LOGINAs I was getting dressed, Jason started making up the bed, pulling the sheets tight with more force than necessary, smoothing out creases that weren’t really there. He moved like he needed something practical to do, something to steady himself.“Sweedie,” I said softly, watching his back, “don’t you want to do the paternity test?”He froze mid-tug, the sheet clenched in his fist. His shoulders went rigid before he slowly let the fabric fall.“Rach, how did you know I was thinking about it…” “Its been all over you face for days”“He exhaled, not turning around yet. “I am scared to get my hopes up.”The honesty in it caught me off guard.“What if I need to know?” I asked gently. My voice felt smaller than I intended.He turned then, leaning back against the edge of the bed, arms folding across his chest like armor. “Why did you not try to find out before you married Chris? Were you not scared it was mine?”I swallowed. I knew what my answer was and I knew he wasn’t going to like it.“B
We were cupping each other’s faces when I leant in and gave him a feverish kiss. He responded in equal measure lifting me from the counter and moving us to the shower. As we climbed in I moved down and he slid out of me.Steam curled around us, thick and blinding, turning the small shower into its own private world. The water pounded against tile, against skin, against the tension that had been building between Jason and me all morning.He stepped in behind me without asking.His hand slid around my waist, firm. The heat of his body pressed into my back, contrasting the spray of water cascading over my shoulders. I felt small in his grip.“You will always he the one for me,” he murmured near my ear, his voice low and steady, almost swallowed by the sound of the water.His fingers traced slowly up my stomach, deliberate, l. He turned me to face him with one hand at my hip, guiding me like he already knew I would follow. His eyes were darker in the steam, focused, unreadable.“Look at m
Jason was up early with the kids letting me sleep in. I find myself often drifting off to memories. I wonder sometimes looking backing if Chris was trying to tell me something. I think I am especially drifting because I just can’t help but wonder if Hemming Port was the last we saw of him.“Morning sunshine”Morning I said with my face lighting up. “Is that happiness for me or the coffee” Jason said with a laugh“You will never know” I winked back at himHe sat by my feet massaging them. “You want to get out a bit with Ally and Dylan? Its been a while since we spent time with them”I looked up at him whilst drawing a sip, “Its been a while since we did a lot of things.”He smiled at me “You mean two days”“Like I said a long time”He moved closer and kissed me “Well Mrs Everwood you choose, do you want a warm cup of coffee or a warm shower with me?”I put the cup down and placed my arms around him “A warm shower” I whisperedJason placed an arm behind my back and his other under my k
We carried on with the project. Chris and I started spending every night together. Jason seemed to not care at all. But then I must also say, I wonder how much he noticed. I finally figured out who that girl is that he was with from Switzerland. Her name is Celeste. Although Jason is not breathing a word about her. Not how they met, whats their history or how she has been pitching up in every country we have gotten to. Needless to say, I don’t know if Chris moved i to the van with me for me or because he could not deal with being that close to shower sex, as often as it was happening. We were now in Algarve Portugal. As we like to call it Sun & Skin. It has beautiful Golden cliffs, hidden caves that you need to reach by boat, quiet beaches with the mist dramatic ocean views Our mornings were slow, I always had drinks coning up. Hot or cold depending on where we were. But here ice teas felt fitting. Slower mornings, salt on skin, swims morning and evening. We were needing some ice
The wind was picking up outside as Chris and I lay tangled in each other’s arms. I could tell something was bothering him. His body started to feel more and more tense.“Whats wrong?” I asked whiles till leaning into himHis body tended as my words came out“Rachel, you don’t really know me”I laughed “Chris, I am embarrassed to say but having a crush on you for so many years has its side effects”He looked down at me and kissed me “Yes but there is many ways to know someone and still not really know them”I started to realise he was serious “Is there something that you want to share with me”“I just realised that we are bringing a child into this world together and there may be things that you may want to know”I sat up a little and pulled the sheet over me“l would love to hear” He grabbed his jocks and put them on and leaned a against my built in cupboard “I grew up in a good family. A big one, I have four siblings. We are all boys. My parents did not have a lot of money. So from
My heart started pounding as I took in his words. Trying to convince myself to trust them. Chris moved closer “Rachel, please let me touch you again” I hesitated for a moment still wounded by how things have been between us. He moved in before I could nod or say yes I didn’t turn toward him. I felt him there. The heat of him. His desire. Once, I would have curled into his chest without thinking. Once, he would have reached for me and I would have answered before he even asked. But that was before the disappearing. Before the words in Sweden. Before the way he could make me feel chosen one moment and discarded the next. My body almost failing me “Chris,” I said quietly. He didn’t argue. That alone made my chest tighten. Instead, he moved slowly like sudden movements might scare me off and reached for my hand. Not my waist. Not my thighs. Just my hand. His fingers wrapped around mine gently, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in soft, steady strokes. “I know,” he said. Hi