Page 72 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)

Gretchen

“Sweetheart,” Gabe whispered in my ear. “It’s six a.m.”

I’d relented and slept in his room after he promised to set an alarm. Now, warm and cozy nestled against him, I didn’t want to leave.

“Fifteen more minutes,” I mumbled and snuggled closer.

He chuckled as his arm came around me. “I did wear you out last night.”

“Pffft, I wore you out.”

“I don’t know… you didn’t have to cover my mouth.”

“That’s because you buried your face in my neck when you came.”

“Your neck smells good.”

“Well, you know I like it when you cover my mouth, so…”

I had learned to embrace my kinky side with Gabe. I loved that he wanted to know what turned me on. I’d never had a partner who took so much pleasure in getting me off.

Would I ever find that again?

Probably not. I doubted I’d ever find another man like Gabe Mitchell.

With that sad realization, I kissed his chest and rolled out of bed.

~~

I woke again to hot, little boy morning breath as Jake whispered inches from my face, “Mama, I hungry. ”

I lay there for a few seconds to mentally engage in mom mode before opening my eyes.

“Good morning, baby. Let me go to the bathroom, then I’ll make you breakfast.”

When I came out of the bathroom, my little man was nowhere to be found, so I wandered toward the kitchen, praying he hadn’t tried to help himself to the cereal in the pantry.

Instead, I found him in his booster seat next to Britt, happily munching away on a plain pancake. Meanwhile Gabe looked mouthwatering as he stood, spatula in hand, shirtless at the stove in his blue and green plaid pajama pants.

“Good morning!” I called as I walked in.

Gabe gave me a wink and a smile as he flipped a pancake.

“Hey, how’d you sleep?”

I shot him a look and replied, “Great, thanks.”

Brittany was all smiles as she popped a forkful of hotcakes dripping with butter and syrup into her mouth. I hoped she slept as soundly as he’d assured me she did.

Jake wore a goofy grin as he loudly proclaimed, “Bandit make pancakes!” before taking another bite.

There he went with the Bandit/dad reference again.

But as I looked around the kitchen, I had to admit, the scene had a familial feel to it.

This was the kind of morning I used to daydream about before I married Troy. I’d wanted what I’d had growing up. The reality, however, had been nothing like what I’d envisioned, and I’d resigned myself to believing that was just a fantasy. No one lived like that anymore .

Apparently, I was wrong.

It wasn’t fair.

Gabe set a plate of pancakes in front of me, and I picked up a knife and fork from the pile someone had set down on the table as I replied, “Thank you. This looks great.”

My heart skipped a beat when he smiled at me.

“Of course.” He shot me a wink and added, “Chilli.”

Oh, Gretchen. What have you done. You stupid, stupid girl.

****

Gabe

“Um, I’m sorry but we’re not going to be able to make it to bowling tonight,” Gretchen said as she stared at the few bites of pancakes remaining on her plate.

Britt’s head shot up to stare at her.

“Why?”

“I forgot I told my parents we’d visit them. We’re going to spend the night at their house. I’m so sorry I forgot all about it when we talked yesterday.”

My daughter dragged the tines of her fork through the syrup on her plate.

“That’s okay; we can wait until Sunday. That works out better anyway because Brayden can go with us then.”

“Oh—I, I’m not sure what time we’ll be back Sunday.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to work. I’d give her tonight, maybe she needed a break from me and my kids, but she was the one who’d agreed with Britt to bowling in the first place .

“I thought you were tutoring Brayden Sunday. We can go once you’re done.”

Brittany chimed in, “Yeah, we’re supposed to be celebrating my A, remember?”

Gretchen offered a weary smile.

“Yes, of course. You’re right. I’m sorry. We absolutely must celebrate that.”

Seeing the smile on my daughter’s face made me realize it wasn’t just Jake who was going to get hurt when our time was done.

Man, I’d fucked this up.