Chapter 22
Everly
Today is Birdie’s eighth birthday, and I don’t know who was more excited to wake her up—Jake or me. He stayed the night last night so he could be here for breakfast and watch her open her presents. We talked about it with Birdie yesterday and made sure she was comfortable with Jake sleeping over. Her answer? She loves sleepovers and she loves Jake, so of course it’s the best idea ever. I agree, it is the best idea ever. I love falling asleep in Jake’s arms after one or two orgasms and then waking up with him next to me, his limbs tangled up in mine.
“Wake up, birthday girl,” I say, smoothing my hand over her mess of blonde curls.
Jake squeezes her toes over her bedspread next to me. “Good morning, Birdie-girl.”
Birdie’s eyes flutter open and a wide grin spreads over her face. My girl is like sunshine. There isn’t a day she doesn’t wake up with a smile on her face.
“I have an idea. Should I make you waffles with whipped cream while you open your presents?” Jake asks.
“Yes!” Birdie squeals, jumping out of bed. She wraps her arms around my neck in a tight hug before crawling down the bed to hug Jake.
“Hop on, birthday girl,” he says, turning his back to her. She wraps her arms and legs around him and he piggybacks her to the hallway. “Close your eyes, no peeking.”
Her presents are waiting for her in the living room, wrapped and set out on the coffee table. I watch her with her one tiny hand plastered over her eyes, bopping up and down on Jake’s back, my heart fluttering with every step he takes.
When he reaches the coffee table, he lowers her down to the floor. “Mom, can she open her eyes now?” Jake asks.
“Yes! Happy birthday, baby.”
Birdie’s big brown eyes open wide when she sees the bike with a big red bow and the helmet from Jake. She opens up a few more smaller gifts from me and then we have breakfast. She bounces in her seat the entire time, shovelling bites of waffle into her mouth so that she can get outside and try out her new bike. When she’s done, Birdie and Jake head out to give it a test run while I clear the breakfast dishes from the table.
“Look, Mommy, I’m riding my bike,” she hollers as soon as I step out of the apartment building. Jake is holding the back of her seat while she peddles through the parking lot, a determined smile on her face. When she makes it back to where I’m standing, she hops off her bike and throws herself at me in a huge hug.
“Thank you for my bike. I love it!” she says into my cheek before taking off her helmet. “This is the best birthday ever!”
I smile as I watch Jake squeeze my baby tight in his arms. It’s Birdie’s day to make a wish, but I make a silent one of my own: for a thousand more moments like this.
The rest of her birthday goes smoothly; the kids at school all sing her happy birthday, then it’s back home for more bike riding before Jake joins us for sushi and ice cream, followed by a walk along the beach.
After a long day, she falls asleep in Jake’s arms on our walk back to the apartment. He carries her to her room and sets her down on her bed. I pull the blankets over her before we both take turns kissing her forehead.
It’s only after I close her bedroom door that I drop my head and exhale a deep sigh.
“I know what you’re thinking, baby and I’m sorry. Your ex is a giant ass.”
Grant forgot to call his own daughter on her birthday.
My heart is racingas I drive through the pristine streets of the posh neighborhood I used to live in. I am dreading leaving Birdie with Grant, but I’m trying my best to remain calm. I keep reminding myself that Ida will be there, and she would never let anything happen to my baby girl. She loves her, and if I was going to make a bet, I would say she will be the one keeping Birdie occupied for the weekend.
When I pull up to the iron gates in front of the estate, I roll down my window and wonder if my access code will still work. I punch in the four numbers and watch the gates swing open, admittedly surprised that he hasn’t changed the code. Pulling up the long stone driveway, I see the house Grant and I once lived in together; large, opulent, with extensive manicured grounds and a four-car garage. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as I get closer to the home that holds so many dark memories for me and my marriage.
This would be so much easier if Jake was here with me, but I dropped him off at the hotel before heading over. It felt like the best decision keeping Jake away from my ex. I can only imagine the fit Grant would throw if he knew I was dating Jake, not to mention the fact that Jake is still livid with Grant for forgetting to call Birdie on her birthday.
When I put my car in park, Birdie is unbuckling her seat belt and wiggling out of her booster seat. She grabs her overnight bag and the cat stuffy Jake bought her then swings open the door, Daisy the cat held securely in her hand.
“Ready, baby girl?”
“I’m ready,” she says, excited to see her dad.
She hops out of the car and I meet her on the driveway, taking her bag from her hands. I take her hand and walk slowly towards the front doors. My heart is in my throat as I lift the heavy metal knocker. I never know what kind of mood my ex will be in. Will he pick a fight with me to ruin my day? Will he have a list of demands?
Thankfully, it’s Ida who opens the door and scoops Birdie up in her arms. Birdie giggles as her former nanny holds her close to her chest. The two of them always had a tight bond, and I can’t help but smile at how happy they look to be reunited. Ida was a good friend to me too. Near the end of my relationship with Grant, I would confide in her about my marriage and how unhappy I was. She was always empathetic and kind.
“I have missed you, my angel. You’ve gotten so big!” Ida says, taking a good look at my daughter.
“That’s because I just turned eight,” Birdie tells her.
“That’s why,” Ida says, running her hand down Birdie’s blonde ponytail. “Come in, you two.”
