3. Kristen
3
KRISTEN
I grab my coffee from Bethany with a quick thanks and wave goodbye. I want to leave the bakery and return to the bookstore as fast as I can. My heart pounds in my chest as I try to remain composed and politely leave Seth and Riley but wanting to run and hide.
Seth has a kid. I can’t believe it.
And not a baby, but like at least a five- or six-year-old. Which means he’s probably married. I didn’t see a ring, but I also wasn’t focused on his hands. Just his face, and biceps, and everything else that I may have imagined seeing naked.
Can’t think straight.
The guy I loved for years now has a kid with someone else. I knew it’d happen. We didn’t end on amicable terms. A tiny, little part of me still hoped that maybe one day down the road things would click and we’d reconnect. Just a fairytale thing that’s got me through all my previous breakups. That maybe nothing was working out because I was meant to be with Seth in the end. How it’d ever happen, I didn’t think about it too hard. Just ate ice cream and day dreamed about things finally working out for me when it came to love for once.
This morning’s run-in makes me even more certain that I’m going to try to sell this store as soon as possible and get back to California.
I lock the door behind me. I need the solitude of an empty store to help me figure out what to do. I invited Seth and Riley over tomorrow. I look around the store that is in no way ready to be seen by people without me feeling deeply embarrassed. I chug some of my coffee and grab boxes. Time to get to work to make this somewhat presentable for Seth and Riley’s visit.
My grandmother and I would get a donut every Sunday in the summer. It’s not quite summertime, but a sugary treat is needed this morning. Outside of my sweets craving and nostalgia, I want to ask my friends about Seth and the years we’ve been apart.
Unfortunately, Bethany wasn’t in the bakery and Violet was swamped. I couldn’t grill them on Seth before he arrives today. I’d love to be more prepared than the social media deep dive that kept me up way past a normal sleeping time.
Perhaps the time change is good for one thing.
I take my caffeine and donuts back to the store. Once I’m finished, I continue to make a stack of the dinosaur books in the children’s area. I’m not sure what reading level Riley is at, but I figure if I pull everything maybe I can have enough time to chat with Seth while she goes through all of them.
While in the middle of dusting some of the shelves the door dings loudly.
“Hello,” Seth says as a smaller voice echoes his greeting. I turn the corner and see the duo. Except for her eyes, Riley is practically a mini version of Seth. Today she’s dressed in a bright green shirt and pink shorts, her pigtails braided with blue bobbles on the ends.
“Thanks for coming,” I set the cleaning stuff down before I crouch down to be on eye level with Riley. “I made a huge stack of dinosaur books in the kid’s area. Shall we go take a look?”
I extend my hand and let her decide.
“Yes!” she exclaims loudly and then takes my hand. I lead her to the area and she sits in the middle of all the little stacks. Her eyes widen as she starts to flip through them. It’s adorable.
“Do you need help with anything?” Seth inquires as we both watch Riley start making her own piles of books.
“If you don’t mind,” I turn to face him and place my hand on his arm, “I would love to take advantage of your apparent muscle strength.” My face feels warmer with each word. I’m not as coy as I intended.
“Need some heavy lifting?” He chuckles, the laugh lines by his eyes crinkling. For a brief moment I feel like we’re transported back to a summer day in high school.
I know I need to respond to Seth. To ask him to carry some of the heavy boxes from upstairs down here to the first floor. But all I can think about are his lips on mine. I feel my pulse quicken as I swallow, my mouth suddenly very dry.
Keep it together.
It’s just memories, nothing more.
Finally, I get the words out to ask him if he’d mind carrying some things for me.
Riley comes bounding over to show us a picture book. He asks if I’ll keep her entertained. I nod and ask Riley some questions about her favorite dinos. She has a lot to say, it’s cute. I watch Seth as he walks away, his athletic shorts are snug and showcase his well-defined ass. I have no idea what Riley is saying, her words are lost as I’m all but drooling as Seth walks away.
I did spy his hands, no ring in sight.
I have a million questions and the only thing I know for certain so far is that Riley likes the way Brachiosaurus dinosaurs look like giraffes.
Seth
I take a deep breath as I stand on the second-floor landing. I look around, the boxes Kristen asked me to grab are easy to find. I spot the couch in pullout bed mode. Wonder if this is where Kristen is staying? That’s one question answered and leans more towards her stay being temporary. Who wants to sleep on a pullout bed longer than they must?
