7. Chapter Seven #2
Whenever I’m hot and bothered in the shower, memories of that night become a catalyst to a fulfilling orgasm. When I touch myself, I imagine my fingers are his. I imagine he’s kissing me and squeezing my breasts like I am.
I used to really dislike Matthew. Now, getting off to thoughts of him ruining me in his bed is my guilty pleasure.
He’s everywhere now. Not just in my office but my thoughts.
He’s at the gym in our apartment complex, dripping with sweat and straining his muscles.
He’s leaving the laundromat when I’m walking in.
He’s in the hallway, locking his door while I’m stepping out of my apartment.
He’s at the mailbox, checking his mail at the same time as I am. He’s in the courtyard, walking his dog, while Leo and I decide to go for a little stroll.
For God’s sake, he’s even at the trash area at the same time that I’m there.
It’s like everything we do now is synchronized. I can’t avoid him. And it’s worse now that Leo has developed some kind of attachment with his dog.
It’s all driving me nuts.
How can I want to punch a man’s smug face and want him to bend me over at the same time?
Leo’s giggles from the corner of the living room interrupt my line of thought. It’s been four days since I’ve had him to myself. As much as I hate it, he has to go back to Ethan’s place now.
He’s playing some kind of hide and seek game with King. Due to Leo’s insistence, King has now become a welcomed visitor in my home.
He prances around the living room in search for Leo and barks when he finds him by the sound of his little giggles behind a couch.
I smile at their antics as I pack up Leo’s lunch. Avoiding King’s owner might be one of the priorities in my list of things to do, but I can’t deny the fact that Leo really is in love with the dog.
Which surprises me since he’s never really shown any enthusiasm towards having a pet. I guess getting him a dog has taken a spot in my list now.
“Mommy,” Leo calls. “When can we go see Grandma and Grandpa?”
I can already feel a headache starting to form in response to his question. He really has been asking me this question lately, but it’s not his fault anyway.
I did promise him he would meet them soon, even though it was a lie.
How do I tell him that his grandparents still have his mother blocked? Or that I’ve been too much of a coward to contact them through the many other means possible?
I could tell him right now that seeing them won’t ever be possible. I can break it to him right now and end this fantasy once and for all.
But doing that would mean killing his hope and switching off the light that appears in his eyes when I tell him false stories about his loving grandparents.
I meant it when I said I’d do anything to make him happy. He’s the only reason why I work so hard every damn day.
“Soon,” I tell him. I’ve been saying that word to him one too many times now.
He looks up at me with those big blue eyes of his. “Promise?”
I squat to his level and hold his hands. “I promise.” And I mean it.
He glances at his little box next to me and frowns. “Do I have to go to Daddy’s house?”
Something stirs in my chest. “You don’t like it there?”
“No. I want to stay here.”
I wrap my arms around him. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I want you to stay here too, alright? This is only for a little while. You’ll be back here before you know it.”
That soothes him a little. I grab his things and lead him and King out of the living room.
Of course, Matthew happens to open his door at the same time. But he doesn’t walk out alone.
An unfamiliar woman walks out first, smiling and conversing familiarly with him as they step out into the hallway.
“Take care of yourself, Matt,” the woman says, and Matthew smiles lazily at her.
She turns around and curtly nods at me before leaving.
As I watch her leave, I can’t help but wonder who she might be. Matthew can’t have a serious, committed relationship to save his life, so she can’t be his girlfriend.
Maybe she’s his newest fling? She did call him Matt.
“Hey, big guy,” I hear Matthew say behind me. When I turn around, I see Matthew lifting Leo into the air and lowering him, just to do it again.
Their interaction creates a certain warmth in my chest. Leo laughs until he’s out of breath before Matthew balances him on his hip.
I lock my front door before frowning at him. “Well, this is new.”
“You’re friends with my dog now,” Matthew points out. “I thought I’d get another friendship in return.”
