Page 64 of Nothing to This

Except, she wouldn’t be thinking this way if JD hadn’t shown up like he had.

Nauseous, her mind was too full.Her life, which had made perfect sense for so long, was suddenly complicated and confusing.

Because of the kids, especially with them being older, they couldn’t play at having a relationship.It would be serious from the first second; they were parents for goodness’ sake.Surely, no relationship could stand up to that kind of pressure.They shouldn’t even consider it.

Intellectually, that was the smart choice.Yet, she was left with the vision of her babies’ expectation shining on her as they waited to hear the story of how she met their father.The only version of the truth was that they were hot for each other.That was it.Sex.That was all that existed between them.All that had ever existed between them.

“Things are good with us, Ry.They’re going to see that we more than just tolerate each other.We’re friends,” he said and pushed away from the doorway to start toward the bed.

She held up a hand, stalling him.“Don’t,” she said.“Don’t come over here.”

He smirked.“Why not?”

Man, he enjoyed her conflict.

She squirmed.“Because I’m in a weird mood.My head’s screwed up.I make bad choices when I don’t feel grounded.”

“Yeah?Do you do that often?What kind of things do you do?”

“The last time I woke up pregnant.”

Sarcasm didn’t dissuade him; he swaggered another step.“That won’t happen again,” he said.She raised a brow.“Sky was lining up the tampons in the bathroom.”

Their daughter’s habit of organizing things won again.

“Oh, yeah, I’m on my period, that’s the only reason you’re not going to get me pregnant again.”

“What other reason could there be?”he asked.“Your eggs love my swimmers.”

Grabbing one of the scatter pillows she’d pushed aside, she threw it across the room at him, but he ducked out of the way, laughing.

“I can’t help that your sperm were overeager,” she said.“You weren’t satisfied with fertilizing me once, you had to do it twice in the same night.”

“I’m twice the man.”

“Yeah, yeah, stud,” she said and tossed another throw pillow at him.

It got him in the gut.“There’s no room for a guy in that bed with those pillows.”

There weren’t that many.They were a comfort, a substitute for her babies, who’d kick them out of the way when they came to cuddle.

“There’s room for my babies,” she said.“From here on out, Kye’s the only male I need in my life.”

“He’ll be happy to hear that,” he said, sauntering away.“You know where I am if you need me, babe.”

“JD,” she said.He turned as he got to the door.“I’m glad you’re here.”

He winked.“We’re family.This is where I’m supposed to be.”

Before closing the door, he slipped a hand through to turn off the light, leaving her in mellow darkness.He was right.This was where they were all supposed to be, the children safe in their beds with Mommy and Daddy ready to fend off the monsters and put their meals on the table.They were family and as long as they were all safe, she couldn’t ask for anything more.

TWENTY-THREE

Standing in JD’s office, six easels angled before her, three higher, three lower, they displayed six color schemes for the new branding package JD picked.

Admiring them, she tried to discern, objectively, which she liked and why.

The task got considerably more difficult when JD left his desk and came over to stand behind her.