I hung up on her in reply.Without pause, I headed straight to the coat cupboard and pulledout the cashmere Ted Baker hanging inside. I put it on, then turnedback to my guest. She was just slipping an arm through her owncoat. I rushed to help her, brushing her long caramel hair off hershoulder before moving to button her up.“I’m sorry,” I said, wishing I had time for other words, sweeterwords. She deserved better than this.She shook her head adamantly. “No, you have to go. I get it.” Shebrought her hand up to stroke her knuckles against my cheek.I caught her hand as she dropped it and brought it to my mouth tokiss her palm. “I’m still sorry. There’s so much more…” I closed myeyes, forcing away the thoughts of all the more I’d meant to addresswith her this night. When I opened them again, I couldn’t look directlyat her. “I’ll walk down with you.”We were silent in the lift. I was too worried, too frantic, too furiousat Ellen to make conversation. Whether Audrey was respec
But could I even judge her parenting? Was I any better of afather, absent as I was? And, truth be told, I would have been yellingmyself hoarse if she hadn’t taken the lead. If I weren’t drowning inmy emotions. If I weren’t remembering Audrey’s last words to me—Listen to what he has to say.So far, he hadn’t much to say at all. Or, rather, Ellen hadn’t givenhim much chance for a defense. She didn’t let up, in fact, until sheseemed to remember the police were on the case. She stormed outof the room to retrieve her phone and make the call.Left alone together, Aaron chanced a glance in my direction. Icould feel the frown on my face. Could imagine the disappointmenthe saw on my features. It was no surprise that he hung his headsullenly in response.I took a breath and forced the tension from my body. “Aaron…” Ibegan carefully.“I know already,” he snapped, throwing his beanie on his desk.He unzipped his coat and threw it over the back of the chair. “Momsaid everything, okay.
I took another draw on my cigar as I pulled out my mobile frommy jacket pocket and was surprised to find another message waitingfrom her. I’d forgotten I’d put it on silent for dinner.A: Our T-Day reservations aren’t until five, btw. You cancall or text anytime before that.I looked at my watch. It was a quarter to four. Really? That early,and I already needed a drink this badly?The good news was I had time to catch her.I set my drink down and stood up. “I, uh. Need to ring someone.Can I step out there?” I nodded toward the single French door thatled to a balcony, so small it could only fit one person comfortably.Donovan shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me any. Aaron?”I puzzled for half a second before realizing he was asking if I wascalling my son. “Yes. Yes, Aaron. You understand.”Pushing open the door, I stepped quickly out into the biting coldbefore I could feel too guilty about the lie. Then I clicked on Audrey’sname, put the mobile to my ear, and puffed on my cigar until
She twisted her lips as though trying not to say what she wantedto say. Then she lost the battle. “Feels like it sometimes.”My immediate instinct was to take her comment personally, but Ididn’t want to argue with her when we were close to saying goodbye,and when I let myself think about her position, I totally understoodwhy she’d feel she had to mother me.“I’m sure it’s a hard habit to break,” I said stepping out of theelevator ahead of her. I’d meant to let it go at that, but I turned backto her instead of walking on to her door. “I’m ready to have you justbe my sister. I need you to be that more than my parent these days.”She wrapped her arms around her body and frowned a moment.But then the lines around her mouth relaxed and her lips turned intoa small smile. “As long as you still need me.”“I’ll always need you, you psychopath.”We walked silently toward her apartment, both of us in ourthoughts. Then, when she opened her door and held it open for meto go inside, she
Again, Aaron rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t a big deal. We just went tosee a show, is all.”Dylan hadn’t told me where Aaron had been. I hadn’t thought itwas my place to pry. Now, I asked, “A Broadway show?”“Jacksepticeye and Markiplier had a meetup. They’re YouTubers.Like, they…” Aaron trailed off, as though trying to think of how toexplain them.I helped him out. “I know who they are.”“You watch Jacksepticeye and Markiplier?” His eyes lit up for thefirst time since meeting him.“Oh, no. No,” I said too quickly. “I know who they are, but I don’twatch them.” I wasn’t about to admit that I’d been at many a partyhosted by someone in the art department where everyone got highand watched video-game commentators and funny things pets did.Even not saying it, my cheeks went red. How immature was mylife that I related so closely to Dylan’s son? Proof that he was agrown-up, and I was just a kid myself.“Anyway,” I said, regretting the conversation. “I hope it was agood time.”“It wa
I didn’t want to be that callous of a human. I refused to be.I stopped short on the pavement and turned to my son. “I’vereconsidered. You can walk as long as you go straight home. Nodallying.”Aaron beamed with gratitude then scooted on his way.And, with a sigh, I retreated back inside to do what must be done.If I was going to put a stop to this farce of a situation with Audrey, itwas best to do it quick and fast. Best not to leave her waiting.She was at the window when I stepped in. I knew she’d heard mearrive. Her head had shifted toward the sound of my footsteps,though she didn’t completely turn to face me.That made this easier.“I think we need to reevaluate,” I began.But she spoke at the same time. “I didn’t mean to come so early.I…” She pivoted in my direction. “I’m sorry. Go ahead.”“You first,” I prodded, determined to remain the gentleman.“I...just…” She pushed a lock of hair back from her face. “I gothere earlier than I meant to, for which I truly apologize. I
I lifted her into my arms, carrying her like a child to the bedroom.“You aren’t going to take me all the way in front of the windows? Ithink I’d like that,” she murmured as she kissed along my jaw.“I’m sure you would, you naughty thing. But I’m quite sure I wouldnot.” My confliction had a line, it appeared. New York City did notdeserve the pleasure of her naked form.I set her on the bed, still rumpled from the last night’s restlesssleep, and tugged off first one boot, then the other. She watched me,rapt, as I followed with the removal of her jeans.“I like being undressed by you,” she said, when she was only inher bra and panties. “I like how you’re completely focused on me.”I couldn’t not be. It was impossible to look anywhere but at her.She was exquisite and engaging. Irresistible perfection.The wonder in her comment made me guess that no one hadever given her the attention she’d craved. What stupidity existed inher world? Boys pretending to be men, unsuitable and unwo
And I wasn’t yet finished with her.I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her to sit on my lap. I lether ride me reverse-cowgirl style while I licked the back of her neckand pulled at her nipples. When she tired, I spanked her upper thighthen gripped her hips and moved her body for her. She came again,stuttering my name, a sound that made me wild with lust.I couldn’t resist anymore—I had to watch her face.Again, I shifted her, laying her back onto the bed. I knelt in frontof her, my knees driven wide. With my hands gripping her ankles, Ispread her legs apart. She was completely on display now—the twistof her facial features, her tits as they bounced to my unrelentingtempo, her pussy as it swallowed each and every one of my cock’sthrusts. This time I didn’t have to tell her to touch herself, she justdid, her eyes locked on me as she stroked horizontally across her clit—she was a quick learner. The best of students.“This,” she said, her gaze glossy. “I really like this.