Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
CHELSEA
Brad looks like he just stepped off a runway. I mean, this man should be illegal.
He’s also slicked his hair back, and he’s wearing his glasses. He wears contacts most of the time, but those black-rimmed glasses make my insides jump.
As if he knows exactly what I’m thinking, he hands me a fresh champagne. “Had enough to eat? Or are you saving your appetite for later,” he whispers close to my ear.
“You’re a very bad man,” I say, taking the glass from him with thanks.
“Bad? That isn’t what you were saying last night, in fact, if I recall it was ‘Oh, Brad, don’t stop, right there’—”
I thump him on the arm, looking around to make sure nobody heard. “Bradley! We’re at a party, with your family standing three feet away.” There’s music playing, so granted, nobody probably heard anything.
“Let them talk. When can I tell everyone you’re mine?”
My heart skips a beat. “So, we’re really doing this?”
He gives me a look. “Yes, we’re really doing this, and Deaton is gonna be fine, trust me.”
“I do trust you.” I glance down at my shoes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have a confession.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Do tell.”
I sigh. “It’s just… I’ve liked you more than a friend for a while now… and… I just can’t stop thinking about… well… how much time we’ve wasted not being together.”
His face softens. “You really do overthink everything, don’t you?”
I shrug. “I’m a mom. I have this horrible tendency to overthink things and give myself a migraine.”
“So don’t do that.” He tips my chin up. “We’re okay. It might be a little late to say this, but we can take things as slow as you want—”
“That’s just it, Brad,” my voice quickly lowers. He takes my arm, ushering me outside so we can talk without prying eyes and music. We find a bench on the far side of the patio.
“What’s just it?”
“I’ve had my bearings my whole goddamn life, and I don’t want to take things slow, I want to make up for all the lost time…
granted it wasn’t really lost time… we were friends, we hung out…
but we never did this. And it feels so good.
I’m worried because I feel too much, and I don’t want to pressure you because five minutes ago you were a bachelor who liked his freedom… ”
He reaches for me, pulling me closer. “You’re so cute when you’re all muddled, and my bachelor days don’t even compare to this. I know what I want. I’ve always known deep down.”
“Brad, people will see.”
“So? Let them see. I’m tired of hiding it. My family already suspects it anyway. I love you, Chels — I’ve always loved you. I want to scream it from the rooftops.”
“We need to talk to Deaton first.”
“Kiss me.” He cups my face, and I reach to meet him. It’s not a crazy kiss, not like last night, but it’s certainly not a friendly peck either.
“Mom?”
Brad and I spring apart, and I clear my throat. “Deat, honey, um…”
He blinks up at us. “Are you guys… dating now?”
Brad puts an arm around my shoulder. “Now might be a good time to ask if it’s okay with you?”
My heart flutters at his words as I stare at my little boy.
Deaton’s surprised look turns into a huge grin. “For real?”
“Yep. If she’ll have me, though apparently I can’t cook, so we’ll be eating out.”
“Can I come too?” He bounces up and down.
“Of course, but Mom gets to pick the first restaurant, that’s the deal.”
“Deal.”
They high five.
“So, you’re okay with me and Brad?” I clarify. “I know it’s a bit of a shock, we’ve been friends all this time.”
Deaton gives me a strange look, then says, “Come on, Mom. It’s pretty freaking obvious.” He rolls his eyes, then takes off, remembering he’s meant to be playing hide and seek with Mason’s nephews.
“That went well,” Brad laughs.
“Kids,” I agree. “He looked a little horrified that we were kissing.”
“He’s six, kissing is gross when you’re that age.”
I turn to look at him. “I’ll try not to overthink things, but in return you can wipe that smug look off your face.”
He leans in, his mouth pressing against my neck. “I’m smug because I ate your pussy last night…and I liked it.”
I smack my forehead. “God help me.”
He chuckles, peppering kisses into my neck. “I wanna do it again.”
“Now I know where my G-spot is, I want you to do it again, too.”
He bursts into laughter, pulling me onto his lap, and we kiss like I’ve never been kissed before.
Bradley
“He’s my mom’s boyfriend, but they went to school together when they were my age,” Deaton explains at the Buddy Day when it’s his turn to talk. “So I don’t have a dad, but I do have a Brad. He’s pretty cool. He sells really big houses in LA, and he drives a Porsche.”
Some of the kids ooh and ahh. I roll my lips, trying not to laugh.
We wore our matching soccer sweatsuits, and I can’t help but feel like this is one of the best days ever.
A few of the other kids don’t have a dad either, and they brought a family friend, a grandpa, or an uncle instead.
I’m just glad Deaton is happy, that’s all that matters.
