It didn’t come as a shock that when I woke up he was gone. I wondered if he was still in the house, or had left for work. I went from hating when he was home to hating when he wasn’t, and I wasn’t sure when that change had happened. I stood up with the intention to look for him but changed my mind and decided to shower and brush instead. When I was through, I curled up in bed cradling my new book with a weird sense of excitement. I was so engrossed in it that I didn’t notice when Pierce entered the room, till he snatched it from my hands.“Hey!” I squealed. “The mama natural... cool.”He was wearing gym shorts and a tank top, and his body glistened with sweat. Pierce had a wonderful physique but his body appeared a little more toned of recent. He gave me back my book and I stopped ogling him.“Is there a dad version of that?” He asked casually, as he moved towards the bathroom. “I donno. Angie gave it to me.” I bragged, “and then she hugged me.” His brows furrowed, “I’m not big
Later that night Pierce curled up against me. I pressed my back into him and shut my eyes. After I left the art room, he had stayed a while before moving into his office where he stayed the rest of the day. I, on the other hand, gathered the snacks Angie had given me, and spent the rest of the day curled up in bed reading- that was until I started drifting off and Pierce joined me. “Finished your book yet?” He asked in my ear. “Not yet. Reading isn’t one of my strong suits. Especially self help books. But I’m pushing through, thanks for asking.” “What have you learnt so far?” I rooted in my mind for a non traumatizing fact I could remember. “It’s better to have the baby squatting than on my back. But most hospitals insist on laying down so…”-I shrugged- “doesn’t really matter.” “We’ll see about that.” “How was your painting?” “Turns out it was a vagina-ish drawing.” I giggled. “I like it anyway, so I added a couple other flowers, painted and called it a day.” “We both did good
“Let go of my sister!” I yelled when I got to them.“She’s a thief. I caught her snooping around Pierce’s office!”“I was looking for Myra!” Lily yelled back. “In Mr Blackwood documents.”“What were YOU doing in their bedroom?” Lily countered.“I came up to find your sister of course, she has meds up take remember?”“Let go of her hand!” I asked again. “My sister is not a thief.”“Of course you’d take her side. You’re sisters afterall.” She said the word ’sisters’ like it was a degoratratory. “I don’t know what Mr Blackwood was thinking, having a child with you.”In a burst of anger I struck her cheek,and I stood frozen, shocked by my own outburst.“You hit me?” Ruth glared at me with disbelief and anger boiling behind her eyes. “I’m sorry I…” I swallowed my apology, “let go of my sister.”With a scathing look, she shoved Lily’s hand away and stomped downstairs in a huff. When I turned to face Lily, she said as rubbing her hand delicately. “What were you doing in Pierce’s office?”
I got up quickly, suddenly wide awake, and slipped into my fluffy slippers. “Ready.”“No you’re not.” He said simply.I frowned and looked down at my outfit. I didn’t know there was a dress code for fangirling. “What do you want me to wear?”“Honestly, preferably nothing, but I’m not trying to lose my mind so some yoga clothes will have to do.”“You want me to dress up just to watch you?”“Oh so that’s what you had in mind.” He chuckled. “Let me rephrase it then, would you like to join me in the gym. To workout. I mean you get to watch me but you’ll lift a barbell while you’re at it.”“I’m not really a sports person.” I grumbled.“I’m not asking you to do a long jump, Myra. Just put on some yoga pants and come downstairs.”He left before I could start arguing. My book did say, exercise was good. Plus nothing could be tougher than the poses I had to do during yoga. And, I got to ogle Pierce while at it.Convinced, I switched my pajamas for fitting leggings and a tank top, wore my fluff
Pierce was in his office typing away when I woke later that morning. I knew that because I heard the clack of his computer through the open door that connected the room to his office.I strolled to the office and leaned on the connecting doorway. “Heyy.” He looked up from the computer and smiled.I crossed the threshold and climbed in his lap. Melting as he kissed me and caressed my back. “Was wondering when you’d wake up.”I spied an open novel with a red cover hidden among his thing and I reached for it. An instant smile spread across my face when I read the title.“You got your own daddy manual! Did you force Angie to buy one for you?”“No, I forced Trevor to buy three.”I giggled. “Good for you.”Are you up for getting your painting done now?” He rubbed my bare thigh affectionately.“I was wondering when you’d ask.”When I entered the art room, it looked slightly different. There was a pretty looking boudoir chair close to the window and a big easel and stool in front of it.“Whe
Nervous did not describe the way I was feeling when the week for our date arrived.Pierce had gone cold the last few days and I didn’t have it in me to question it. Not when I had a feeling that Lily might have something to do with his grandfather learning about us. I hoped it was just Tami’s doing and had nothing to do with my sister. I smooth out of my flair dress as I gave myself one last look in the mirror. I had chosen the dress mostly bevy it did a great job at hiding my belly without looking like too much. “Are you ready?” Pierce asked me stone faced as he struggled with his tie. “Here let me.” I could feel the nerves rolling off him as I fixed it. “It’s going to be okay, right?” I just needed an assurance that everything would be fine. He would stand by his child like he did with his parents.“Yeah.” He answered without looking at me. To say Pierce’s Grandfather’s house was a wonder would be putting it lightly. As we stepped out of the car and Derek rolled away. I had a fe
