Chapter12
Ethan
“Go, Oliver!” I clap my hands while cheering on my kid. It’s his second soccer game since the season started, and I never thought I’d feel so much pride watching my son chase and kick a ball around. But damn, is this one of the best things ever.
The entire sideline screams when Oliver scores a goal, and the teams return to their sides of the field for a kickoff.
“Nice job, buddy!”
“Can we get ice cream after this now?” he yells across the field to me, entirely serious.
I laugh as well as some of the other parents around me. “Absolutely, bud!”
Before the game today, I told Oliver we would get ice cream from the gelato shop by my office whether his team won or lost as long as he tried his best. Well, after scoring a goal, I think I might have to let him have two scoops.
“That kid is going to break your bank account if you hold up that promise each week,” one of the other parents jokes with me.
“Apparently so.”
But before I can say another word, a flash of blond hair catches my eye across the park. Wild curls, the color of sunshine, bounce as the woman who has turned my life upside down in the last two weeks walks briskly around the perimeter of the sports complex, getting in her morning exercise.
Amelia and I have been seeing each other as more than friends with benefits for two weeks now. After that day in her office, I had no choice but to jump in with her. Even though I’ve had many talks with myself about remaining calm and taking things slow, my heart can’t deny how enamored I am with her.
We’ve eaten lunch with each other as long as work allows, talking about anything and everything. I’ve shared stories with her about Oliver, she’s told me more about her childhood and how she was a perfectionist in school, and we spent entirely too much time one day taking a picture of her gnomes guarding treasure so that I could show Oliver after school that day.
She listened intently when I told her about my fantasy football league, how I planned on fixing my mother’s porch as soon as the summer heat died down, and how Oliver read an entire book to me the other night before bed, and I cried afterward.
And yesterday, on our lunch break, I bent her over the arm of her couch and spanked her ass so hard while I pounded into her that I left a handprint. The sight of the red mark on her skin shouldn’t have turned me on even more, but it did. I made sure she was okay afterward, of course. But she and I both liked it a little too much, and just thinking about it now is making me hard.
I reach down to slyly adjust myself as I focus back on the game. But my eyes do double the work, alternating between watching Oliver and watching Amelia. Wanting to catch her attention, I decide to send her a text.
Me: What do you think you’re doing wearing shorts that tight and short in public? That ass is reserved just for me, Dr. St. Clair.
I watch her to see if she is aware of my message. And almost instantly, she’s pulling her phone from her pocket and reading the screen, freezing in her steps as she looks around. I wave in her direction, and when she sees me, our smiles build at the same time.
She shoves her phone into her pocket, pulls out her earbuds, and makes her way toward me as Oliver’s game continues.
“Hey, you,” she says when she arrives next to me, playfully nudging me with her shoulder as she stands by my side and watches the game with me. I imagined she would kiss me with the look that was on her face, but I guess she’s trying to be discreet.
“Good morning. You didn’t answer my question.”
With a peek at me over her shoulder, she shrugs. “These are my workout shorts, Ethan. I have smaller ones I wear to my pole dancing class that I could wear instead if that makes you happier.”
Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I draw her into my side, pressing a kiss to her temple. And with my voice low, I let her know how her sass is making me feel. “Is there still a handprint on your ass from yesterday?”
She chuckles. “No.”
“Shame. Guess I’ll have to spank you a bit harder next time for that sass you’re giving me right now.”
Her head slowly turns in my direction. “Maybe you’re the one that needs to be punished.”
Nuzzling my nose into her hair, I breathe her in. “The only thing that feels like a punishment right now is not being alone with you.”
“Aw, I missed you too.”
I smile down at her. “What are you doing here?”
“I walk around the park sometimes on Saturday mornings for a little exercise. As soon as I saw all of the cars, I figured you’d be here. I didn’t want to interrupt you though. I mean, I know this is your time with Oliver, so…”
“Hi, Amelia.” My mother comes back from the snack bar with two breakfast burritos, interrupting us.
“Oh, hi.” She wipes her hand on her shorts and then reaches out to shake my mother’s. “It’s nice to see you again…”
“Lisa,” she finishes for her.
“Lisa.”
“Ethan didn’t tell me you were coming.” My mother glances up at me with an arch of her brow as she hands me my breakfast burrito.
“Oh, this wasn’t planned. I was just here walking around the complex getting some exercise in, and he actually saw me.”
“I see. Well, I hope you’ll stay and watch with us.”
Amelia looks to me for guidance because this wasn’t something we had planned.
After we agreed we were dating, I told Amelia I would be more comfortable waiting a while until she came around Oliver. And I know they’ve already met, but now that we’re dating, the stakes are higher. It’s not that I don’t trust her with him or think they wouldn’t get along. It’s the exact opposite. I know he already loves her, wants to ask her a million questions, and would probably have her move in with us tomorrow. But until I’m more confident in how I’m feeling, I wanted to prevent him from growing too attached too quickly.
Him, or you, Ethan?
“I’d better go before Oliver sees me, Ethan.” She begins to walk away, but I grab her hand before she gets too far.
“No, stay.”
“Are you sure?”