the intimacy between us so much. Brock wraps his arms around me, hugging me tight to his body. “Shh . . . baby, I know, I know.”
“I missed you so much.” I cry into his neck.
“I missed you too,” he whispers, and then his lips are back on mine. We find a slow rhythm since the couch isn’t really the best place to do it. I’m embarrassed to say that it takes no time at all before I begin to come, and come hard. He silences me with his mouth and then his cock starts hitting me deeper and harder until he’s planted to the root, groaning against my mouth.
Our breathing is the only sound to be heard and the feel of him on top of me is comforting, but soon guilt plagues me, as well as humiliation. Could I have given it up any easier? He must think I’m a slut.
I push on his shoulders and he takes the hint, pulling out of me, and I unintentionally whimper as he does.
“Babe, what is it?”
With quick, jerky movements, I throw my bottoms back on. I quickly stand up and start pacing back and forth. My face feels like it’s on fire from embarrassment. I feel the heat of his skin as he comes up behind me, wrapping me in his strong embrace. “I’m not a slut,” I whisper harshly. I try to get away from him but he holds me tight.
“What?” he growls.
Turning in his arms, I try to push him away, but he’s like a rock. “I’m not a slut!”
“Why would I ever think you were a slut? Don’t ever talk about yourself like that, do you hear me?”
I suck in a breath. “You don’t know what I was like for a whi—”
He covers my mouth with his fingers. “It doesn’t matter. We can’t change our pasts or the people we were with while we were apart. Please don’t regret what’s happened here tonight. We both lost control. We both gave in to the moment.” His hands rub up and down on my upper arms.
“We can’t do it again,” I tell him. If we start anything, it’ll only end in heartbreak for us. Plus, there are things that could change the way he feels about me, that could erase all the feelings he still has.
“I know. I’m going to sleep on the couch okay? I don’t want to wake Alex by trying to get Tiny away from him.”
“Yeah okay. Before I forget, thank you for taking care of us. I don’t know what I would’ve done had you not been here.”
He kisses my forehead. “You are an excellent mother, you would’ve figured it out. Go get some sleep.”
It’s when I’m upstairs in my room and I feel wet on my leg that I realize he didn’t use a condom—why not? Now I’m worried I’ll get my heart broken again and then be left to raise his baby alone. Ugh. I need to quit with the negative thoughts; it’ll be fine. I’ll be fine, and if I repeat it enough, I may just believe it.
As I file charts away, the past three days come back to me. Sunday morning when I woke up, I felt a hundred percent better. When I went downstairs, I found it empty, but then I heard my little man’s excited squeals. I looked out the back window and found Alex running around, being chased by Tiny. Every time the dog got close, I got nervous, but Tiny always slowed down as he approached.
Brock stood in the yard and watched them with a huge smile on his face. I wiped at the tears that were sliding down my cheeks. What did I do to deserve to lose the love of my life and then get him back, only to watch him leave again? Was this my punishment for the bad choices I made after Brock left?
I turned away from the window and poured myself a cup of coffee before heading upstairs to shower quickly. Once that was done, I dressed in jean shorts and a Cubs jersey that used to be my dad’s. I left my hair down in loose waves and my face makeup free.
Back downstairs, I took my coffee out onto the back steps. Over the chain-link fence, I see Brock, Alex, and Tiny walking down the street—well, Brock and Tiny were walking, and Alex was doing a little skip while he held Brock’s hand.
“Hey Ripley.” Shit. I pasted on a fake smile when Tim came walking over. As always, his eyes slid over my body in a way that made me feel uncomfortable. “Who’s the guy?”
“He’s an old friend.” My eyes found the boys; they were heading back our way and Brock’s eyes were on Tim.
“It seems like he’s more than that.” Tim was staring at me but I refused to look at him. “He Alex’s dad?”
I turned toward him with a frown on my face. “Tim, that’s really not your business.” Just then Brock, Alex, and Tiny stepped into the back yard. Alex squealed and came running toward me. “Hi baby, are you feeling better?”
“Yep my tummy doesn’t hurt anymore. Did you see me walking Tiny? He was a good boy!” His little face lit up with so much joy, I could hardly stand it.
“Go take Tiny inside okay?” They disappeared inside and Tim was standing by me like he had no intention of moving. Brock was watching him with pure unhappiness on his face. “Tim, this is Brock. Brock, my neighbor Tim.” Tim the douche gave him a chin lift. “Brock, let’s head inside before Tiny and Alex destroy the place.” I knew they wouldn’t, but it was a good excuse to get away from Tim. “See ya Tim.”
The guy was a grade-A idiot. “Don’t worry dude—when you’re not here, I watch out for them.” Like hell he did.
Brock froze behind me, but I reached back and grabbed his hand, pulling him inside. Once the doors shut, he began pacing back and forth in my kitchen. “He’s harmless Brock. The worst he does is stare at my boobs when he’s talking to me.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked as he looked at me and then out the back window. Yeah, Tim was borderline creepy, but he truly was harmless. I moved until I was standing in front of him and did the only thing I could think of to distract him—grabbing his face, I pulled it down until our lips touched. At first he held himself still, but soon he wrapped his arms around me to take control of the kiss.
I felt his hand slide into my hair and with a jerk, he pulled my head back and deepened the kiss. God, did he deepen it. His tongue brushed mine and his flavor exploded on my tongue. He was always such a good kisser; even when we were two inexperienced kids, he somehow knew what he was doing. I was so lost in the haze that came over me, I almost missed the little boy giggle that sounded extremely close.
When we pulled away from each other, there was so much emotion in Brock’s eyes, I wanted to cry, wanted to squeal, wanted to scream, all at once. He made me feel crazy. I looked around him to find Alex and Tiny staring at us. Alex kept covering his mouth, and his giggle sounded muffled.
“You were kissing him Mommy.” I felt my face get hot and knew it was beet red. Without even thinking, I buried my face in Brock’s chest. His chuckle vibrated against my face and it felt so right and so natural, but like a bucket of ice water being dumped on my head, I was smacked back into reality—the reality where he was going to leave again and not only leave me heartbroken, but my son too. I quickly moved away from him and went to Alex, picking him up.
Before turning around to face Brock, I took a deep breath. “Thank you again for everything. I’m sure you have stuff to do and we really need to prepare for the week ahead.”
My eyes began to tear up and I tried to turn away from him before he could see, but it was too late. He fit his body against my back. “Alex, will you take Tiny in the living room for just a second while I talk to your mom?”
I set Alex down and he disappeared around the corner with his shadow. Brock turned me around in his arms.
“What are we doing Brock? You’re leaving again. This is madness, and nothing good will come from it.”