Page 80 of Love Deep

I can’t help but grin again. He can make me smile like no other man.

Me: We’re just trying to find something fun to do on such a rainy day. She wants you to come over.

I don’t know why I add the last bit. I’ve been completely clear about not wanting Riley to become attached to him,but I’m basically leaving him an opening to say he can come over. Why? So I can tell him no? Again?

Three dots appear, and I stare at the phone as Riley tries to figure out on the calendar how many days there are until we can put our Christmas decorations up for real.

I stare at the phone and realize it was no accident that I mentioned Riley wants Fisher to come over. I want Fisher to say he’s free. I want to see him. I want him here.

Maybe Riley will be upset when Fisher leaves. But it’s not like we’ve been dating two years and he’s living with us. I’m being overprotective. And she likes Fisher.

I start to type.

Me: If you’re free, and you don’t mind a day watching movies and listening to an eight-year-old talk about Christmas, we’d both love to see you.

I take a deep breath and press send.

Fisher responds in seconds.

I’m on my way and I’m bringing snacks. What are Riley’s favorites?

I bite back a smile.

Me: Anything with too much sugar and not enough nutrition.

“Fisher’s coming over,” I announce.

Riley whips her head around. “Really?”

“We can watch movies. Set up the popcorn machine. It’ll be fun.”

“Itwillbe fun, Mommy. I promise! Do you think Fisher likes Disney movies?”

He doesn’t know what he’s let himself in for. “Maybe,” I say.

We’re still trying to find the perfect movie when Fisher raps on thedoor.

“I’ll get it!!” Riley yells, jumping up from the couch and running to the door.

“Hey, Riley,” Fisher says. “Thanks for inviting me over. I was so bored today.”

I take him in as he and Riley greet each other. He looks so tall next to her. He’s tall anyway, but next to Riley, he looks like and giant and she looks tiny. His hair’s wet and I wonder if it’s from the rain. It looks darker than it usually does, and suddenly I have a vision of him fucking me in the shower. How his chest would look covered with water droplets, how I’d want to sink to my knees in front of him and take him?—

“Mom!” Riley yells, despite me standing right next to her. “Fisher brought games!”

I snap out of my shower fantasies and focus on what’s actually in front of me.

“Hey, that’s great,” I say, as I peer into the gigantic duffle bag Fisher’s brought with him. “Looks like you have every single game imaginable in there.”

“Well, I didn’t know which ones you already had, and they had a ton at the Club,” Fisher says, grinning at me. I can’t help but smile back. It’s so good to see him.

“Do we need an agenda?” Fisher asks as I shut the door behind him. “You talked about a movie. Do you want to do that or the games first?”

Riley purses her lips and takes in a breath like a sage old woman about to give some important advice. “I think we need to make snacks a priority. Mommy, can we make popcorn?”

“Homemade popcorn?” Fisher says with a groan. “That’s my actual favorite. I’ve brought some snacks too, but maybe we can get to them later.”

Riley’s eyes light up. “You brought snacks? Let me see.”