Chapter 12
BURKE
“I’ll try to sneak out after the girls go to their room.” I keep my voice low as I hide in the corner of the kitchen, away from the girls who sit watching tv in the living room.
“Ok. Just come around to the back. I’ll leave the patio door unlocked.”
“Serena,” I bite. “Quit leaving your doors unlocked. I can knock.” I look over my shoulder to see the girls still occupied.
“What if I gave you a key? Then you wouldn’t have to worry about me leaving my doors unlocked, and I wouldn’t have to get out of bed to let you in.”
I pause, frozen in shock hearing her say that.
It’s been three months since Serena and I began seeing one another and we both decided that it would be best if we kept things quiet.
Since Aster is living with me, I’m the one who usually runs to her house after she’s gone to bed.
I’ve also started “working out” at the gym later than usual and my grocery runs seem to fall at night when most people are home.
The girls have been a little suspicious, but I don’t think they’d have any clue who I’m hiding.
“Are…are you sure that’s a good idea?” I ask.
“That was–I. It’s too soon. I was just talking out of my ass. Forget me.” She stutters.
“No, I will not forget you. I am not opposed so long as you aren’t feeling pressured.” The idea of getting serious with a woman after my divorce was one I strongly avoided.
I had no intention of falling into something that could end horribly. I realize not every woman is like my ex, but I wasn’t willing to test the waters. I really didn’t think that the one woman who would spark something inside of me would be a woman who I was desperately trying to avoid.
“No pressure here.”
I bite my lip and adjust my growing cock. I can’t help but get hard envisioning her shy smile, rosy cheeks and bright eyes looking at me. I’ve imprinted every one of her looks into my mind so that I have them to keep me warm when I’m sleeping alone in my cold bed.
“Okay. Then I guess we can talk about that a little later. Want me to bring anything?”
“Mhmm.” I don’t really have to ask because I know the answer. “Pecan Brownies.”
With a chuckle I reply, “Of course, my little sugar nut. Anything for you.”
“Ew. No. Take that nickname off the list. I don’t like it.” I laugh a little louder and quickly cover it up.
I’ve been testing out nicknames on her but none of them seem to be sticking.
Mostly because I’m being a bit silly with them.
Sugar nut, coco-nutty, nutter butter (I know.
Not my most creative but it just fell out of my mouth).
She locked one down immediately. Big Steele.
What guy wouldn’t want to be called big and hard? I’m pretty proud of that one.
“I’ll see you later,” I whisper and we say goodbye.
I pocket my phone and set the timer for the dishwasher. When I return to the living room, I let out a long and obnoxiously loud yawn, stretching my arms high in the air.
“Boy, I’m tired,” I add when I plop down onto the couch. “I may have to go to bed early.”
Daisy’s eyes are glued to her screen and Aster looks at me, a bowl of popcorn in her lap as she watches some reality show.
“So then I guess you won’t be going to see Rena?” Aster says it so nonchalantly that my head does a double.
“Wha-what are you talking about? Who’s Rena?” Yeah I know. I’m an idiot.
Daisy snorts and Aster rolls her eyes. “Dad. We know you’ve been seeing Serena Leòn. We’re not little girls. We’ve done the whole going to bed early while our clothes are tucked underneath our pajamas.” I scrunch my brows at Daisy but nothing phases her.
“Plus,” Aster adds. “You guys really suck at hiding at Regal. Like, we can literally see you two holding fingers on the other side of the counter.”
I sit there with my jaw on the floor and my eyes wide. Here I thought I was being smooth and cool about it all, but apparently I suck.
“I don’t…I’m not sure what to say.” I tell them. “Does that bother you? Me and Serena?”
This time both of them pop their heads up to look at me. “Are you kidding me?” Aster scoffs. “You two are perfect for one another.”
“Yeah, Dad. We love Rena and you’re less cranky when you’re around her.”
“That’s not true.” I try to refute but they’ve got me. “I thought it might be weird but if you two are okay with it–”
“And Maggie,” Daisy pipes up. “She knows too. We’re all in agreement.”
With a shake of my head and deep breath I give up the charade. “Well, as long as you girls aren’t uncomfortable, then there’s really no use hiding.”
“We were wondering how long you were going to hide this.” Aster turns her attention back to the tv as if this isn’t major news.
“How long have you three known about us?”
With a shrug, Daisy answers, “I dunno. Since the new year, I guess.”
Wow. I really suck at being sneaky.
Pushing up to my feet, I stand and look at both of them. “So then you two won’t mind me going over to see her?”
“Not. At. All.” For the first time Daisy is looking at me straight on. “Stay the night. I’m sure she gets tired of you sneaking out of her house in the middle of the night to get home and act like you woke up early to make us breakfast.”
“Jesus. I really did a horrible job at trying to disguise it.”
“Oh. It was awful. But it’s kind of cute, watching you hide your smiles and flirty looks that you pass each other.” Aster reaches over and pokes at my thigh.
“You know. You should tell her to come over here. We’d like to talk with her, too.”
I narrow my eyes at the two of them, shifting my eyes from one girl to the other. “Yeah sure. That’s just what I want. You two–”
“Three! Maggie wants to hang out with her too.”
“I don’t want to spend a night watching the four of you have a girls night while I sit around waiting to get my girlfriend back.”
“Oooo. Dad has a girlfriend.” They both tease with a cooing voice.
“You suck. I’m out of here.” I turn and walk towards the garage.
“Don’t forget some breath mints. That garlic is pretty strong and we don’t want your girlfriend kicking out because of your stinky breath.”
I throw them the middle finger over my shoulder to their laughter, but really I’m soaring on the inside.
Life can be a little nutty, but right now it’s perfect.