Chapter 19
Seth
I didn’t expect that. I expected her reluctance to my proposal. I anticipated every argument she had. It’s one thing I’ve learned from Coach. Anticipate the other side. Anticipate their moves. Anticipate their questions. What I did not anticipate was for that kiss to go the way it did.
I’ve never been big on kissing. To me, it’s more intimate than sex, and I’ve never wanted to get that close to another person. Not until this very second. I want to kiss her again, but when she puts a hand to her chest and gasps, I know something is wrong. I cross the room and stand next to her.
“Tomorrow?” she asks. “Already? They’re discharging her tomorrow? She’s eighty and had a stroke on the operating table, and they’re ready to kick her out of the hospital? Where is she going?”
I put a hand on her shoulder, but tears fill her eyes and fall down her face. “That place is a dump. There’s no way that we can send her there,” she says. She stands by the couch and faces the window, hanging her head. She talks to her mother for a few more minutes, and when she hangs up, she sighs and drops herself onto the couch. I sit at the end, lift her legs, and put them across my lap.
I will never tell her this, but she has huge feet for a girl.
“They want to put her in this subpar rehab,” she says. “I don’t know what we’re supposed to do.”
I put a hand on her ankle. Her skin is smooth and it feels cool and nice to the touch.
“That doesn’t have to be the case.” I put her legs off my lap, take her hands, and lift her into a sitting position. “We can help each other,” I repeat.
“Except you have a child to consider. Do you know the guilt I will feel if I have to walk away from her? I don’t want to do that.”
And that right there is why I knew she would be the perfect fit for us.
“What would make you leave?”
“Um, you,” she says, pointing at me. “You can’t keep it in your pants. I’m looking for a passionate love affair. I’m not ready to be a parent, which is what you’re asking of me. And you can’t keep it in your pants. Did I mention that already? I refuse to let you or any man humiliate me.”
“Yes, I can. I haven’t been with anyone since I got Jasmine full-time. I promise never to cheat, but you have to promise to be a real wife.” Her head jerks back at my tone. “Yes, you will have to be a parent. I need help, and Jasmine needs a mother figure.” I remember the words Coach spoke to me when I was freaking out at the possibility of being a father. “There are worse things than being a parent, Layla. And as for love, you can fall in love with me. Problem solved.”
She starts to cough uncontrollably at my last words. Then she starts to laugh. She laughs so hard that tears fall down her face.
“Um, that’s never going to happen,” she says when she sobers up. “I can promise you that. You—”
I don’t let her finish. I kiss her and pull her to me. I cradle the back of her head and deepen the kiss. The fight goes out of her immediately. She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me as if I’m her last meal before she goes to the execution chamber.
She straddles me, and I slide my hand up her T-shirt and caress her silky skin. Wanting more, I break the kiss only to lift the shirt over her head and toss it to the floor. She looks into my eyes, and I wait for her to slap me across the face for my audacity, but she doesn’t. Instead of hitting me, she unclasps her bra and slams her body back into mine, kissing me hungrily again.
Her hands are everywhere. On my head and on my neck. She slides them down my body and underneath my shirt. Instead of going up, her hand stays at my waist, and I wait for her to tug on my belt.
Our kiss has now turned sloppy and wet, and I can’t get enough of that. I ask myself why I never cared for kissing before, because after getting a taste of her, I don’t think I can go back.
My dick is rock hard and begging to be freed. I don’t care. I’ll take her on this damn couch if I have to. Once she has my belt unbuckled, I reach for the waist of her pants. My belt is halfway off when I hear the front door open and close. She freezes for a moment before she jumps off me as if my lap is made of fire. She’s running around, and her perfect breasts bounce. She grabs her bra and her shirt just as heavy footsteps hit the floor.
She’s still topless when June Bug steps into the living room. All Layla has time to do is cover herself with her shirt. She stands there frozen while he looks from her to me. I grab a pillow and cover my erection with it.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he growls. “I thought you said he wasn’t your boyfriend,” he says to Layla.
“Turn around,” she says. He does, and she puts on her bra and shirt. I watch the entire time and curse June Bug to the lowest depths of hell for interrupting before I could at least suck one of those breasts into my mouth. “He’s not my boyfriend,” she says.
“Then why are you half-naked, and he’s covering his dick with my auntie’s pillow?” I clear my throat and look away.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Layla says.
“You don’t know what I’m talking about? Really? Because you—”
“What are you doing home?” Layla asks, interrupting whatever June Bug was going to say next.
“They let me off early. I wanted to change before going to the hospital. Good thing I got here when I did.” He gives me the side-eye and then says, “Your belt is halfway off.” He crosses his arms as if we’re teenagers caught by our parents.
“June Bug, I’m a grown-ass woman. You don’t own me. Take it down several notches,” Layla says.
“Grown-ass woman my ass. You’re my little cousin until the day I die,” he says. “Don’t make me break both your boyfriend’s kneecaps.” He walks away after saying that, but he looks back and frowns at me.
“He’s not my boyfriend!” Layla yells to his retreating back.
I stand and adjust my still-hard dick in my pants. Layla stares while I do it without any embarrassment.
“What’s your answer?” I ask once I buckle my belt and my heart returns to some semblance of order.
She opens her mouth to answer, but Jasmine calls for me. I go to her and lift her out of the bed. She whines until she’s able to rest her head on my shoulder. I know my daughter, and I know she won’t fall asleep again. She sleeps best at home or with the Chastains.
When I return to the living room, June Bug is back, but he has his back turned as he rummages through a greasy paper bag. He pulls out several burgers and fries.
“I can give you guys a ride to the hospital,” I offer.
“Bet,” June Bug says. “There’s enough food for everyone. I’m sure you both worked up an appetite.”
Once he sits, Layla gently whacks him upside the head.
“Nom nom,” Jasmine says, pointing at the fries. She kicks her legs, so I put her down. To my shock, she waddles over to June Bug and stands there looking up at him. He takes a huge bite of his burger, and without looking down, he lifts her and puts her on his lap. He pulls the fries closer, and Jasmine shoves one in her mouth.