“I hope he’s not giving you any trouble, by the way,” he adds, glancing at King, who is seeking his attention.
I place my hands on my waist and arch a brow at him. “You’re being nice.”
He turns to Leo. “Do you think I’m a nice guy?”
Leo nods affirmatively. Matthew smiles so wide a rare dimple pops in his left cheek.
My knees feel like jelly. Are you freaking kidding me?
“I’m always nice,” he says, lowering Leo to the floor. “Where are you headed?”
I snatch Leo’s hand. “None of your business.”
“Mommy’s taking me to Daddy’s house.”
I resist the urge to Daddy’s. I smile tightly at Leo because he’s not really been cooperative right now.
Matthew nods. “Need a ride?”
“Nope.”
He smirks. “Let’s see what Leo has to say about that.”
“Fine,” I grit. “Whatever. Just get on with it.”
A few minutes later, I find myself in the passenger seat with Matthew driving out of the garage.
The only sounds between us are the animated chimes coming from the game Leo’s playing on his iPad. Ethan got that iPad for him as a way of invading his life after four years of abandonment.
I still resent him for it.
“Ethan, right?” Matthew asks as he follows the directions I gave him. Rings adorn every finger of his, and I stare at them as he easily moves the steering wheel.
“Ethan Knox.”
I shift on my seat, surprised that he knows his full name. “How’d you know that?”
He drags his hand across his jaw. “Unfortunately, assholes like that aren’t easy to forget.”
“Asshole.” Leo repeats from behind.
I scowl at Matthew. “You can’t say those words around him.”
“My bad,” he grins. He looks at Leo through the rearview and mouths, “Your dad is an asshole.”
Then he turns to me. “Is that better?”
I look away so he won’t see me smile. “You’re such a dork.”
His chuckle rings out like a melody in the car. It reaches my chest like a key, trying to unlock the space in my heart that he’s gradually starting to occupy.
A comfortable silence descends on us after that. Soon enough, a familiar trailer park comes into view.
Just before we get to his trailer, I ask Matthew to stop the car. A few meters away, I spot Ethan glaring at his girlfriend as she smokes in his face.
Matthew glances at me with a frown, as if silently asking me if this is safe.
I get out of the car with Leo and Fara quickly gets rid of her cigarette and storms inside.
“You’re late,” Ethan spits as soon as I get to him. Then he ignores me and glances at Leo, who is lingering behind me.
“Come on, boy. Aren’t you happy to see your daddy?”
Leo doesn’t move an inch from his spot behind me.
Ethan glares at me now. “What did you say to him?”
“I should be asking you that,” I frown. “What was your purpose of showing up at his school the other day?”
He gives me a weird smile. “I see he didn’t tell you what I said then. You’ll get a treat for listening to Daddy, Leo.”
He steps closer to me until his dry lips graze my ear. “I simply told him the truth. ‘Soon, daddy’s going to have you to himself for a very long time.’”
My heartbeat skyrockets at the hidden threat. “You’re delusional.”
“Not me, but you,” he counters as he grabs Leo’s hand from behind me. “You’re delusional to think you can put up a fight with me and win. Come on, Leo. You don’t wanna upset daddy, do you?”
Leo reluctantly goes over to him.
“Fara,” Ethan snarls. The woman comes out with a broad smile on her face once she sees Leo.
“Hey honey,” she says, grabbing his things and walking him in without even letting me say goodbye. “Mommy and Daddy missed you very much.”
I scoff once they disappear inside. “Mommy and Daddy? Is she fucking high or something?”
Ethan grins pleased that he’s getting a rise out of me. “No, she’s not. She’s simply practicing for a reality that will soon be ours.”
Behind me, the door to Matthew’s car slams shut. Ethan looks past me with a mocking smile on his face.
“If it isn’t the one and only Matthew Pierce,” Ethan says, stepping away from me and facing Matthew, who’s approaching us now. “You should have told me you were bringing Bill Gates with you, Hailey.”