Chapter 11 #2
A picture almost matching hers flashed on her screen. His feet poked out of clear water, and instead of a candle, it was a flashlight.
“Sorry, I couldn’t find any candles. But yeah, wishing I could be there too.”
She laughed and then sank a little under the water.
“I’d ask you what you’re wearing, but I can imagine instead,” his next text said.
“You could always stop by the store Tuesday for early morning yoga and get some candles,” she texted back.
“You won’t get too tired of seeing me? That’ll be three days in a row.”
“I think I can handle it.” She smiled as she replied.
“Then it’s a date. Still not sure about the yoga, but if it means I get to see you in one of those sexy tight outfits, then I’m game.”
She laughed and started typing. “Are you really taking a bath?”
“Yeah, I find it helps with sore muscles. A little Epsom salt and I’m good to go.”
“We sell some bath salts you can add to the water that will help as well.”
“Always the salesperson. You’ll have to show me what I’m missing. Is Simona asleep?” he asked.
“Yeah, out like a light. Playing with her friends usually knocks her out quickly.”
“I have to admit, I’m pretty tired myself. I had fun today. I’m sorry if you were upset.”
“Did you hear anything back on that?” she asked.
“Not yet. I’ll let you know the moment I do. Ethan seems to think it makes sense, though.”
She closed her eyes and imagined the last time they were alone.
“I wish we had more time alone,” she typed. She deleted it then typed it again and hit send.
“Me too. We’re alone now. I wish I could run my hands over your wet body. I bet you smell amazing, sexy, and you’re all soft and relaxed.”
“I wish that too. I rather enjoy seeing you without a shirt on,” she admitted.
“Those sexy bra and panties you wore in the hot tub are forever branded in my mind. Did you know that, when they were wet, they were see-through?”
She smiled. “I knew.”
“My god,” he replied. Then he sent another message, “I’m imagining running my hands over you.”
She slowly ran her free hand over her body and closed her eyes, imagining it was Todd.
She jumped slightly when her phone rang. Seeing his number, she smiled and answered the call.
“There, now I can at least hear you,” he said, and she heard water splashing around him.
She put her phone up to her ear and smiled as he talked to her, telling her everything he’d like to do to her as she followed along with her own hands.
She couldn’t stop herself from moaning his name when she felt her release flood through her. She smiled when she heard his release and her name on his lips.
“I wish I could kiss you good night,” he said.
“Me too.”
“Sleep tight. Dream of me.”
“I will. We’ll see you tomorrow.” She smiled.
“I’ll pick the both of you up around eleven,” he said before hanging up.
When she crawled into bed, she was so relaxed and tired that she didn’t hear her phone chime with a new message.
Her morning started out with her daughter standing over her bed, puking.
“Mommy, I don’t feel good,” Simona had said right before projectile vomiting all over her sheets and comforter.
She rushed her daughter into the bathroom just in time for a second round and held onto her while she leaned over the toilet this time. Rubbing Simona’s back slowly, she felt her own insides curl at the sounds and smell. Still, she forced herself to hold on, to bear with it for her daughter’s sake.
When Simona was done, she pulled off her soiled clothes and ran a bath for her.
“You lay in here,” she said, after washing her daughter’s hair and body. “I’m going to go clean up and get the laundry started.”
“I’m sorry I puked all over your bed,” Simona said softly.
“Sweetie, it’s okay, it happens. You rest here, I’ll be back.” She made sure the water was shallow enough that Simona could lay her head down and not drown.
Leaving her in the bathroom, she rushed around and pulled both her and Simona’s sheets and blankets off the bed and started the washing machine before she pulled out her phone and shot Todd a text message.
“Simona woke up sick this morning. I hate to do it, but we need to cancel today’s picnic.”
She went to set her phone down, but then noticed the other text message.
“I won’t be ignored, slut. Do you think you can hide who you’re fucking from me? I know everything that’s going on. I’ll get you for ruining my life.”
With shaky hands she replied. “Brock, leave us alone. You have no legal rights to me. If you continue to message me, I’ll have you put away again.
” But before sending it, she deleted it and blocked the number instead.
She’d already changed her number once; she wasn’t about to change it again.
She understood now that it wouldn’t help.
Her phone went off in her hand before she could set it down, causing her to jump.
“What can I do to help?” It was Todd.
She smiled and forgot all about Brock.
“Nothing, thanks. She’s taking a bath and will most likely sleep or watch TV for the rest of the day. Sorry to miss out on today.”
“I can bring some breakfast over for the caregiver. Coffee? Soup?” he suggested.
“I can’t ask you to spend a full day around a sick kid.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. If it means that I can help you out and be around you, then I’m game.”
She smiled and walked in to check on Simona. She sat on the edge of the bathtub before replying.
“I like my coffee with creamer and blueberry muffins from the bakery.”
“Be there in fifteen,” he said, before hanging up.
She leaned back as her daughter relaxed in the tub.
Then she realized what he’d said. He was going to be there in fifteen minutes.
She was still wearing the shorts and t-shirt she’d pulled on after removing her puked-on pajamas.
Glancing at herself in the mirror, she almost cried out as she jumped up and quickly made herself more presentable for Todd’s visit.