Chapter 1 #2
My husband was a sports agent who often traveled for different endorsement meetings he set up for his clients. Truce had been gone for five days, and it was killing me. We fell asleep on the phone every night like two high schoolers, but it wasn’t enough. I missed my man.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, Truce would be off from tonight until December first.
“Don’t do my boy like that.”
“I’m just saying. TJ got hearing like Margaret, so we need to be mindful at all times.”
He laughed again, then said, “I got you. You gon’ wait up for me, or I gotta wake you up when I get home?”
My eyes focused on my wedding picture on the dresser as I considered my options.
Tomorrow was a busy day for me. I was shopping for our houseguests that would be arriving in a week.
There were some groceries I wanted to get before everybody and their mamas could grab them, and Tristian had a playdate.
However, five days without feeling my man had me thinking that I could simply start my day later.
In the morning, I’d have to force myself out of bed because I knew I’d want to be up under Truce, and I couldn’t afford that.
We’d have our parent time when he got home, and then I’d get back to stressing about hosting Thanksgiving.
“I’ll be up.”
“You lie, but it’s cool.” He laughed then whispered, “I know how to get you up.”
I smirked. “Yeah, you do.”
“It’s been five days, Sweets.” Truce whistled. “Tomorrow might be canceled if I’m being real.”
Everything in me wanted to turn this call into a FaceTime, but I knew better.
I had to tend to our children, and Truce knew how to push the right buttons that could get me riled all the way up.
His location and the people around him wouldn’t matter.
Once my husband got started, he didn’t stop.
I blew out a breath, and he chuckled like our minds had gone to the same place.
Tristian saved the day because he started going on a babble tangent that captured our attention.
As Truce talked to our son, he looked around, recognizing his father’s voice but not seeing him.
“Mommy, I’m done!” TJ called from his room.
“I gotta go, handsome. Come back to me in one piece.”
“Always. I love you, Sweets.”
We hung up, and I tended to TJ.
Once we were done, and we all made it downstairs, there was a knock at the door.
After grabbing the food and making plates, I took a picture and sent it to Truce with the caption, Daddy always taking care of home.
After that, the rest of the evening moved fast. TJ talked to his Nana, then I put the boys in bed, so I decided to take a bath to relax.
I hadn’t remembered slipping into sleep but was startled awake by my hair being moved out of my face.
“Truce?”
“Yeah, baby, it’s me.” He reached into the water and lifted me up. “Come on so you can shower with me. This water cold as hell.”
“I don’t even remember falling asleep.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “How long have you been home?”
No response was given because Truce covered my face, neck, and shoulders in kisses.
I leaned into him more and realized that he, too, was naked.
With a six-year-old and an infant, I couldn’t afford deep sleep, but I must have been really out of it to have missed my husband coming home and getting undressed.
Truce’s mouth found its way back to mine, and I wrapped my arms and legs around him as we stepped into the shower.
He lowered me to my feet and used his body to pin me against the shower wall.
I looked up into my husband’s eyes as he cupped the side of his face.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
I blushed and licked my dry lips.
“Hi, handsome.”
“I don’t like how tired you look. I’m about thirty seconds away from saying fuck this, getting everyone a hotel, and catering dinner.
You’re overdoing this, and I get it . . .
I do, Sweets, but you know I have to put your peace over everybody else’s comfort.
Falling asleep in the bath . . . come on. ”
I didn’t want Truce to take this from me.
This year was special because it was my turn to host, but it was also the first year without our matriarch.
As if reading my mind, Truce’s face and body relaxed, and I knew that he understood where my mind had gone without me ever having to say anything.
Without words, my husband washed me from head to toe.
When I tried to return the favor, he shook his head and held my eyes captive as he washed himself.
The direction of our night shifted, with Truce coming home to me asleep in the tub, and I felt bad, but he never complained.
After drying and moisturizing, we climbed in bed, and I immediately wrapped myself around Truce.
“I promise to speak up if I need help.” I kissed his bare chest.
“Sweets.” He sighed. “You need help right now and haven’t said anything. I don’t want it to get too late and something happens.”
“Nothing will happen. I promise, with you home, I’ll lean on you more instead of trying to be so many things at once.”
Truce’s eyes bounced around my face, then he pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. He was skeptical but would give me space to stay true to my words. No other words were needed as we shared space until sleep took hold of me for a second time tonight.