Chapter Ten #2
Looking for his hamper, I realize there isn’t one in the bathroom, so I open the door with one towel on my arm and lower my head to shake out my hair before grabbing that towel next.
But when I lift my head, I’m met with Warren’s bare ass.
“Oh shit,” the words fall out of my mouth at the same time he turns and shows me a whole lot more of him.
I’m frozen as I take in all of his skin and muscles, and it takes a few more seconds before I realize he doesn’t cover himself .
Is that… a piercing ?
Warren clears his throat and my gaze snaps to his.
“Sorry, I—” I finally spin around, but it’s too late—the image of his half-erect pierced cock is forever burned into my brain.
That’s a new piece of jewelry. If he’s not been with anyone except me, why would he get that pierced? Better yet, why am I wondering what it’d feel like inside me?
I mentally slap myself.
“You were takin’ a while, so I figured there was time to change before you came out,” he explains.
“Yeah, no, of course. I didn’t mean to take so long, but I fell in love with your showerhead, and well, we’re quite friendly now.”
He chuckles, then a drawer opens and closes. “You can turn around now.”
I squeeze my eyes, my cheeks flaming hot, and cover my eyes before facing him. Peeking through my fingers, I make sure he’s decent before I drop my hand. He’s in gray joggers, which is somehow worse.
That’s a man’s slutty version of a miniskirt.
No way he doesn’t know it conceals nothing in the crotch area or the outline of his barbell.
And now he’s caught me looking there , twice.
“Um…” I clear my throat, unable to meet his gaze. “Do you have a hamper for towels?”
“In my closet, but I can take ’em,” he offers, putting on a plain white T-shirt before rounding the bed. My breath hitches as he approaches.
Why am I having this kind of reaction when we’ve slept together countless times? I’m familiar with every inch of him.
But his body now is not his body from years ago .
No . I need to snap out of it. Warren’s much more than his physical appearance, but Jesus Christ, it doesn’t hurt.
“You alright?” he asks once he’s in front of me, grabbing the towels from my grip.
“Yeah!” My eyes shoot to his too quickly and are too wide. There’s no way he didn’t see me checking him out.
“Here, let me get that for ya…” His thumb wipes underneath my bottom lip. “Had a little drool.”
My mouth parts to say something, but then the asshole winks and walks away.
Instead of trying to defend myself, because I can’t, I follow Warren to the kitchen and find Bellamy sitting at the breakfast bar.
“Finally! This jerk wouldn’t cut into the cheesecake until you came out.”
I chuckle nervously. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Warren says in his deep, rough voice. “Freeloader number four shouldn’t even be here.”
“Hey!” Bellamy scowls. “Bodie’s more of a freeloader than me.”
“I’d say it’s a tie,” Warren counters. “You’re just more annoyin’ about it.”
Warren grabs the cheesecake from the fridge and sets it down on the platter. “I added the fruit and drizzle already.”
“It looks delicious,” I say honestly. “You made this from scratch?”
“Mm-hmm. I worked on it yesterday after our picnic and let it cool overnight.”
“You took her on a picnic?” Bellamy gushes. “How 1960s of you.”
I can’t help the snort that escapes me .
“It was very sweet,” I tell her. “I’d forgotten how beautiful the views were from up there.”
“Oh, you took her up there ?” Bellamy eyes Warren cautiously before shifting to me. “He takes all his ladies there so he can impress ’em with the view and cookin’ skills. Did it work on you?”
My heart has no right to nosedive into my stomach, but it does at the thought of him being with other women.
Warren grabs a knife and drops his fist on the counter. “If I give you half the cheesecake to go , will you leave?”
Bellamy folds her hands on top of the counter and smirks. “Deal.”
“And she’s lyin’, by the way,” Warren tells me, focusing his attention on cutting through the cheesecake. “I’ve never taken anyone but you up there.”
And just like that, my stomach somersaults again.
“Warren!” Bellamy scolds, widening her eyes. “That’s jealousy 101. Read my cues.”
“Oh, you were tryin’ to make me jealous? Why? I’m engaged to someone else.” I regret my words as soon as I blurt them, especially when Warren winces. But I couldn’t help it because the way it made me feel for that split second had me second-guessing everything, and not for the reasons it should be.
“Yeah, so? You know how many men use the I’m engaged or I’m married line to get other women into bed?
It doesn’t mean anything. Marriage is a contract between you and the government.
It’s bullshit patriarchy crap to control women.
It doesn’t change anything between a couple.
If anything, it makes men more attractive because it implies they can commit and settle down, meanwhile, their wives get more bitter that even though they got the big white weddin’ and shiny ring, it’s not enough to keep a man’s pryin’ eyes. ”
“Wow, I’m shocked you’re single,” Warren deadpans.
“I choose to be single, thank you very much.”
“You’re too young to be that jaded,” I tease.
She’s only twenty-one.
The same age when Warren and I got married.
“No, I’m not stupid enough to give half my assets to a man who will promise me the world in one breath and ask me what’s for dinner in the next.”
I bite back a laugh. “You can be a feminist and still wanna cook for your husband.”
Warren looks skeptically from the corner of his eye.
“Okay, well, not in my case because I can’t cook, but you get the gist.”
Even though he’s looking down while he cuts into the dessert, I notice his lips tilt up in amusement.
“Does that mean your fiancé cooks for you?” Bellamy asks.
“No, he’s not much of a cook either.” We’re both too busy to remember to eat half the time.
“So what do y’all do?”
“We order in, mostly. Or go out.”
“Every day?” Her mouth falls open. “I can’t imagine that.”
“There’s endless options in New York, so you never get sick of it.”
Warren puts half the cheesecake into a container, snaps the lid on it, then places it in front of Bellamy.
