Prologue
Chase
Two Weeks Earlier
“Afull week away? Wow, I can’t tell you the last time Chase and I were away from the kids longer than a day or two.” It’s late, the house is quiet, and my wife, Jules, is on the phone with who I’m assuming is her best friend, Teresa. The kids must be in their bedrooms for the night, though I highly doubt they’re asleep. Wesley, our youngest at the age of fourteen, is a bit of a night owl. I’m sure he’s up doing something on his laptop. Anything technology wise, he wants in his hands. We made a deal—you get good grades, help around the house, and come to the construction yard to work there for a bit, we’ll pay him. Wes turns around, hoards his money, and will wait until he’s got everything perfectly laid out and will give him the biggest bang for his buck. Greer, our oldest, who is fifteen, is the complete opposite. Her phone is the only piece of technology she cares about, and she’s more into shopping. Clothes and makeup are her vice. That and driving as much as possible with her learner’s license. It’s hard to believe our baby girl will be out on her own driving in the next six months and both only have a few more years left in high school.
“You and Chase should get away for a bit. The company will be fine, and your parents can take care of the kids. If they can’t, you know we’ll pitch in,” Teresa says. Fuck, the last thing I want to do is eavesdrop on her conversation. I should back out of the house, head toward the shop in the backyard, and let my wife have a conversation without me listening in.
“Ha, tell that to my workaholic husband, who I’ve had to remind multiple times lately to be home earlier than nine o’clock at night.” Jules sounds frustrated. Rightfully so. Several of our contractors are about ready to walk off the project Klein Construction Group is working on. Which means I’m having to smooth the ruffled feathers and pitch in a lot more than normal.
“Have you told Chase any of this?” I think back on the last date night or vacation we’ve had. While we always make sure the kids go on some kind of summer destination, I can’t recall the last time Jules and I did something. Jesus fucking Christ, I’m failing my wife and our marriage.
“I’m not sure when would be the correct time to bring this up. He’s not home now, and when he is here, we spend time with the kids or he’s half asleep.” Jules blows out a puff of air. Damn, I’ve been fucking up left and right. She works with me in the office. We spend a lunch break here, a ten-minute conversation there, yet still our conversations mostly surround work. I’ve let life get away from our marriage.
“He can’t fix what he doesn’t know is broken, hon.”
“You’re right. You know it, and I know it. It’s Chase who’s left in the dark.” I slowly edge closer around the corner. I’m pretty sure Jules is in her usual spot, a chair in the corner of the living room. It’s close to the back door. She’s always sitting there, whether it’s in the evening like tonight, winding down with a glass of red wine, or in the morning, if she’s not on the back patio, looking out at the pool, she’ll drink her morning cup of coffee in the same spot.
We’ve put a lot of work into our home, a house that was once in foreclosure. Holes decorated the walls in every room, it had a roof that had seen better days and a kitchen that looked like it was piece-milled together. Our parents, Jules, friends, and I would work on the weekends in the early days of our marriage. It didn’t matter that she was twenty-one and pregnant, or that Klein Construction Group was only starting up. We did everything together. Blood, sweat, and tears were spilled inside these four walls and a roof. “I’ll pencil in where and when I should tell my husband I’d like him to fuck me hard and deep,” Jules says but must take the phone off speaker because I don’t hear what Teresa replies next. Son of a bitch, she’s always had a high sex drive. We both have. But lately, it’s been fast, quiet, and while we mutually get off, it’s not like how it once was, before the kids hit this weird stage where they’re in a sport, a club, and refuse to spend the night at our parents’ house for fear of missing out on some high school event. That shit is about to change. Summer is fast approaching. Sports will slow down, their social life can take a break for a moment, and they can spend a week away from home.
