Chapter 2 #2
Way back when Lily was first born, I had next to nothing, thanks to my nomadic lifestyle.
The little I did own was in storage while I traveled the world.
Once the initial shock of sudden parenthood wore off, I had a home built on my family’s land and made sure to include a space for Allison’s parents.
It was my way of proving they’d always be welcome in Lily’s life—which is how the pool house came to be.
Most of the time, it stays vacant, ready for them to drop by for a visit.
Shannon smiles. “He doesn’t travel well.” Her lips begin to turn down, eyes briefly glancing away. “Before we go, we wanted to double check with you that it’s still okay for us to take Lily on the trip.”
I can tell by the unease in her voice that she’s nervous I’ve changed my mind.
It’s been a tradition over the past few years for Lily to spend two weeks of her summer break in Seattle with her grandparents. It gives her a chance to see Allison’s family and it gives me a much needed break as well. The only difference is this year, they’re taking her to Disneyland.
“Of course.” I smile easily despite my stomach sinking when I think of how far away I’ll be from my daughter if anything were to happen. “She’s already made me buy her several pairs of bedazzled ears. There’s no backing out now.”
Shannon releases a relieved sigh. “Oh, good. And don’t worry about a thing, we’ll take good care of her. She’s going to have a blast with Matt’s kiddos.”
Matt—Allison’s brother—has two kids, Colby and Wren. Lily falls right between them in age, so they usually get along well. They’d normally be here, but a stomach bug kept them home this time.
I’m grateful Lily has cousins to grow up with, especially since none of my own siblings have kids yet.
“I trust you guys.”
They both look relieved at my admission.
I’ve done everything I can to reassure them I’d never keep them from Lily, but they still seem to walk on eggshells around me.
She’s their last living tie to Allison—and her mirror image.
I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child, so I can’t blame them for being afraid to lose her too.
Shannon’s eyes light up as if she suddenly remembered something.
“You’ll have to keep us updated on the house hunt.
We haven’t been in years but I’m sure the lake is just as beautiful as it was back then.
We wanted to buy a house there, but with so few homes available, anything that went up for sale was gone in an instant. ”
A few months ago, Lily found an old photo album tucked away in a storage bin at Wayne and Shannon’s.
It was filled with pictures of Allison as a kid—and the summers she spent at Wallula Lake, a sleepy little town about two hours south of Red Mountain.
That discovery, along with Lily’s growing curiosity about her mom, somehow resulted in me deciding to buy a second home there.
We drove down one weekend to check it out, just to see what it was like. Lily fell in love instantly—with the lake, and the town, and all it’s charming quirkiness. By the time we got home, she was already asking when we could go back.
I’ve heard it’s nearly impossible to find a place for sale, but I’m going to try anyway.
I’ve come to realize I’ll do just about anything to help Lily feel closer to Allison—even if it means attempting to get a vacation home we don’t actually need.
I think, some part of me believes if I keep her life busy and full of adventures, she won’t notice the gaps I can’t fill. A house can’t replace her mom. I know that. But maybe it can give Lily a place to feel closer to the pieces I can’t give her.
“Of course. I’m curious to see what’s available.” Shannon smiles and gives me a brief hug before adjusting the strap on her bag. “We’ll talk later this week about the details for the trip.”
After Wayne and Shannon say their goodbyes to Lily, I notice the party is starting to fizzle out. Kids have a ton of energy—until they don’t. The few that remain look like miniature drunk adults, seconds away from passing out.
Except Lily, who’s still going strong, practicing different jumps into the pool, while my sister Layla watches her like a hawk, taking her unofficial lifeguard duties as seriously as her nursing job.
Elyse is already pulling down the party décor with her fiancé, Dominic, who’s still in uniform and wearing a sling—recovering from the bullet he took for her. He looks like he came straight here from work. I’m about to join them when a tap on my shoulder stops me in my tracks.
It’s Kathleen.
Again.
I force a smile, keeping in mind that Lily adores dancing.
She’s close enough that I catch a whiff of her perfume.
It’s nice. And Shane’s not wrong, she is attractive.
But I don’t trust my judgment. It’s been a little too long since I’ve been with a woman, and I’m not about to give in to temptation with someone who screams trouble.
And not the fun kind, either. The kind that’s complicated. Messy. Full of regret.
