Mine to Keep, page 18
“I guess this means I’ll talk to you later,” I say, a little twinge of jealousy that I’m not able to share his morning with him.
“Yes,” he says, tossing the covers off him, “dinner tonight, my place.”
“Um, sure,” I respond. “I have a family thing this afternoon, so I can text you when I’m done with that, and we will see.”
“Okay, beautiful,” he says as he walks down the hallway, the sound of Meadow’s voice coming closer and closer, “let me see if I can find a sitter and I can take you out.”
I smile, and as much fun as that sounds, I just want to be with him. “I don’t know,” I hesitate. “I was kind of digging making out with you and hopefully getting you N-A-K-E-D.” I spell out the word instead of saying it out loud, just in case he’s close to Meadow and she hears.
“That sounds much better than what I wanted to do. I’ll call you later.”
“Sounds good,” I reply and hang up the phone, tossing it to the side. I turn back over and try to go to sleep, but instead all I keep thinking about is Caine and how crazy this week has been. Monday night he showed up and went down on me while my class was in session. It was the hottest thing in the world. It took everything inside me not to scream out. After that night, we would sneak out over lunch for a couple of minutes of making out. But yesterday, he said he was going out for a meeting and to take the rest of the afternoon off. What he didn’t tell me was he was going to be following me home, where he spent the rest of the afternoon making me scream over and over again. My nipples get tight when I picture him spreading my legs on the couch and burying his head between them. “God, that man.”
I pull out my phone and text him.
Me: You left me hot and bothered.
I toss the covers off me and head to the kitchen to make myself coffee, seeing that it’s just after seven thirty in the morning. My eyes burn from tiredness. I stayed up until close to two last night, making sure I finished all my homework for the weekend. Knowing I had the birthday party for Cici today, and then hoping I would spend the night with Caine and hopefully have tomorrow to sleep.
I’m walking back to my bed with my coffee in my hand when I hear my phone beep. Sliding into bed, I pick up my phone and see it’s a text from Caine.
Not Batman: I promise to take care of you tonight.
I smile, getting into bed and taking a picture of my shoulder after I pull the strap down from it to tease him. I attach the photo with a little winky face.
Me: Promise or else you’ll watch me take care of myself.
I grab the remote from the side table and flip on the television before the phone beeps again. This time, I see he’s sent me a picture of him dressed in shorts. His hard-on cannot be missed.
Not Batman: How am I supposed to make pancakes like this?
I giggle to myself, ignoring that little pang of sadness that I don’t get to share this with him. I’ve never woken up with him or even spent the day with him. I’ve also never dated anyone, let alone a single dad. So, I know I have to make a few sacrifices, and maybe some time down the line, I can go over for pancakes.
Me: Want me to kiss it better?
The three dots come up right away followed by an angry face emoji.
Not Batman: That is not helping.
Instead of answering, I send him three kissy face emoji and then put the phone down.
I catch up on my 90 Day Fiancé before it’s time for me to head out to the birthday party. I slip on a pair of tight jeans and a white T-shirt, with matching white sneakers, tucking the front of the shirt into my jeans. I comb through my hair, thinking about maybe pinning it up when I opt to grab a baseball cap that Matty gave me for Christmas.
I put my phone in my back pocket before picking up the big, boxed gift I ordered for her before walking out of the apartment. Plugging in the address before taking off, the drive is smooth on a Saturday afternoon. I pull up seeing the balloons in the air, and then seeing kids running around. “This must be it.”
I get out, grabbing the box from the trunk before starting to walk over. Stefano sees me and starts running across the grass toward me. “Hey,” I say when he gets close enough, “I didn’t know you would be here.” He takes the box from me and then leans in to kiss my cheek. Stefano was the one who drove me down here to visit when I was thinking about moving here. His best friend, Levi, and cousin, Eva, lived here with their little girl, Cici, who is now turning one.
