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“I can skip it,” he says from behind us. “I want you guys to stay married.”
A constricting weight hits my chest, my shoulders feeling about the same. Madison and I stare at one another. We should have known he’d notice what was happening between us at some point. The argument beside the car was most certainly heard by him.
Noah appears at the door and hits Callan’s hand. “Push me!”
He rolls his eyes. “I’ll be right there. Hold on.” And then he glances back at us. “Please go. I don’t want you to get a divorce.”
I picture myself at his age, begging my dad to stay, only he didn’t. He untied my hands from the grip I had on his arm and walked out of my life when I was six. We have a relationship now, but that’s a lasting memory I will never forget.
Madison kneels and pushes Callan’s hair from his face, her hands cradling his cheeks. “Oh honey, we will. We’re making every effort to fix this.”
I want to snort and say, “Really, are you, Madison?” But I don’t because I’m a step ahead and that will only make things worse.
“Uncle B will be here any minute,” I tell him, my hands buried in my pocket.
Madison shoots me a glare and stands up when Callan smiles. “Yay!” Then he takes off, running to the backyard to push Wolverine.
“You can’t be serious? You’re having Brantley watch them?”
“What? It can’t be any worse than the Queen of Hearts lady.”
“You’re unbelievable.” And then she pushes past me. “I’m going to pack.”
“Pack less underwear. You won’t need them.”
She snorts, but there’s some amusement to it. “Uh-huh.”
Fifteen
Distractions
“It’s beautiful out here,”Madison says, staring up at the sky through the sunroof in my truck.
The night’s fallen around us. The sky that was once painted with hues of red, orange, and pink around the canyons has faded leaving a matte-black canvas and tiny specs of light.
The burnt-orange canyons still visible in the distance from where we’re parked, a reminder of how absolutely breathtaking this state is when you get outside the city.
I stare at her, memories flashing in my eyes of a time when this was easy. Her thoughts soften her hardened expression and she smiles, just a little bit, but I can’t ignore it. It’s in the darkness we exist, here, alone.
“Please, don’t ignore me anymore.” My hand rests on her knee, gripping it enough for her to know what kind of want I’m implying here. “I don’t care about anything else right now. Just give me something.” My hungry lips seek hers, desperate, needing, giving in.
I’m not sure, but I think she’s taken back by my sudden need. And for a moment, I lose myself in the desire to have her, right now, right this second in my truck.
And then she’s kissing me back, and I feel like I’ve fucking won the lottery, her warm hands move over my shoulders as she fights to get her seat belt loose.
In the heat of the moment I assume, I grab her hand and drag her onto my lap. It’s not easy, but I do it and then reach for the door handle.
“What are you doing?” she asks, excitement in her voice and eyes.
“What I should have done weeks ago.”
Once I have the door open, I carry her around to the back of my truck and open the tailgate to set her on it.
She breathes in heavily, but she’s still smiling as I rip my shirt over my head and onto the ground. It’s right now in this second I see her moment of weakness, and I know her desire’s controlling her next movements.
I can’t take it any longer, the violent rise and fall of my chest drawing her stare lower. She sees how desperate I am.
“What are you doing? We’re in the middle of nowhere.” Her hands that were once beside her move to my chest, pushing back.