Chapter 11
Seth
I pull the casserole dish from the fridge and set it aside. Then I pull down two coffee mugs and pour some hot brew into each. I stir sugar into both and add a splash of cream to my mug.
My heart skips a beat when Leo wraps his arms around me from behind and presses a kiss to my neck. I smile at the sweetness and affection. God, I really miss this.
“Morning,” he says.
“Morning.”
He reaches around me, grabs his coffee, and moves to lean against the counter, staring at the casserole. Leo looks sexily wrecked with morning hair sticking up everywhere and smelling of sleep.
“A little early for lunch, isn’t it? Unfortunately, I can’t stay.”
“It’s for my neighbor.”
Leo raises a brow at me and frowns. “For what? I thought you couldn’t stand him.”
Admittedly, when we got together again after our first date, I complained a lot about Calvin, much to Leo’s amusement.
It’s not that I can’t stand him; I just find him rude and annoying.
But it took only a day to see that there’s more to Calvin beyond his snark.
He’s surprisingly open to vulnerability.
I hadn’t expected that. And he seemed genuine when he apologized.
Maybe I shouldn’t forgive so easily, especially after my ex walked all over me.
Still, Calvin was desperate for guidance, and Braeden needed it too.
He was also grateful for my help. How can I stay mad at him after all that?
“Well, the situation has changed.”
He sits up taller and puts his mug on the counter. “Oh? How so?”
Why is he frowning so hard? “Calvin’s been named the guardian of a teenager.
His friends died, and they put him in their will to take care of their son.
Needless to say, he’s freaking out and clueless on how to take care of kids.
Since I have children, he came to me for help.
Asking for help from someone with whom you don’t get along is… brave.”
“Didn’t you say he’s a slut, always bringing men home?”
I don’t know why I bristle, even though it was my fault for telling Leo that.
It wasn’t my business in the first place.
Sure, Calvin sleeps around, but it’s his life.
It kind of annoyed me when it shouldn’t have, probably because Calvin had taunted me so much, and his activities gave me grounds to dislike him even more. It wasn’t fair of me.
“I would never call anyone such a thing. Anyway, I thought I’d help out with some food. It’s no big deal.”
“Can’t he cook for himself?”
“I’m sure he can. It’s called being a good neighbor.”
“You have enough to do. Let him figure it out. You don’t always have to be a people pleaser.”
I huff and face Leo. Is he jealous right now? “What do you care if I give my neighbor a casserole? Besides, kindness doesn’t make me a people pleaser.”
He smiles brightly and wraps his arms around me.
“I don’t care. Sorry. I’m just being jealous because I want you all to myself.
” Warm lips gently press against my throat, and his hands move down my ass, fingers slipping into the band of my sweats, stirring the blood in me.
Embarrassing. I shouldn’t get hard so easily, but it’s nice to be touched again.
Despite my face heating, I smile at his attention.
Maybe a little jealousy isn’t so bad. I like being desired. It’s kind of nice.
I pat his bare chest and give him a brief kiss. “We barely know each other,” I tease.
Leo yanks me closer to him so I can feel his hard cock against mine, and nibbles my chin. It makes me even harder. “I’m drawn to you. I can’t help it.”
“I have to admit, it’s nice to be wanted.”
“Don’t you want me back?” he says, feigning a pout that makes me laugh.
“I do want you back.”
He lets go and chugs back the rest of his coffee. “As much as I’d like to have you again and again, I’d better run. Colby will be over soon.”
“Sounds good.”
Before he walks away, he asks, “When can our kids meet, do you think?”
The question catches me off guard because we’ve only had two dates.
Granted, we’ve had sex each time, but we’re not committed yet, not enough to introduce him to my kids, especially after my ex abandoned them.
I would never do that to them. I would have to be one hundred percent on board with a new partner before there’s any introduction.
“I think we should wait a bit still. Let’s see where this goes first. My kids are still young and…”
“Say no more.”
Leo smiles, presses a kiss to my cheek, and walks off to get dressed.
I sip my coffee and watch him walk away, enjoying his muscular back and bubble butt.
After a quick run, since I rarely get the chance, I take a shower. Before I have to grab my kids from my parents’ house, I head over to Calvin’s place, carrying the tuna casserole I’d made last night. My kids love it, so I’m sure Braeden will, too.
Is it too much? Am I being intrusive? Maybe Leo was right. I barely know Calvin.