“Couldn’t miss the big day,” he says to me. “Sofia was going to come, but apparently, your grandfather was going to get the new crib wired.” He looks over at me, and I can’t help but laugh.
“It’s going to be like that scene from Mission Impossible when Tom Cruise breaks in.” Stefano starts to laugh. “If I didn’t value my life, I would try to break in to see.”
I’m about to say something to him when I see him out of the corner of my eye, walking toward us holding Meadow’s hand. His head is down, holding a little gift bag in one hand while holding Meadow with the other. “The fairy,” Meadow says, pointing toward me, and his head snaps up. He’s wearing blue jeans and a white dress shirt under his dark-blue sweater, the bottom of the button-down sticking out. My eyes roam him up and down as I take him in like a cat does right before she pounces on the bird.
She lets go of his hand or he lets go of hers in shock that I’m there. “I know you,” Meadow states when she runs to me, “you picked me up when I was sick.”
“I did,” I say, squatting down to look at her. “I’m Grace.” I put out my hand, and she shakes it.
“Hi, Grace.” She looks over at Caine, who now stands behind her.
“Hi,” I greet, smiling at him, “fancy meeting you here.”
“I was just going to say the same thing,” he says, then looks over at Stefano. “I’m Caine.” He is about to put out his hand but notices the big box. “I’m Grace’s boss.”
I don’t know why that title bothers me, but it does. “Hey, you two,” I hear from behind me and look over to see Eva coming toward us, wearing a shirt that says Cici’s Mom on it. “So glad you could make it,” she says and hugs me, “and Caine.” She nods at him. “Have you met Stefano and Grace?”
I shake my head. “Caine is my boss,” I say, and Eva’s face says it all; her mouth hangs open. “Yup, that one.” Not knowing what she heard, but from the look on her face, I’m sure the family talk has been doing the rounds.
“What a small world,” Eva recovers. “Levi!” she shouts over her shoulder at her husband, who is holding Cici in his arms. He comes over to us, Cici with a hat on her head and a shirt that says I’m One. Levi is wearing a shirt that says Cici’s Dad. “Caine is Grace’s boss.”
“No way.” He chuckles. “We’ve heard all about you.”
I roll my lips and look over at Caine to see him just staring at them. I honestly don’t know what he’s going to say, but what I’m not expecting is for him to come right out with a dig. “Juice boxes, am I right?” he jokes with them, and we all laugh. It would take nothing for me to go and stand beside him. But instead, I stand where I am. Everyone goes away slowly, and Stefano moves to put the gift down. Eva and Levi go to greet other guests, while Meadow looks at Caine and asks if she can go play. He nods his head. “Not too far,” he tells her as she joins a couple of kids at the party, and they start chasing each other.
“Well, this is fun,” he finally says as we stand next to each other.
“On a scale of one to ten, how shocked are you to see me here?” I ask him as my shoulder touches his arm.
“In the words of Meadow, one thousand million and half trillion,” he exaggerates, and I can’t help but laugh, leaning into him. I catch myself right before I kiss him. In my head, I can feel his arm wrap around my waist and pull me to him, and then he leans down to meet my kiss. But it’s only in my head because reality is two different things.
I look over at him, and he looks back at me, smirking now. “You look cute in that hat.”
“Do I?” I ask, and he nods, trying not to look at me more than is normal, which bothers me even more because all I want to do is look at him.
“Yeah, you look even younger,” he teases, “which makes me feel even creepier.”
“Oh, stop it.” I push his shoulder with my hand, moving down his arm, and I’m about to slide my hand into his, but instead, I let our fingers graze each other. “Come on, Grandpa, let’s go mingle.”
twenty-six
Caine
The minute she calls me Grandpa, I put my head back and laugh. Something I’ve been doing a lot lately. “That mouth of yours.”
She turns and stops in front of me, her eyes twinkling in the sun even though her hat covers most of it. “Yeah, what about it?”
I shake my head and look around to make sure no one is listening to our conversation. “I’m going to keep it real busy tonight.”