I’m glad Kristen asked me to do something. She’s wearing a navy sundress that accentuates her chest and waistline. It looks soft and flowy, like something you want to reach out and touch to confirm. However, my hands are firmly in my pockets.
It may be over ten years since we were a thing, but it’s almost as if we both have magnets pulling us closer each time that we’re near the other. It was difficult to pull away from her as we watched Riley dive into the books.
I grab the first box and head downstairs. I can hear the duo chatting away. I feel my cheeks pull, a smile forming.
I carry a few more boxes downstairs. Jogging up and down the stairs has me out of breath. My fitness routine is more weights and less cardio. I rest at the base of the stairs and Kristen comes over to join me.
“Riley is thoroughly immersed into the world of dinosaurs.” Kristen reaches out and puts her hand on my forearm. “She asked me to ask you how many books she’s allowed to take. But between us, she can have whatever she wants, I’m probably donating them all.”
Her touch is somehow both comforting and electrifying. Maybe it’s just because I haven’t dated in a while, or that I’m still attracted to Kristen. She’s a knockout that still makes me feel like a lovestruck teen whenever she smiles at me.
What’s not to like?
I look into her eyes, trying to search for the answers to the questions I haven’t asked.
“What’s your plan, Kristen?” I need to know how long she’ll be in town.
“With the store?” She tilts her head slightly as she bites her lip.
This simple action more alluring than it should be. I want to place a hand on the small of her back and pull her body tight against mine before kissing her passionately. My imagination is my worst enemy right now.
All I do is nod in response, for fear I say the wrong thing.
“I suppose I want to get the store sold.”
“Your grandmother loved this place. Why not keep it and move back?” The words that have been bouncing around my mind ever since I saw her yesterday are finally spoken out loud.
“Oh Seth,” her voice now faint, without any of the vibrancy and joy. “What do I know about running a bookstore? Besides, every nook and cranny of this place holds memories for me. Why would I want to stay and be depressed every day?”
She smiles, but it’s not one filled with happiness. Without giving it a second thought, I embrace her. I don’t know if it’s the right move, pushing the two of us closer. But it feels needed.
Kristen sighs heavily as I wrap my arms around her body. She smells of lavender, vanilla, and strawberries. I run my hand up and down her back and try to offer comfort.
For a moment it’s as if nothing but our age has changed. She looks up at me as she pulls away just slightly. Her lips look soft and pouty. The color a bright red, like wild cherries. They look delicious and kissable.
So very kissable.
I tilt her chin up as I look into her captivating eyes. I don’t think twice. I give in to my earlier thoughts. In the middle of this dusty bookstore, I cover her mouth with mine and kiss her with a sense of urgency.
With one hand wrapped firmly around her waist, I devour her lips with a passion I haven’t felt in years. Kristen fists the fabric of my shirt in one hand as the other starts to wander up my back. Every little graze of her fingers against my bare back makes my mind go crazy. She kisses me back with a hunger as she presses her body tightly against mine. I can feel my cock harden as she nibbles my lower lip.
We barely break to breathe. I don’t know how long we’ve been kissing when the sound of approaching footsteps becomes louder.
“Daddy, I picked my favorites!” Riley’s voice is like a bucket of water poured all over us.
Before she comes into sight, Kristen and I quickly untangle ourselves. Kristen’s lips are puffy and my shirt is all wrinkled. Not to mention, the very noticeable tent in my athletic shorts. I smooth my shirt out and try to think of the most mundane things possible to lower the level of lust coursing through me. Everything is back to normal the moment Riley walks into view.
My mind is racing. I can’t believe we just made out, like it’s some secret romance.
I haven’t even told Kristen about my relationship status and I know nothing about hers. All I know is that when I look at her, I can’t help but feel as if we have a second chance ahead of us.
If Kristen isn’t planning on staying in Kastle Harbor, is any time together worth the heartbreak that is sure to come when she decides to leave?
Kristen asks Riley questions about the book as I watch the two of them interact.
Riley seems to really like Kristen. Nothing seems to be going as planned. I need to find a way to not be around Kristen any more than necessary, we can’t have a repeat of this afternoon make out session. As much as my body is craving to explore hers, I know it won’t end well.