Chapter 44
Layla
I’m not sure it’s true, and there’s no way I can prove it. If I ask, I know Seth will deny it or pretend to not know what I’m talking about, but I’m positive all the porn talk was a way to distract me from my grandmother’s terrible state today. I told him I would come by myself. I insisted he stay home and do nothing while Jasmine was at her playdate. Seth’s always doing something. Whether it’s taking care of his daughter, cooking, or handling things for his father. Things like talking to the housekeeper or the home health aide who comes three times a week. I don’t think Pete needs a home health aide, but I think it’s a way that Seth makes sure he has company.
If he’s not taking care of his father, he’s working out or playing basketball with Chastain and some other teammates. What he never does is sit down for the sake of sitting down. I insisted he do that today, but when I returned from the bedroom after getting dressed, he was ready and waiting for me by the front door.
Knowing I had lost that fight, I didn’t argue with him. Besides, he’s not that bad, and I find that I like having him around. He’s always saying or doing something stupid, but he’s been good to me. And not just taking care of Gaga’s medical bills, but he’s been good to me as my husband.
Instead of going out for dinner, he tells me to order something and have it delivered since it was pouring rain. It’s still thundering when we step inside the apartment. Still damp from earlier, I make a beeline for the bedroom and pull off my clothes. He follows, and when I’m in nothing but my bra and underwear, he walks to me and slaps my ass repeatedly.
“Look who’s getting horny. Who’s a Whorekowski now?” he teases. He grabs my panties and starts to pull. I do everything I can to get away from him, but he’s so strong. He pulls me into his body and wraps his arms around me. His hands rest right above my buttocks. I never knew that just being in a man’s strong arms could be so comforting. I look up into his green eyes, and he looks down at me. He traces his fingertip along my cheek, and just when he bends down to kiss me, I hear a knock on the door.
“To be continued,” he says. He starts to walk away, but he runs back and slaps my ass again. “I can’t resist that fat booty,” he says on his way to the door.
My stomach growls, and I quickly put on a pair of black yoga pants and a polo shirt with the Mischiefs logo. By the time I get to the kitchen, he’s opened several Chinese food containers on the island. He grabs two plates and two water bottles.
He’s funny and engaging at dinner. He doesn’t talk about porn or sex again, and about halfway through the meal, Jasmine gets dropped off because the Chastains are going out. She’s already eaten and plays happily with her toys in the corner while we finish our dinner.
“The best part about sending Jasmine on a playdate with Johnny is that they always send her back fed and bathed,” he whispers. “The bad news is, I have to bathe Johnny when he’s here. It’s like trying to give a fish a bath. You think Jasmine is bad,” he says while shaking his head. “Water everywhere after I’m done with him.”