Page 14

thirteen

Lane

“No, Daddy. Pwee-ay.”

Sage demonstrates the move for me by lowering herself with her knees bent and facing out.

I mimic her movement. “Like that?”

“Good, Daddy,” she claps.

When Sage woke up from her nap today, she found me on the sofa watching ballet videos.

Because I like being around my daughter’s teacher so much, I want to learn all about what she enjoys.

Sage decided then that she had to teach me. So, in gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt, my daughter and I are in our living room as I learn all of her favorite ballet moves.

I don’t really know what the fuck I’m doing, but my daughter is elated to be doing this with me, so I’m more than happy to keep trying. Anything I can do to put that bright smile on her face is worth it.

And I’m hoping I can learn enough to actually have a conversation about ballet with Olive.

Sage is now demonstrating a relevé by popping up onto the balls of her feet with her arms round in front of her, so I do that in return.

“And sauté,” I hear from behind me. I startle and quickly turn around to find Rory and Cole watching us from the entryway.

“Sauté?” Cole questions.

I laugh. “Apparently, that’s for more than just cooking.” Sage runs over into Rory’s arms, and I walk to join them. “Why did I give you an elevator key again?”

“Because I’m the nanny,” Rory smirks.

Cole leans against the wall with his arms crossed. “Plus, how else would we be able to catch you trying to be a ballerina?”

“Men are ballerinos,” I chide, thankful I learned that during my deep dive over Sage’s nap. “I’m just… learning more about what my daughter likes.”

“And that has nothing to do with her teacher that you can’t stop thinking about?” Rory eyes me.

I sigh. No sense in denying it. “Yeah, that’s obviously part of it. I thought it would be good to learn what she likes. But it’s for Sage, too. I can see how much she loves ballet, and as her father, I want to learn more about what she enjoys.”

“You’ve got a good daddy, Lovebug,” Cole smiles, mussing up her hair while she grins.

“Love Daddy.”

No matter how many times she says that, I’ll always melt when I hear my daughter say those words.

“I love you, too, Sagie. So, so much.” I kiss the top of her head. “Are you ready to go to Aunt Rory and Uncle Cole’s for tonight?”

“Yes!”

“Why do you two want to watch her again?” I ask them.

Rory smiles. “This was Cole’s idea. Said he missed her, and we should have her over tonight.”

I smirk at Cole. “Sounds to me like someone is ready for his own kids.”

He shrugs and bites his lip. “Whenever she’s ready.”

Rory blushes. “Just enjoy the practice for now.”

“I’m good with just pretending for the moment,” he says, wrapping an arm around his wife’s back.

Based on that statement, my friends apparently have a breeding kink, and I really didn’t need to fucking know that.

“Anyway,” Rory says, steering the conversation back. “Got any plans tonight?”

“Nah,” I admit. “It’ll just be a relaxing night at home.”

“You’re not gonna see your girl?” Cole asks.

“She’s not my girl. She’s my friend.”

“That you clearly want something more with,” Rory smirks.

“I don’t know what I want,” I sigh. “I know that the more time I spend with her, the more I like being with her. She’s incredibly sweet, and she already has a great bond with my daughter.

But I don’t know if I know her well enough yet to say that I want to be with her, especially when I’ve been out of the game for so long.

I haven’t had a girlfriend since Double-A. ”

“Which means you’re giving this actual thought,” Cole states. “That’s a good thing. That means that if and when you do decide you want to be with her, it’s because you actually thought it through.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true,” I reply. “We’ll just see how this goes.”

That’s all I can really do anyway.

My penthouse is way too damn quiet tonight. Sage has only been gone for a few hours, but I already miss her like fucking crazy. I know she’s having fun with Rory and Cole, though.

I’ve spent the time I’ve had to myself by straightening up all the toys Sage didn’t put away, wiping down my counters of all the residue from her sticky fingers, and vacuuming the carpet to get rid of all her crumbs.

When I finish that, I decide to just relax in bed and watch a movie. I figure I’ll watch one I haven’t seen yet, so I choose a new-to-me title— Black Swan .

Yeah, yeah. I know it’s a ballet movie.

I’m fucking predictable, okay?

Now down to nothing but a pair of boxer briefs as I wind down and prepare for an early night, I lean back against my headboard with my hands behind my head and just enjoy the movie.

About an hour in, my phone buzzes next to me on my nightstand. I grab it and smile, seeing a message from my own Ballerina.

Olive

Hey, Lane

Lane

No Hotshot?

Olive

If I called you Hotshot all the time, it wouldn’t be special

Lane

Ooh, am I special?

Olive

That’s absolutely not what I said

Lane

You’re gonna break my heart, Livvy

Olive

You’ll be alright, Hotshot

Lane

Much better now

Olive

Damn it

That slipped out

Lane

Just proves that I am indeed special

Olive

You sure are something

Lane

You like it

Olive

Maybe I do

Lane

Only maybe?

Olive

Fine

Yes, I like it

Happy?

Lane

Happier than you know

It’s nice when I’m not the only one flirting

Olive

Who says I’m flirting?

Lane

Me

Olive

I don’t think that counts

But are you actually flirting with me?

Lane

Have been since I met you, Ballerina

Olive

Oh

Lane

I can’t help myself around you

But if I’m coming on too strong, let me know

The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable

Olive

No, you’re okay

I guess I’m just not used to being flirted with so openly

Lane

I still find that hard to believe

Olive

If you knew everything about me, you’d understand

Lane

Oh?

Olive

That’s not a conversation for tonight

Lane

Fair enough

Olive

I think I’m gonna jump in the shower

Michelle and I went to another yoga class tonight, so I desperately need one

I’ll text you again shortly

I toss my phone back on my nightstand, a wide smile on my face. Goddamn, I like talking to her.

But now my thoughts wander.

I’ve been celibate for three and a half years, but the thought of Olive in the shower has me ready to end that dry spell.

I can’t help but imagine what she’s hiding under those leotards and tights she wears. I know she’s athletic—those toned legs would probably be my undoing.

My wicked thoughts send all my blood rushing south. I’m hard just imagining what she looks like.

I become even harder when I think about what I might be like to sink inside her.

Fuck me. I want to know what that’s like.

For now, I’ll have to settle for my imagination.

So when I push my boxers down just far enough to free myself and grasp my dick, I imagine it’s her instead.

When I start twisting my hand around as I move up and down my shaft, I imagine it’s her mouth sucking me in.

When the fantasy becomes too much, and I explode all over my stomach, I imagine it’s her cunt taking everything I give her.

After I grab some tissues and clean myself off, I’m faced with the reality that I just jacked off to the thought of my daughter’s ballet teacher, the woman who’s nine years younger than me.

And all I can think about now is how I wish that was real, how I wish I could actually get to know her in that way.

This isn’t the dry spell talking.

I want Olive.