Page 26 of One Little Mistake

Max

After my mom’s visit, I feel… off.

Back in the car, on the way to my parents’ house, we agreed: no more questions about my personal life, and my relationship with my ex-wife is nobody’s business. When the time is right, I’ll explain everything. But for now, I’d rather let the past stay buried where it belongs.

Still, there was one thing Mom said that’s been gnawing at me ever since—that she saw the way I look at Erin. That I don’t need to hide my feelings for her. That she’ll accept whoever I choose.

And now I can’t stop replaying that in my head. I’m thinking about Erin’s appearance. The way she talks and even moves. At first, she drove me crazy. Then I started to feel sorry for her. Now?

Ridiculous. I don’t feel anything. Not really. We’re not giving each other lingering looks. There’s no unspoken tenderness. That’s all because of the kid. Yeah. The baby threw me off course. That’s all.

I need to get back to my normal life. Real life.

With friends, parties, Sunday dinners, fishing trips.

And a woman, who’s smart, beautiful, well-mannered, but fiery too.

Wild, even. Erin may be beautiful, sure, but she’s not mine.

This is just me being decent. I’d have done the same thing for any other woman.

There was no way I could throw her and her baby out into the snow.

A sharp knock at the door cuts off my thoughts. I hurry to open it before Tim wakes up. Funny how in just a few days I’ve adjusted to having a baby in the apartment. I tiptoe around like it’s instinct. Even keep my phone on silent.

I open the door without checking the peephole. Big mistake. Because standing on my doorstep, wrapped in a long fur coat and tall boots, is Natalie.

Beautiful. Seductive. Just like always. Her overpowering floral perfume hits me the moment the door opens, and I wince. I told her to switch to something else.

She doesn’t even wait. She throws herself at me right there in the doorway.

“Missed me?” she purrs, locking eyes with me and running those sharp acrylic nails down my shoulders.

“Natalie, what are you doing here?” I ask, already tired of this, knowing how hard it will be to get her out of my apartment.

“What’s wrong? Not happy to see me?” She pouts, batting those long fake lashes at me. Then she snakes her arms around my neck and presses her lips against mine.

I kiss her back, barely. No enthusiasm. Not when I know there’s someone else in the apartment. Someone sleeping just down the hall. I pull away after a second, but Natalie, being Natalie, takes it the wrong way.

“I’ve been getting ready for this all day.” She undoes her coat slowly, revealing… well, way too much. I sigh, loud and heavy.

Sure, the night could’ve gone differently. But a few feet away, there’s another woman asleep. And a baby. And suddenly, I realize… I don’t even want Natalie anymore. Not like I used to. Her lipstick, her heavy eyeliner, those fire-engine red nails—it all feels too much. Too loud. Too fake.

“Natalie,” I say, grabbing her gently by the wrists to stop her. “I told you I was busy. You know I hate it when you just show up.”

“Funny, last time you seemed really happy to see me.”

She’s impossible. Damn it. I knew her head was full of fluff and wedding fantasies. Tall, rich, handsome—that’s her perfect man.

“Sorry, but I was actually just heading out,” I lie, grabbing her purse off the console and handing it to her. I lift her coat back over her shoulders to cover the bare skin she so dramatically revealed and try to steer her toward the door, praying she’ll get the hint.

“Uh-huh...” she drags the word out, then suddenly whips around to face me. The playful sparkle in her eyes is gone. Now she’s pure fury. “Who is she?”

“Natalie, even if I did have someone, that’s none of your business. We agreed this was casual, remember? I’m not putting up with your meltdowns. So do us both a favor and leave. I’ll call when I have time.”

“Oh, I see how it is,” she sneers, lips twisting into a bitter smirk. “I wait for you like some loyal little puppy, always ready to jump when you call, and this is what I get? ‘No time’, ‘go away’, ‘don’t bother me’?” She mimics me with a mocking tone.

“No one asked you to wait like a damn puppy,” I snap. “And let’s not pretend, Natalie. I know exactly what you’ve been up to. Our circles aren’t that big. Surprised? Yeah, sweetheart, I even heard about your failed attempt to land Bishop.”

Her eyes widen, darting from side to side like she’s hunting for a lie that might stick. She freezes, stunned, but I’ll give her credit, she doesn’t stay down long.

“You’re unbelievable. What kind of crap is that? Did Julia tell you that?” she scoffs, but her voice wobbles. “God, she’s still obsessed with you. Can’t stand that you picked me, not her. But Max, you do need me. You know you do.”

She lunges at me, practically launches herself into my arms like a cat in heat. Arms around my neck. Chest pressed to mine. Her hands grip my jaw as she kisses me like we’re in some damn soap opera.

It all happens so fast, I barely register it before she’s pressed up against me—too close, too eager.

I take a step back, bumping into the wall.

I open my mouth to tell her exactly where she can shove her desperate act, but Natalie mistakes it for surrender.

She slips her tongue between my lips, deepening the kiss without giving me a chance to react.

I wrap my hands around her waist, ready to push this leech off me, but just then, a muffled baby’s cry breaks the silence. I whip my head toward the sound and lock eyes with Erin. She’s frozen in place by the entryway, eyes wide with shock, staring straight at me.

Natalie reacts instantly. She pulls back just slightly, then turns around and gives my unexpected guest a puzzled once-over.

“What’s this supposed to be, Max?” she asks coldly, running her eyes over Erin from head to toe, then pressing herself against me even tighter, making it painfully clear just how close we are.