Two
GRIGGS
I watch, in awe, as the gorgeous woman runs toward the road, gaping at the fact that she’s only wearing a towel and never missing a step or losing her apparel. She scoops up a giggling little boy; I know he’s a boy because he is naked.
I’m frozen in place but still manage to glance around to see if anyone else is witnessing this incredible feat of athleticism known as motherhood. She cuts her eyes at me again, and I seize the opportunity to speak to her. Yes, I want my keys, but I need to know who this remarkable woman is first.
“Hey there.” My words are rough sounding; I should’ve cleared my throat before speaking to her.
She pushes her long, what looks to be honey brown hair behind her ear, glancing at me as her cheeks turn red. Her green eyes catch me off guard as if I’ve seen them before, but I suppose I should make this quick, considering she’s drip drying on the front lawn.
“Hello.” She stands there, grappling with the naked toddler and her towel. I’ve never been so intrigued in all of my life.
I can’t help but notice how stunning she is, not because she isn’t wearing clothes. “I think you have the keys to my house.”
“Yeah, let me go grab them for you.” She spins, clutching the wriggling toddler, her towel, and my sanity as she hurries toward her front door.
“Oh, so you know who I am?” I wait for her to put a name to my face, but to be honest, I’m about to bust a nut watching her ass sway in front of me. No, you don’t understand. This was the girl of my wet teenage dreams; I could’ve spent the rest of my life worshipping her.
“Yes,” she hesitates, glancing at me over her bare shoulder. “they’re just inside my door.”
I follow her, as I did when I was seventeen and hiding from her brother, but this time I get to look at every curve on her gorgeous body. I’m positive she knows who I am. Still, she hasn’t shown it. “I suppose you don’t remember me?”
“Oh, I know exactly who you are, Griggs.” She looks back at me with a smirk, and the little boy she’s carrying appears to be judging my skills.
I clear my throat. “I wasn’t sure; it’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has, but it’s good to see you’re doing well.” She twists the knob, chewing on her bottom lip. “Shit, the door’s locked.”
“Shit!” The bundle of all boys giggles when he repeats her.
“Don’t say that it’s a bad word, Taylor.” She startles, and I step back. “Oh, there’s a key under my mat.”
She begins to bend, and I stop her short as much as I would love to see this display. “I think I better grab them for you.”
“Yeah, thanks.” She wrinkles her nose as I slide the key out from under the mat. Our eyes lock as I place them in her hand, and she pauses for a minute.
“Sorry,” she shakes her head as if to clear it. “this'll just take a minute.”
“Take all the time you need, Hunter.” My words come out low as I realize I’m staring at her like prey. I press my lips into a thin line, thinking how creepy I must look. Yeah, not creepy at all.
The key seems to be giving her trouble, as she tried it several times. “Taylor, we’ll end up being nudists if you don’t stop squirming.”
“If only,” I murmur.
Her head pops up, eyes wide. “Excuse me?”
“Should I hold him?” I reach for the newest member of Only Fans, for him to shoot me down as hard as Hunter has when he buries his face into her neck.
“Got it!” The door swings wide, and she practically hurdles herself through the door. “They’re right here.”
“Great, thank you.” I offer as Hunter places the keys in my hand. As she does, Taylor becomes my best buddy when he wriggles again and takes her towel with him as he hits the floor.
I can’t help as my gaze peruses Hunter’s finely toned body. She hasn’t aged a bit; as a matter of fact, her body is divinely perfected. Motherhood has never looked so good.
Well, as much as I got to see of it because before I could get a better view, Hunter slammed the door in my face after losing all the color in hers following our indecent exposure.
I haven’t seen Hunter since my mom passed away; she wasn’t in town when I lost my dad. Raith said she was having marriage issues then, and as much as I hated hearing it, I can’t say I was disappointed.
“She’s as breathtaking as the day I first laid eyes on her.” It had been years since we had last seen one another, but when Raith told me Hunter was getting married, I lost it. She’s always been my greatest love and most significant loss, in and out of court.
My mom once told me she felt like Hunter was the reason I had never fallen in love with anyone else, and I know she was right, but there was no way I could admit it because I would have to face the fact that it was my fault we weren’t together.
“Raith loves Hunter; he was trying to be the older brother and protect her from me and the gossip. I don’t think he ever understood what she meant to me, or he would’ve never said the things he did.”
When I left, I knew I loved Hunter more than Raith meant to me. Our friendship was once in a lifetime, and I couldn’t tell him that I wanted Hunter more than I wanted him in my life. When Raith realized something was happening between us, he made it clear that I’d lose them if I acted on it.
I had no idea that Hunter getting married would affect me so much, but after hearing she had twins with that dipshit, I lost all hope of ever reconnecting. For years, I’ve loathed young children until I saw Hunter with Taylor, and it melted my hardened heart.
“Taylor is spirited, just like his mom at that age,” I smirk, turning toward my house as I twirl the keyring around my finger. “Damn, I might love kids after all. I think I’m gonna love being back home.”
Before I can get inside, my cell rings. At first glance, I start not to answer it, but then it hits me who’s calling. I can’t accept it fast enough because this guy has some explaining to do.
“Why in the hell didn’t you tell me Hunter lives next door?” I’m practically yelling at him.
“You never asked,” Raith answers with a grumble.
“If I had known she was around, I would’ve asked a lot of questions.”
“Like what?” Raith senses my nervousness, and I can hear his next words before he says them. “I mean, you do understand she’s still off limits.”
I bristle, refusing to let him think he knows me that well. “Seriously? Of course, I do; besides, she’s married. Right?”
“Yeah,” Raith’s voice fades.
“She is still married, right?” I press the phone into my ear, thinking I can’t hear his answer, but there’s no sound. I pull my cell away and check it to see if I have service or lost the call. “Raith?”
“No, she’s not married.” Raith breathes heavily. “It’s a long story.”
I nod, taking the hint. “Alright, well, I have my keys. I appreciate you helping me.”
“It’s all good, we’ll catch up in a few, and I’ll give you all the gossip in town.” He chuckles.
“Oh, I enjoyed the parade. The floats were incredible.” I can’t help but grin sheepishly at my inside joke, although I haven’t a doubt Raith wouldn’t laugh at it.
“Parade? What parade?” Raith mumbles.
“Gotta go; talk later, dude.” I immediately think of the perfectly shaped balloons from my welcoming party of one.
“Naw, man. Are you talking about my little sister?” Raith’s voice quivers when he’s getting heated. “You have to tell me what she did?”
“She’s your twin, you were born two minutes before her, and she’s not so little anymore.” I squeeze my eyes shut, imagining her gorgeous body once more.
“What the fuck is going on?” Raith roars, anger filling every word. I knew him all too well and knew this would get his goat.
“She had an escaped prisoner she had to catch quickly, which left her running around the yard in a towel but just, so you know, I’m not complaining.” I hold a hand up, trying to keep from laughing.
“What the actual fu-” I hang up, leaving Raith to rage on.