“Here. You and your anti-marriage views can go now.”
Bellamy picks up the container, hops off the chair, and beams. “Thanks! You’re the best big brother ever.”
“Mhm.” He shakes his head but blows out a breath when she finally leaves. “And now it’s your turn.”
“Huh?”
I shift and find a fork an inch from my face.
“Try it.”
My gaze falls to the cheesecake and I lick my lips before parting them. The salted caramel drizzle hits my tongue and I moan at how good it tastes.
“Wow…” I bob my head. “That’s good. Really good.”
“Yeah?” He takes a bite for himself. “Mmm.”
“How many times have you made this?” I ask, stealing the fork so I can have more.
“Probably a dozen times or more. Took me a while to perfect it.”
“Well, it was well worth it because this is the best cheesecake I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve had a lot.” I smile, stealing another bite.
“You’re supposed to be sharin’ that,” he taunts, stepping closer.
I grab another forkful and put it in front of his lips, but when he opens his mouth, I shove it into mine instead.
“Too slow!” I laugh, swallowing it down.
“Maisie Gracelyn!” His fingers dig into my sides, causing me to laugh harder as he tickles me. I jump out of his reach and run around the counter, but he’s quick to catch me.
“Where do you think you’re goin’?” He wraps his arms around me, pressing his chest to my back, and for a moment, we’re teenagers again. Having tickle fights, laughing and teasing each other, like we’ve done dozens of times before.
Warren buries his face in my neck and inhales. “I love that you smell like me.”
His warm breath against my cool skin causes an electric current to shoot down my spine and my heart beats wildly out of control. I wouldn’t be surprised if he can feel it against my pulse point.
“You had limited options in the shower,” I manage to say.
He chuckles against my cheek. “Sorry ’bout that. You’re the first woman to use it. I’ll make sure to have a better selection next time.”
Next time?
I want to ask what he means by that, but instead, I step out of his hold and face him.
“It’s gettin’ late. I should get home before my parents scold me for stayin’ out too late again.” I roll my eyes so he doesn’t think I’m leaving because I want to.
Rather, I need to.
The more time I spend with him, the more I’m having conflicting feelings. I need to walk away before my head gets confused even more.
“Sure.” He rounds the counter. “Do you wanna take some of this home? I can put it in a container.”
“That’d be great.” I smile. “I’m gonna grab my bag while you do that.”
I stare at our wedding photos hung in his hallway and wonder how he can stomach seeing them every day. So many what-ifs linger in the air if things had gone differently.
Would he have built this house still? Would we be as happy together as we were before? Would we have started a family?
We had so many talks about the future, and yet, somehow ended up here.
On the brink of a divorce, living seven hundred miles apart, but not really living at all.
Twisting my engagement ring around my finger, I wonder if it’s proper etiquette to give back your wedding bands when you’re the one who asks for the divorce.
I wore mine from Warren during my first year in New York and can’t help wondering how long Warren wore his before permanently taking it off.
It got exhausting having people at work ask where my husband was and why he didn’t move with me. It was easier to keep it off, but I still held onto hope that someday I’d get to wear them again.
Breaking out of my trance, I walk to the bathroom and grab my wet swimsuit hung over the tub and stuff it into my bag.
By the time I return to the kitchen, Warren has the container set out for me.
“How do you feel about dinner at Summit Views tomorrow night?”
My eyes lift to meet his and there’s hesitation in them.
We’ve been there several times, but it’s a place for couples. A romantic place.
“My mom and Aunt JoJo stopped over this afternoon and JoJo insisted I bring you, but if you don’t wanna?—”
“I do,” I blurt without thinking. “It’d be nice to see her again too.”
Assuming she doesn’t hate me.
“Great. And you can wear your heels without it being a death trap.” He winks and it makes me laugh. “But if it’s overkill, just know it was Aunt JoJo’s doing.”
I grin, already looking forward to it. “What time?”
“Reservations are at six.”
“I’ll meet you here at quarter to?”
“Works for me.” He tilts his head toward the door, grabbing the cheesecake. “I’ll walk you out. ”
When he presses his palm to my lower back, those damn butterflies resurface. He walked me to my car the past two times I’ve been here, so there’s no reason I need to be this nervous.
“Thanks for swimmin’ with me,” he says when we get outside.
“It was fun,” I say genuinely. “But maybe don’t wait another nine years before going again.”
“I won’t if you don’t.” He gives me that boyish grin that used to work so well on me to get what he wants.
And dammit—it still does.
“Fine,” I give in. “No yankin’ me underwater, though!”
He bites his lower lip before releasing it. “No promises.”
I roll my eyes, unable to contain my laughter at his blunt honesty.
Warren reaches around me, grabs the handle, and opens the door. “Drive safely.”
“Thanks, I will.”
He holds out the container, but when I reach for it, he leans in and presses his lips to my cheek.
“See you tomorrow night. Wear a dress.”
I’m in such a state of shock, an “mm-hmm” is all I can get out before climbing into the driver’s seat.
“Thank you for the cheesecake.” I hold it up stupidly.
“It was my pleasure.” He smirks. “G’night, Maze.”
“Night, Warren.”
He closes the door, and as usual, waits for me to drive away.
My heart races the whole way home with jumbled thoughts as I try to make sense of these suppressed feelings.
Warren and I didn’t separate because we stopped loving each other. Had I never moved, we’d probably still be madly in love and living happily .
But I did move and met Hayes.
Who makes me happy.
And I promised to marry him because we’re in love.
However, if that were true…would I be having doubts after reuniting with my husband who never moved on from me?
This would be so much easier if he had.
But the thought of him with someone else makes me sick to my stomach, so maybe that’s all the answer I need.