“Is that so?” She looks up at me, an innocent look on her face. A face I want to hold in my hand and kiss because I can. My fingers tingle thinking about it. “I look forward to it.”
“Hey,” a woman says when she walks up to us and hugs Grace. “Stefano said you were here.”
“I am, Addison,” Grace introduces the woman. “I’d like you to meet my boss, Caine.”
Her face is like all the others, shocked with a touch of glare. “You don’t say?” She tries to keep a smile on her face, a fake one but still.
“The one and only,” I confirm, holding out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Addison.”
“Trust me, the pleasure is mine.” She smiles big. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“That seems to be the running comment.” I look over at Grace, who just looks away. “I hope I’ve gotten better.”
“Time will tell,” Addison says to me, then looks at Grace. “We’ll catch up tonight.”
“Oh, no,” Grace quickly says, “I have plans.”
“Oh, a date.” Addison pushes her shoulder, and my stomach tightens at the thought.
“No.” She shakes her head. “I have a huge assignment due next week.” She lies to her, or at least I hope it’s a lie.
“Oh, that’s a bummer. We leave tomorrow,” Addison says. “Next time, or you can come down and spend the weekend.”
“That sounds like fun,” Grace replies, and I ignore how I feel about her leaving for the weekend. Especially since it’s the only time we get with each other. I look down, hoping she doesn’t see I’m bothered by it and then makes me out to be too needy.
Addison is called away, and I turn to look at Grace. “I’m afraid to even ask what you told them about me.”
She tries not to smile. “It’s not a secret how much of a dick you were, Caine.” She folds her arms, pushing her tits higher. “It was within ten seconds that you were a dick.”
“I’m never going to live that down,” I state. She’s about to say something when Meadow comes running over. Her ponytails are now slanted to the side as she pushes the stray hairs out of her face.
“Daddy, I have to go pee,” she says, and I look around, seeing a little brown building with one door for women and one for men.
“I can take her,” Grace offers. “It might be easier than taking her in the men’s bathroom.”
“Usually there is a family bathroom,” I tell Grace, looking around once more. “Are you sure?”
“Yup,” Grace assures me, holding out her hand. “Let’s go, Meadow.” She turns and guides her to the bathroom. I watch both of them walk away and everything in me shifts, or perhaps it shifted a while ago.
I walk over behind them and wait for them to come out. When they do, they are both laughing. I see Meadow’s ponytails are now fixed, and she is looking up at Grace with a smile. “Hey,” I say, and they both look at me. “What’s so funny?” I ask.
“Grace was making funny faces at me in the mirror when she was fixing my hair,” Meadow replies, “like this.” She sticks out her tongue and tries to do something with her eyes. “I’m going to play,” she declares, running away from us.
“Want to go and make out somewhere?” Grace asks. My head snaps back to her, and she winks at me. “It was just a thought.”
“A good thought,” I say as we walk back over to the party. Even though she knows everyone here, she stays pretty much by my side and includes me in the conversations. I hate that she introduces me as her boss, but it is what it is. When it’s time to sing “Happy Birthday,” our fingers graze and I want to wrap my arm around her.
After we each have cake, Meadow comes over to us. “Can we go play in the park before we go?”
“Yeah,” I agree, looking around, thinking of how I’m going to ask Grace to come with me.
“Come on, Grace, you can come too.” She grabs her hand, and I’ve never been happier in my life. She gets to eat two desserts tonight. She skips over holding Grace’s hand. “We can go on the swings,” she tells Grace who just nods.
“I have a trick to go high, high,” Grace shares with her, and Meadow looks over at me like I’ve been keeping her from the state secrets. “I’ll show you.”
They run their way to the swings. “When I push, you keep your legs bent, and then when you go high, put them out again, and then when you come back down, bend them.” She sits on the swing. “Look at me,” she instructs her and shows Meadow, who watches her like a hawk. “You got it?”
“Got it,” she parrots, and I sit back and watch the two of them. She sets Meadow on the swing. “Okay, I’m ready,” Meadow calls, holding on.