“Oh I’m sorry, didn’t think you would notice me leave. You all have everything figured out.”He regarded me coolly.“Myra, sit down.” Pierce commanded and tugged on my arm. “Leave her.” He said calmly, “is there anything you’d like to add, miss…”“Myra. And yes, I would like to add something before I leave.” I pressed my shaking hand to my dress. “I have told Mrs Elizabeth before and I will say it here again. Nothing. Absolutely nothing will separate me from my child. So whatever extra plans you have, plan and keep that in mind. Thank you for…” I looked around the empty table, raised my head and smiled before leaving. I’d already made it to the front of the house before Pierce caught up with me. “What the fuck is wrong with you Myra? You just walked out on my Grandfather! Hey!” He yelled when I didn’t stop, and grabbed my hand to stop me.“Let me go!” I yelled back, and yanked my hand free of his hold. “I was the most respectful person at that table. Everyone else, treated me like
He smiled down at me and I dutifully returned his smile before he embraced me.“Seriously love, it is good to see you.” Jeremy said, squeezing me tightly before he released me.“What are you doing here?!” I asked, I did not have it in mind to meet people I knew.He pointed up to the roof at one of the gymnasts who was holding her whole body weight with her hair.“That’s my friend. Just here to carry the bags and look cute.” It was then I noticed the large bag he held by his side. “Good I found you here though, I can give my congratulations in person for securing that nomination. I bet you’re going to win next week, considering you got an invite to this.”I hadn’t even given myself enough time to celebrate my own win. I was too occupied with the thoughts of Pierce and his family.“Thank you. I actually came as a plus one for Hannah.” - he waved at her- “She dragged me out of the house.”“It’s a good thing she did. I’m sorry about the whole dad interview incident. It was really bad. You
I blinked wondering if those words had come from him or me. His hands wrapped over mine on his collar and pulled it higher, around his neck. “I can’t let you go.” He said, as he kissed down my jawline. “What do you mean you can’t?” I asked, as I pushed through the fog that wanted me to stop thinking, to surrender to the feeling of him being close to me. “I mean, I should. It’s better for both of us.” He pulled me closer, nearly lifting me off my feet as he pressed me against the door. “But I just can’t Myra, I think of you walking out of this office, walking out of my life and…it’s not happening.” “You promised.” My eyebrows furrowed and I pulled my head back to look at him. He smiled at me, running his finger over the spot his mouth had been. “You don’t want to walk out either, Myra.” “No, I-I do.” Liar. I shut my eyes to chase away the thoughts. I couldn’t do this to myself. So close to the end. When I opened them, my convictions were evident. “I do.” “And yet your a
The first second I felt dawn break the next morning, I slipped out of Seth’s house after dropping a note to say thankyou, and went into mine to take a shower. Then I spent the last day of my weekend in Hannah’s home who listed the many merits of accepting Pierce’s money.“You don’t have to convince me Hannah, I’m not saying No. That choice was taken away, and in exchange, Pierce will stop bothering me.” Everytime I answered that, she would look at me with a sad expression on her face and whenever I glared at her, she would raise her hands in the air. I tried to spend a little more time with Lily while I was there. Seth’s story reminding me just how valuable she was to me, but Lily was out most of the time, I figured she was still mad at me for not taking her to the new house. Monday came, and I marched into Pierce’s office building with false confidence . When was the last time I had been there? That was right, when I brought lunch for him as a thank you. Then, I had told him that I
I thought about my neighbors while dad was acting a tyrant over us. We tried to be quiet a lot. But a few times dad would yell. Or shove us too hard against the walls. Our neighbors said nothing, and avoided eye contact. “It’s easier to pretend.” I answered quietly, staring down at my twisting fingers. “True. I got tired of pretending. I got into a lot of fights as a kid.” He continued. “So I could pretend the welts on my body were from my scuffles, not from my father. Now I cover those scars with tattoos.”“What about the scars in your mind?” He slowed his chewing, “those ones, we just have to live with. You’re doing a good job of it.” I let out a laugh, ready to deny knowing what he wad talking about, but the knowing look he gave me told me there was no point. My shoulders sagged. “You think so?” “Oh yeah, movie star.” “You know?!” He chuckled, “I’ve seen a couple of your series while in prison. Was my warden’s favorite . Seeing your…friend, jogged my memory.” “I d