“Thank you, Deaton,” Mrs. Kite says, giving me a warm smile. “And thank you to your mom for supplying all the yummy treats today.”
Of course, Chelsea couldn’t help herself.
I high-five Deaton as we make our way back to our seats. Afterwards, I mingle with some of the dads, and while I’m not there to drum up business, a few of the guys ask for a card.
“Are you having fun?” I ask Deaton a little while later. He’s been doing activities all morning; painting, playing games, we even did some track and field, of course I let him win.
“I’m having a great time, thanks, B.” He hugs me, and I feel that knot in my stomach again.
“Anytime, bud.”
“They’re great, aren’t they?” One of the dads, Hugh, says, watching Deaton and some of his friends.
“I can’t say I know what I’m doing, but yeah, they’re fun. They remind you to slow down and enjoy the little things.”
He looks at me. “You want kids of your own?”
Not until I realized I was in love with Chelsea. Now I want a bunch of them. “Yeah, for sure.”
He smiles. “All in good time. Chelsea’s great, I’m Sarah’s husband, by the way, she’s one of the moms who wasn’t trying to grope you at soccer practice.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You heard about that?”
He chuckles. “Yep.”
“Good news travels fast.”
“I think Chelsea has a way with words, doubt they’ll be bothering you again.”
“I take it you heard what she said?”
Hugh shrugs. “Bro code.” He slaps me on the back. “I got you.”
I grin. We exchange numbers because Hugh also likes golf, and though I don’t get out as often as I’d like, I accept the invitation. My friends would probably be up for a game too.
When we get back to Chelsea’s place after the buddy day, I frown when I see she’s asleep at the kitchen island.
I shake my head. She’s overworked. Then a wash of guilt flashes over me when I think about keeping her up late when she has a full-time business and a child. I need to stop being so selfish, but I can hardly help it when she’s a goddess.
Deaton, full of pizza and sugar that’s wearing off, takes off to have a shower, and I boil the kettle. Once she wakes up, I know she’ll want a peppermint tea to go to bed with.
When I stop and think about it, there’s a lot about her that I’m aware of. I know how she likes her coffee. Her likes and dislikes. Her favorite movie and what bands she loves. I’ve loved her for a very long time… I just had her on such a high pedestal, I couldn’t see what was right in front of me.
“Hey,” she whispers.
I turn around, “Well, hello there.”
She yawns. “I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
“I can, you’ve been working too hard.”
“You can talk, Mister workaholic himself.”
I hand her the tea I just poured. “Deat is showering, have you eaten?”
She nods, yawning again. “Thanks, B… listen, I know we didn’t get much time to talk earlier after telling Deaton everything.”
I pop a brow. “Are you regretting it already?”
“No,” she admonishes. “That isn’t what I was going to say.”
“Then I apologize for butting in.”
When she gazes at me like this, I feel my heart accelerate, my veins pop, my whole damn demeanor is on fire for her and only her. “I meant what I said, I really love you, Brad. Like that. Not just as a friend.”
“I love you, too, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you in so long, the lines blurred and I thought you’d never feel the same way.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong.”
I round the island. “And you’re right, taking is slow is for pussies.”
She laughs, and I love the sound. “I couldn’t agree more.”
We’ve agreed I won’t sleep over until Deaton is used to us being together as a couple. I think our earlier PDA had him heading for the hills. But when Chelsea pulls me into her room long after Deaton has gone to bed, I don’t object.
We kiss and canoodle, talking and laughing, just like we always do, but now we do it naked.
When she slides a leg over my hips, our hands clinging to one another, I’m finally understanding what it means to fall hopelessly in love.
Having this woman right here with me, looking down at me with love and adoration. It’s too much.
When she slides down on my dick, I bite down on my lip so I don’t cry out and wake Deaton. He sleeps hard, thankfully, but I still don’t want to risk it.
Being like this; so close to her, it’s like we’ve always known.
Every single beat of my heart threatens to burst out of my chest when we’re joined.
It isn’t just about sex, or about being this close.
It’s about how much we love one another, and have for a very long time.
It’s about the way she looks at me with so much sincerity and trust. With her and Deaton, I want it all. A life. One where we’re a family.
“Ride me,” I grunt. “That’s it, Baby Girl. You know you can take it.”
“You fill me so full,” she breathes.
I grip her ass, helping her bounce up and down. “And now you have to learn to come quietly.”
“I’ll get you back for this.” She tips her head back and her body shudders when she comes hard. I follow behind, stilling as I empty myself inside her.
This will never get old. Exploring her body. Making sure she knows she’s loved.
I’ve just come to realize: it’s all I’ve ever wanted.