CHAPTER NINE
LINCOLN
“I heard a noise and got really scared, Daddy,” Turner says. “Can I sleep with you tonight?” Out of all of the worst, out of the ordinary things that could possibly happen tonight, this is it. The crème de la crème of awful timing.
“Aw buddy, come on. Let’s get you back to bed. I’ll tuck you in real tight. I’m not going to sleep right now, so you’d be alone in my bed.”
“That’s okay, I’ll wait for you in bed.”
I blow out a frustrated breath. “What about some water? I’ll tell you another happy bedtime story.” How in the fuck am I going to get Maeve out of here if he sleeps in my bed? This is why she never should have come over, but I can’t even be sorry because fuck, was it worth it… even if I didn’t bring it all the way home. “What noise did you hear? Was it outside?”
“Yeah, I think so. I’m not so sure. It was a weird noise.” I wash my hands in his attached bathroom.
My stomach flips at the thought of him hearing Maeve and me. “I’ll go check outside and check around the yard, you snuggle in with Mr. Ruffs.” I pass him the stuffed dog that fell on the floor and turn back on the nightlight that projects stars on his ceiling.
He whines a little, but I can tell he’ll settle. I’m wearing a pair of pajama pants with an almost used condom in my pocket. All I smell is latex… and Maeve’s wet cunt. It’s unnerving, and completely out of scene. Swallowing hard, I throw on a pair of flip-flops and survey the sides of my house and the back yard just to be safe and don’t see anything. I jog back into the house and lock the door. Returning to Turner, I tell him everything is officially secured. He smiles and hugs me around my neck when I lean down.
“I wish I could sleep with you.”
“How about tomorrow night we have a sleepover? A movie first with popcorn, and then you and Mr. Ruffs can sleep in my bed.” Since Mom left, he’s been difficult at bedtime. It’s getting a little worse, obviously.
“Okay, Daddy. I love you lots.” He lisps it a bit, and I melt into the hug.
“Love you, too.” I kiss his head and exit his room, cracking the door like I should have done last time. Then I do my best run-walk into my room to find Maeve in the back of my closet.
“Oh, my God.” I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh. She’s wearing my white Naval uniform jacket as she folds a pair of my jeans.
“It was the first thing I saw! I’m buck naked under this thing. Did he go back to sleep? I feel like we almost got caught by our parents back in high school. That is not a good feeling.” She pulls the jacket together and her ass cheeks pop out the bottom.
“That’s a good look on you, doc. He’s back in bed, but I agree I think my stomach almost fell out of my ass.”
She walks from the back of the closet to the entrance and I pull her in for a brief kiss. “I’d say we should pick up where we left off, but I’m not sure we have time for you to put on another condom.” She giggles, and I can’t be mad at her joke when she’s laughing like that. Even at my expense. “I’m sorry. I had to. I get why you were being careful, but it was still funny.” She clears her throat when I fold my arms across my chest and aim a pointed look her way. “Only because I have an IUD, Lincoln. So to me, knowing this info that you didn’t have at the time, it seemed overkill.”
“Oh,” I exclaim. “That would change things. Guess I’m out of practice in all areas, including having the protection conversation.” I clear my throat. “Which should have happened before we got there. My bad.”
“Same for me too,” she replies, sighing. Kissing my chest. “Let me put on the next one.”
“Deal.”
A small voice calls out. “Daddy!” Close this time. He’s in the room. I shut the closet door on Maeve’s horrified face. “Daddy, I forgot I had a question.”
I spin to face my son, who is literally standing three feet in front of me, watching me through narrowed eyes. “What’s that?” I ask.
“I saw a coat on the rack by the door. Whose is it?”
My mouth drops open, but I close it quickly. “Let’s check it out,” I say, trying to draw him from my room before Maeve freaks all the way out.
Turner pads from my room and straight for the entrance. I should give him credit for being so aware. I was the same way at his age, but right now it’s super inconvenient.
“Oh, that black one belongs to Ms. Gibson, buddy. She must have left it when she left after I got home. No big deal.” It was the simplest lie I could come up with. A lie I already regret because it’s a lie I never would have had to tell if I didn’t involve myself with Maeve.
Turner freezes. “No. She wore her coat home. It wasn’t there after she left.”
Irritation hits, but it’s not at my son. It’s at myself. “It is Ms. Gibson’s coat, son. She left it in the laundry room and I hung it up so she wouldn’t forget it tomorrow.” I breathe out, warily eyeing Maeve’s purse and hat. “It’s late and you need to go to sleep. Do you understand?”
He shrinks into himself. I don’t get upset with him often and I shouldn’t be now, but I don’t have a better option to keep him in his room so Maeve can escape undetected. “I understand.” Turner walks