“Don’t let go,” Grace tells her as she pushes her on the swing. “That’s it, bend your knees tight.” I listen to the two of them giggle with each other, and it fills my soul.
“Dad, I’m going to fly to the moon!” Meadow shouts, and all the words are stuck in my throat.
“Come back,” I say as I listen to the two of them laugh when Meadow thinks she’s too high, but really, she isn’t.
“That was so much fun,” Meadow says when she finally gets off the swing. “I’m hungry.”
“It’s almost dinnertime,” I report, looking at my watch. “Do you want to come over for dinner?” I ask Grace, thinking it won’t be that much of a stretch since they spent today together.
“Yes, yes,” Meadow says to her, “it’s pizza night.”
“Is it?” Grace replies, looking at Meadow. “Well, I love pizza.”
“We should say goodbye,” I suggest, pointing over my shoulder at the party as we head back toward the group of people that is shrinking as the day has gotten later.
“I will meet you at your place,” Grace says when we are almost close. “See you soon,” she says before she walks away. I walk up to Levi and Eva while she heads over to the other side. I thank them for inviting us and leave, looking over my shoulder the whole time.
“That was fun,” Meadow says as she gets in the car, and all I can do is agree with her. I’m trying not to hate that she has to sneak over to my house. Meadow talks my ear off about how much fun she had and how she went high, high, high to the moon. “She’s better than Uncle Nash.”
I chuckle. “We should call and say that.” I look into the rearview mirror at her.
We pull up in the driveway and see Alexa walking down the steps. “Alexa,” I call once I get out of the car.
“Hi.” She smiles, coming toward the car as Meadow emerges. “I’ve just invited Tamara and Joyce over to my house for a slumber party.” She mentions the other two kids on the block she watches. “I promised them all I would do it, and it’s the only weekend when I’m free, and my parents are home to help me if I need them.”
“Oh, wow.” I hear a door slam and look over to see Tamara walking down her steps with a pillow and a backpack. Meadow gets out of the car at the exact time Tamara comes over to our driveway. I don’t even have to ask her; she’s already going up the front steps to grab her things.
“Are you sure?” I ask Alexa, and she just nods at me. It takes Meadow a full minute to return with a bag that looks empty and her pillow. “Can I see the bag?” I ask, and she swings it to me. Opening it, I see it has pj’s, and that’s it. I open the trunk and remove a change of clothes and panties from my daycare spare bag. “There you go,” I say to Alexa, handing her the bag while Tamara and Meadow hold hands. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Will do,” Alexa assures me as they walk with her to her house, four doors down. I’m standing in the middle of the driveway, watching until she walks up the steps and closes the door, when I spot Grace’s car.
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” she says, getting out of her car, the cap gone and now it’s just her hair loose.
I wait for her to be close enough to me before I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her to me, realizing she fits perfectly in my arms. “Hi,” I say right before my lips crush down on hers. She puts one of her hands on my cheek as our tongues meet.
“Meadow,” she reminds me softly when she lets me go.
“Gone to a sleepover at the neighbor’s house,” I share, “so it’s just the two of us.”
Her eyes go big. “Just the two of us,” she whispers as the smile fills her face. “Like, for the whole night?”
“For the whole night,” I assure her. “Will you stay over?”
“Umm, will your dick be on the menu?”
I throw my head back and laugh. “I guess I could put it on the table.”
“I’d rather you put it in my mouth.” She moves out of my arms, sliding her hand in mine. “Or inside me is a good option.”
“Is it?” My cock automatically gets up. “I think we can do that.”
She stops moving. “I need to take a shower,” she states and rushes back to her SUV, grabbing a bag out of the back. I put my hands on my hips. “It’s not what you think; my grandmother sent these clothes for me, and I never put them away.”
We walk up the steps holding hands. “You go and shower in my bedroom, and I’ll shower in the spare.” She smiles and looks down shyly. “Then I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”