His eyes zeroed on Donna with the money outstretched. “What did Donna do?” “Why do you think I did anything?” She retorted, shoving the money back in her pocket while I looked around. I had to find a place to sleep tonight. “You’re offering money to someone else and her house is empty, you did something.” “Oh piss off.” “She helped Myra’s…uhh, pack a mattress and collected a bribe for keeping it a secret.” “I thought it was a prank!” “He took your stuff?” Seth asked me, his brows raised in surprise. “Yeah, he did. But I’ll get it back.” Maybe I could just lay on the floor? I didn’t check the bathroom yet so I didn’t know if he had taken the sheets too. “When?” “Monday? Tuesday maybe.” “Where are you going to sleep?” Layla asked, hitching her bag up her hip again. “Till monday, I can crash with a friend.” “Today?” Three pairs of eyes looked at me expectantly, and I shrugged. “A motel.” “There isn’t one nearby. Oh! Seth can drive you to the closest one thou
I blinked and looked at the numbers glued to the door. It was my house, that much was true. But it was empty. No brown couch, lemon side-table, my ginormous bean bag. Even the bohemian style rug that managed to pull the whole together was hone. Every single thing was missing from the living. Color drained off my face as I wondered what else was gone. I rushed into my room and looked around in search of Yvette’s box, sighing with relief when I found her on a dingle table in the middle of the room. Everything else was gone, save for the bed frame, and a wardrobe. There was a small note and cute little teddy bear beside her urn. I grabbed the note and read it. ‘Call me.’ I didn’t have to dial the number to know it was Pierce. Did he really rob me?! “Ah there you are!” A woman exclaimed excitedly beside me and I jumped in surprise, I didn’t even hear her come into the house. She had on the biggest t-shirt and basket ball short and was grinning from ear to ear at me. “Nice to me
After the money I cost him, I figured I owed him an explanation. I wiped the corner of my lip nervously and adjusted the blazer. “When I left home today, I…someone who I didn’t want in the house was in it.” “Oh?” “Yeah.” I hoped he had deduced himself that the “someone” was Pierce. After-all he was the only touchy subject in my life. “Just to make sure we’re on the same page, we’re talking about Pierce?” “Yeah him.” “Oh.” He went quiet after that. But his face said the things he didn’t want to say. “You can…ask me about it.” I offered. “You sure?” He had stopped eating and was studying me like a wounded kitten. “I’m sure.” “Okay…why was he at your house?” “He wanted me to sign some papers.” I grimaced, remembering the amount. “He was trying to alleviate his guilt by buying me off. Such an asshole.” I muttered. Carter took another bite of his burger and chewed slowly. He had lost interest in the food but was trying to give me a sense of normalcy, so I wouldn
I cringed at the sound of the bottle shattering and cursed again. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-“ “It’s fine, It’s just a little wine I shouldn’t have startled you like that-“ “Let me clean that up.” A waiter said, a barely hidden grimace on his face. I could feel a lot of eyes on us and my cheeks turned bright red as I tried to wipe the mess on the table. Carter’s hand slipped over mine again and gave me a reassuring squeeze. When I looked up, he was smiling. “Let me do it.” He said and collected the table cloth from my shaking hands. “That was a disaster.” I muttered under my breath as the waiter left to get a broom. “It’s not that bad, a disaster would be someone slipping and falli-“ A waiter chose that particular time to walk by and I guess he did not see the dark liquid on the ground with the dim lights because he slipped, hovering in the air for a split second before his body came down, and the lobster dish he held, rained down on him. “Oh my God!” I gasped a
He cradled his helmet in his left hand and had the other in the pocket of his jeans. His eyes looked past me and were focused on Pierce, the viking braids on his head turned him into a viking , biker God, if those existed. “Are you okay, Myra?” He asked bending his head to look at me. Why on earth was I always caught staring at him? “Yeah, everything’s fine-“ I started, “wait. No. Everything is NOT fine.” I turned my back by to him, crossed my hands, heels still in them, and glared at Pierce. “But it will be as soon as he leaves.” “Who the hell are you supposed to be?” Pierce asked her neighbor, sizing him up. “The one guy here she doesn’t want gone.” He answered coolly. I felt a mini war going on from the stance both men were taking. I started to think that it was a bad idea to get him involved. “Is this your date? He doesn’t strike me as your type.” “My “type” as scarred me for life, it’s time I try something new, don’t you think so, Pierce? Now for the love of God, LEA
He had the guts to look at me like I was the problem in this situation. His bushy brows were furrowed as he scowled, his eyes showing equal parts of desire and annoyance. Ditto. “Going out with Hannah?” He questioned. “This isn’t your usual filming getup. “Well excuse me, fashion police, but you need to get out of my house!” He looked at my face finally, then around the house like cockroaches were crawling all over the place. “Really Myra? This? This is what you settled on finally? It’s a dump. Why didn’t you take the apartment I offered?” “And be indebted to you even more? No fucking thank you.” It felt so hot in the house. I had Pierce to blame for that. He was only standing by the doorway, but he managed to fill the room so far all I could see was him, all I could smell was him, all I could think for crying out loud was him! I wanted him gone. “Now if you would be kind enough…LEAVE.” “You can’t be serious Myra.” He started, moving into the room further. “did you even have