This is stupid. It’s only a casserole, not a marriage proposal.
You’re overthinking it, Seth.
I square my shoulders and ring the doorbell.
It doesn’t take long for Calvin to open the door. He looks tired as hell and a bit haggard with dark circles around his eyes. Didn’t he get any sleep?
“Hey,” he says, scanning my face and then looking down at what I’m carrying. “You shouldn’t have.” He winks at me, but there’s no humor in his smirk.
“You look terrible.”
“Gee, way to boost my ego.”
I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean. Anyway, this is for you. I… don’t know if I’m stepping on toes or being intrusive.
I thought you’d like a meal, though I’m not sure what you like.
Maybe you don’t even like tuna. God, I didn’t even think of that.
I was thinking if my kids like it, then perhaps Braeden would, too. Is it too much?”
Calvin’s face lights up, already looking better. “Seriously, what is it about you getting all flustered that makes me so fucking giddy?”
My face heats as it’s prone to doing. I’ve always been a blusher, and I hate it.
Before I can turn on my heels and bury my face in embarrassment, Calvin hooks a finger into the neck of my T-shirt and drags me into his house. I’m not sure why my entire body tingles over it. “Come on in, Tiger. I love tuna.”
As soon as I’m inside, he lets go of my shirt and closes the door behind us.
“Tiger? Really?”
“Yep.” He doesn’t explain, leaving me hanging, but I don’t press it, either. “I haven’t eaten all day. I’m starving. Got a little sidetracked by life.”
“Glad I could be of service, then.”
“You’re amazing. I don’t deserve it, but I’ll take it. Thank you for this.”
As I follow Calvin into the kitchen, I look around his house.
The layout is different from mine, and the space is more open.
He keeps it neatly furnished with contemporary furniture and art.
There are even some sculptures. While it’s attractive, right out of some magazine, it’s also kind of cold.
Where are the personal touches? Then again, my place has been touched everywhere by my kids.
Dirty handprints have become art on the walls. Toys are my decor.
Still, where’s all the color? He needs color. Everything is white, cream, muted browns, and grays.
Calvin abruptly turns to face me, and I nearly crash into him, but he grabs hold of the casserole dish, keeping me steady and from dropping it. “Slow down there, Tiger.”
I roll my eyes at his new nickname for me, making him grin. God, he loves pushing my buttons, and I make it too easy for him, apparently.
Calvin takes the dish from me, removes the lid, and covers it with tinfoil. Then he preheats his oven. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s more than nothing. As I said, this is amazing, Seth. I got so buried in research and paperwork, trying to figure out everything I needed to do about Braeden while doing my job. Fucking hell. Who knew having a kid would be so much work? And you have three of them.”
“To be fair, Malcolm and I were prepared for the kids. Braeden kind of fell on you.” I peek into his living room and don’t see the boy. “Speaking of, where is he?”
Calvin waves a hand toward the ceiling. “He’s in the guest room and has barely come out.
I keep trying to talk to him and get him to open up, while he barely acknowledges me.
But any mention of me going out, even to the grocery store, and he’s in full-blown panic and clinging to me.
I did manage to feed him some lunch. I was so hyper-focused on him eating that I forgot to feed myself. ”
Seeing a flustered Calvin makes me just a wee bit happy. It humbles him.
“I’ve carefully built my life to protect myself on all fronts. I know it’s not the healthiest, but it’s worked for me. Who knew how my house of cards was so precarious?”
“They always are… houses of cards, that is.”
He runs a hand through his already wrecked honey-wheat hair. “Shit, sorry. Can I get you a drink or something? I’ve got bourbon, wine, whiskey, vodka, and more bourbon. There’s also milk and water.”
I chuckle and sit on a stool at the kitchen island. “I’m fine. Besides, I need to get the kids from my parents shortly.”
“Yeah, I guess I have to tone down the drinking myself. God, I’m going to miss sex.”
I laugh harder this time. “Well, that’s a good start, but you don’t have to be a monk either. Any luck finding a therapist?”
The oven dings, telling us that it’s preheated, and Calvin shoves the casserole into it.
Then he sits next to me and rubs his face.
“Yeah, I’ve got one lined up. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a decent therapist who takes insurance?
I found one that I have to pay out of pocket, but she doesn’t have an opening for another month, which is a hell of a lot sooner than six months, like some others.
It’s killing me, man. Why the hell is it so hard to find someone? ”
“At least he’ll be getting some help soon.”