Page 68 of All of You

Mom comes in, notices the bowl, and takes it back into the kitchen, a slight smile on her face. She returns a few minutes later with a full bowl. I eat it all by myself.

The movie was hilarious. Delia was right. I loved it. But it ended almost thirty minutes ago, and I can’t reach the remote. Anderson keeps poking his head into the living room and miming ‘isshe asleep’.

Her head is in my lap and she’s fast asleep. I brush the back of my knuckles down the side of her face, her skin warm and smooth beneath my touch. A gentle sigh escapes her lips as she nestles closer to me, igniting a flood of yearning within me. In that fleeting instant, my breath catches. I imagine for just a second that she is mine to touch. To cuddle. To kiss. To fall asleep next to. Mom pokes her head in the living room.

“Movie over?” she whispers.

I nod. “She’s asleep. I didn’t want to wake her.”

Mom approaches, a soft smile on her lips. She looks content and wistful and I haven’t seen her like this in a long time. Not since Olivia died. She brushes hair out of Delia’s face and sighs.

“Slide out. There’s a blanket on the chair over there.”

Slowly and carefully, Mom holds Delia’s head while I scoot out from under her. Mom puts a pillow under her head, and I grab the blanket.

“I’ll call Heath. Let him know she’s staying the night.” Mom takes the blanket from me and tucks Delia in.

In the kitchen in a hushed tone, I ask my mom about Jennifer and why she would freak out about Daniel and leave.

“Because honey, he was the love of her life. Delia’s dad. And she didn’t know he died. She needs a second to be okay.”

“But that doesn’t explain just leaving your kid.”

“No, it doesn’t. But remember, thatkiddidn’t know any of this. Jennifer never told Delia about her dad at all. Just…cut everyone some slack. Adulting ishard.”

I snort out a laugh and help Mom clean up from dinner. Which I happily missed because Delia’s head was in my lap. Mom slides a reheated plate of food across the island to me.

My stomach rumbles.

***

My cock twitches at the sight of her in my room. I need to taste her. She’s in my sweats and an old tee shirt and she’s crawling into my bed. A lump the size of a boulder forms in my throat.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind the couch. Hell, I don’t mind going home. Honestly.”

I push my hair off my forehead and grin. “I don’t mind at all. And Mom said it’s fine. So.”

“So,” she repeats. Anderson flies under my arm in the doorway into my room and leaps through the air before landing on the bed. Delia laughs. “What are you doing?”

“Saying good night, obviously.”

She sits on the edge of the bed and ruffles his hair. “Obvi. Well. Night, bud.”

“You sure you don’t want to sleep in my room? I have bunk beds.”

“I’ve heard. But, I’m sure. Thanks for the offer. Maybe next time.”

Dad’s instantly behind me, poking his head in. “Clean towels, a toothbrush, and washcloth in the bathroom for you in the morning. Night!”

“Um, night. Thanks,” she says. She looks at me like she’soverwhelmed.

“Anderson. Out,” I command. He pouts but gets up and leaves. I sit on the bed next to her.

“This feels weird,” she says.

“Me sitting with you?”

She laughs. “No. Sleeping here. Everyone being so…nice and involved.” Her eyes wander around my room pausing here and there. I wonder if she’s going to go through my stuff when I leave.