I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but something about her sets off alarms. Maybe it’s the way her smile never quite reaches her eyes.
Or how quickly she loses her temper with the kids.
Or maybe it’s just the way my stomach tightens whenever she’s near.
Whatever it is, it’s enough of a warning.
My instincts are clear: stay the fuck away.
As she’s about to speak, a massive splash cuts her off, sending water flying into the air and crashing down right where we’re standing. My gaze whirls to the source, and Lily’s head surfaces, a wide grin splitting her cheeks.
“Sorry, Dad. Sorry, Miss Kathleen,” she says through a gasp as she spits out pool water.
In any other circumstance, I might give her a stern lecture about not splashing people during her cannonballs, but given she’s just provided me the perfect escape, on top of it being her birthday, shit I might buy her even more presents.
I took the brunt of the splash—Kathleen’s feet and sandals are barely wet, while my T-shirt and shorts are completely soaked.
She looks absolutely disgusted by the water assault, glancing down at her feet with flared nostrils—like smoke might billow out of them at any moment.
“Looks like I’d better go change,” I announce, gesturing to my clothing. I toss her a friendly grin before she can get a word out, then make my escape. Dodging through the kitchen, I head upstairs, taking two at a time. If there weren’t still guests here, I wouldn’t be in such a rush.
The second I’m inside my bedroom, I strip off my wet clothes—briefs included—and beeline to the en suite bathroom for a towel.
There’s a partition between the vanity and the shower where I keep towels and other supplies. I duck behind it, only to remember that all the towels are still in the dryer.
Cursing under my breath, I start toward the laundry room but freeze at the sound of footsteps.
Light. Feminine-sounding.
No one’s supposed to be up here. I swear to God, if Kathleen followed me, I’m going to lose—
“—I said he deserved it,” a woman snaps. “You know what he did. So don’t sit there and tell me I need to apologize. He’s the one who should be apologizing. He should be begging for my fucking forgiveness!”
Retreating, I step behind the partition wall, moving out of sight. This doesn’t sound like a conversation I should be overhearing—but this is my bathroom.
“He’s a wormy sack of shit, and I stand by that.”
That’s when I recognize the voice. Scottie. Elyse’s best friend. My shoulders sag in relief, but just as quickly they tense back up.
Scottie is in my house. In my room.
I suddenly wish I’d cleaned up more, or at least folded the damn laundry pile on my bed.
I’m not prepared for this—for her. Elyse invited her but she declined the invitation, so naturally she’s the last person I expected to show up.
Silently, I flatten myself as flush as possible against the wall, hands covering my dick because I’m buck-ass naked.
Stuck. Naked. Hiding. In my own damn house. Wonderful.
“So now I’m blacklisted from half the theaters in Chicago because he couldn’t wait to shit-talk me. Cool, cool, cool.”
She listens for a beat.
“No, Russel, I’m not going to take a sabbatical. That’s not a thing. You take sabbaticals from stressful office jobs—not acting. You know how this industry works. If I’m not there, working, I’ll be forgotten.”
She pauses. “I—I can’t be forgotten.”
Something about that last part sounds painful for her to admit. Uncharacteristic.
“See what you can get me. Call me the second something pops up.”
They exchange goodbyes and for a brief moment I think she must’ve left because the silence hangs heavy in the air.
But I assumed too quickly because I hear the distinct sound of a woman sighing.
Then a groan.
And footsteps.
Footsteps getting closer.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
She’s coming my way. Of all the rooms she could’ve wandered into, it had to be mine.
This is not how I ever pictured her seeing me naked for the first time. There’s something absurdly intimate about it—her seeing me like this when she’s never really seen me at all.
The sharp thud of her shoes echoes off the tile, followed by the creak of the door as it closes behind her.
“I’m fine. Everything’s fine. I’m totally fucking fine!”
I bite back a smile. Of course she’s talking to herself.
Then she whistles. “Fancy bathroom for a granola DILF.”
Granola DILF?
What is that? Is that supposed to be me?
She hums to herself as she moves around, clearly making herself comfortable. And apparently in no rush.
A cabinet door opens. Something clinks against the counter. Another sigh.
I can’t stay hidden forever. Not unless I want her to find me when she inevitably rounds the corner.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I brace myself for the worst, and clear my throat.
Loudly.
Instant silence.
Then—
“Oh my God!” she shrieks.