As soon as I step inside the foyer of the house, I pause. I swallow at the artwork on the walls, the grandeur of the double staircase with handmade iron railings, and gleaming oak hardwood floors. My eyes linger on the marble table at the base of the staircase where a crystal bowl still sits, a wedding gift from his parents that I later found out cost close to 5 thousand dollars. I remember wondering to myself what on earth we were supposed to do with it. Grant wanted it on display for everyone to see. Besides Miranda and Douglas’s estate, it’s the most opulent home I’ve ever stepped foot in. Suddenly, I remember everything I hated about living here. I always felt so out of place.
“Where’s my daddy?”
The happiness drains from Ida’s face, and I know what she’s going to say before she says it— Grant isn’t here. Of course he’s not. He’s probably out banging some chick whose name he can’t recall.
“Your daddy will be here soon. In the meantime, I thought we could bake your favorite cookies. Good idea?”
“Yes!” Birdie cheers. “Can I go put my things in my room?”
Ida turns and looks at me, and I hesitantly nod. “Give me a hug first, my baby. I’m going to go. I’ll pick you up on Sunday around lunchtime. If you need anything, you ask Ida and she’ll call me, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy. I love you.”
I crouch down in front of her. “I love you to the moon and back. I am going to miss you so much.” My eyes blur with tears as I watch her run upstairs.
“She’s going to be fine. I’ll make sure of it,” Ida assures me, pulling me into a warm embrace that settles my nerves. “You look beautiful, by the way. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
I shift uncomfortably on my feet. Although I’m happy to see Ida, I’d like to get out of here before Grant comes home. “I better go.”
I turn and walk to my car, blinking away tears. My rational side knows Birdie will be okay, but she’s my baby and I’m still anxious to leave her. I take a deep breath and concentrate on driving back to the hotel and the only person I want to see.
Jake.
JAKE
The sadnessin Everly’s eyes when she walks into the hotel room is more than I can handle. My instinct is to wrap her in my arms, but I don’t. She looks like she’s on the verge of tears, so I give her a minute, a little space to breathe.
The clock on the nightstand reads seven when I glance at it. It’s been a long day. She must be tired, so I decide that instead of taking her to dinner like I had planned, I’ll order room service, maybe draw her a bath. I want her to know I’m here for her.
I sit on the edge of the bed, holding my arms out to her. She comes to me, standing between my parted thighs, her hands at the nape of my neck, my hands on the skin at her lower back.
“How did it go?”
“It went fine, I guess.”
I brush my hands over her back, down the curve of her ass. She’s obviously not fine, and I don’t blame her. I hate that she’s worried about Birdie. I hate her fuck-head ex-husband. I hate that there isn’t much I can say to help.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, watching her bottom lip start to quiver. My blood is now boiling, and an intense feeling of protectiveness flashes through me. “Did he do something? Did he say something to you?”
She trails her fingers down the side of my face softly. “No. He wasn’t there. I saw Ida, his housekeeper.”
Figures he wasn’t there. I don’t know why I thought he would be. “Come here, baby. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
Instead of relaxing into my arms, she chews on her bottom lip before letting out a breath, moving from between my thighs. “We should get ready for dinner.”
“Don’t do that, Ev.”
“Don’t do what?”
I grab her hand before she has a chance to slip away. “Don’t pretend that it isn’t killing you to be away from Birdie. I saw your face when you came back to the hotel. I know you and I know it’s killing you that she’s with him. I also know that you miss her with your whole heart. So, don’t pretend, for me, that everything is okay. Because I know you, and I know it isn’t.”
“How do you already know me so well?”
“I pay attention. I see you. I see you when you don’t even realize it.”
“Jake…” Her hazel eyes meet mine, sadness clouding them. She buries her face in my neck, and I cup the back of her head and hold her close.
“It’s okay, beautiful. I’ve got you. Grab my neck,” I say, wrapping her legs around my waist, carrying her away from the bed.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Did you see the tub? I’m running you a bath,” I tell her, setting her feet down on the tile floor in the spacious bathroom. I turn on the faucet and check the water temperature before turning to face Everly.
“Come here. Lift up your arms.”
I undress her, then order her into the tub. Before she lowers herself into the hot water, she removes the hair elastic from her wrist, tying her hair up on top of her head.
“Where are you going?” she asks as I move towards the door.
“I’m going to let you relax. I’ll order us room service.”
“I’m not hungry. I’d rather have you in here with me,” she says with heat in her eyes. Her words vibrate right through me. The invitation is all I need to shed my clothes and step into the tub with her. I sink into the hot water and then turn her around by her waist so she’s lying against my chest.
“As hard as today was, this feels pretty good,” she sighs, relaxing into me.
“The three orgasms I’m going to give you tonight are going to feel even better.”
She grabs my hand from where it’s roaming her body, lacing our fingers together. “Thank you for this weekend. I don’t know what I would have done if I had to sit in my apartment all weekend and stew on it. This is the best distraction.”
“Is that what I am… a distraction?”
Everly turns in my arms. “A hot, sexy distraction. I see you too, Lover Boy. You’re not the broody guy people take you for. You’re a big mush on the inside. You’re like a pineapple. Soft on the inside but prickly and rigid on the outside.”
“I’ll show you rigid,” I say, forcefully lifting her onto my lap. Water sloshes over the sides of the tub as she giggles in my arms, seated on my hard-as-steel cock.
“How’s that for hard?” I ask, lifting my hips against her center. She squeezes her eyes shut and then darts her tongue out to wet her bottom lip.
“Like stone.”
“You’re going to feel just how hard in a second.” My erection is hard against her ass, eager and ready. “How do you want me to fuck you?”
She grins, mischief sparkling in her emerald eyes. “Like I’ve been a bad girl.”