“You’re right. I need to be honest. I wonder how he’s going to take my need for him to pull my hair, make me scream his name, and not to stop until I can’t walk, and maybe, just maybe, have it happen in a public place.” I watch as Jules resituates herself. Her back slides to the seat, and she lifts her legs until they’re hanging off the back of the leather chair. She and Greer, they can’t sit still to save their lives, always moving no matter what they’re doing. Especially on the phone. They pace, move around, and most of the time, Jules is folding laundry while she catches up with Teresa.
“Alright.” Jules pauses. My time is up, and I’m going to have to head back out the door and pretend I’m none the wiser, like my wife didn’t just spill her guts to her best friend instead of me. I’ve got some making up to do in the form of quality time, orgasms, and time away from Jules feeling like a mom and wife.
“I hope you enjoy your vacation. Make sure I’m on the contact list in case you need me to help out if anything changes,” are the last words I hear. I’m silent on my feet as I head out the door, hoping like hell none of the kids come down the stairs as I’m entering the garage. I open and close the door soundlessly, click the button for the garage to roll back up. I’m going to give Jules enough time to finish her conversation while I have one with myself.
I kick off my boots by the door, a task that no doubt should have been done earlier. Jules would kick my ass bringing dirt into the house and point to the closet where the broom, mop, and vacuum are housed. My wife doesn’t take any shit when it comes to cleaning. We all pull our weight, and if you make a mess, you clean it up. After what I overheard, the only thing to keep me from hurrying inside and apologizing is going to be a beer or three. We now have a fridge in the garage for overflow from the house. My beer, Jules’ wine coolers, sports drinks, and soda are out here. Though, the older the kids get, the more vigilant we’ll have to be about the amount of alcohol we keep in the house. There wasn’t a time in my years as a high schooler when the lot of us weren’t pilfering our parents’ liquor cabinets to take out to the woods.
“Hey, honey.” My head is bent down in the fridge, going for a beer when I’d much prefer a bottle of liquor. At this point, I wouldn’t be particular to whatever. Tequila, whiskey, or vodka, any of it would do.
“Hey, babe, you want one?” I lift away from the fridge, a bottle of Miller Lite in my hand. My eyes lock on hers, seeing the beauty before me. I’ve had Jules damn near my whole life. I was her first, and I’ll be her last. The spark from our sex life may be burning down to the wick, but our foundation is rock fucking solid. Life, work, kids… it’s taken a toll on both of us.
“Nah, one will turn into two, then we’ll stay up talking, and neither of us will want to get up in the morning.” The three-car garage fits her SUV and leaves room for my tools and a chair. I mosey my way to take a load off before finishing our conversation. Jules with her long chocolate brown hair, freckles dotting her nose and beneath her eyes, knowing they carry along her shoulders. I’ve traced every last one of them with my mouth. There isn’t an inch of skin I haven’t had my mouth or hands on when it comes to my wife.
“You wanna have a drink, babe, I’ll take the kids to school tomorrow. You sleep in, take a load off.” We don’t have a rule on who does what, only whoever doesn’t have a meeting, and we work around that.
“Can’t. I’ve got an appointment tomorrow.” I quirk an eyebrow, unsure of what she has going on. I pat the top of my leg with my empty hand, a silent invitation for her to come sit with me. She slowly makes her way toward me, and as soon as she’s within reaching distance, I pull her into me.
“You good, baby?” Jules nuzzles into the side of my neck. My hand lifts to the ends of her hair, combing through it while I wait for her to tell me what’s going on.
“Yeah, waxing appointment, but I made it early, too early.” She lets out a tired yawn before snuggling further into my body.
“Well, sleep in a bit longer. I’ll take the kids. You go do your thing, and we’ll meet up for lunch.” I kiss the top of her head, already planning on doing something for the two of us. While she sits quietly, I’m plotting. There was once a time when we’d play out our fantasies. It’s been a long damn time, though. Kids and work have taken over. Now it’s time to get us back to being us.
“Alright,” Jules agrees softly. There’s no need to respond. All she needs right in this moment is me being here for her, and that’s exactly where I’m staying while I’m secure in the knowledge I’ll be making a fantasy come to life, and fucking soon.