Virgin Next Door

Katie loved it and she’d been the one in charge of organizing all the decorations.

“Perfect,” Katie said, clapping her hands. “It looks awesome.”

Ann gasped as Katie threw her arms around her, cutting off her air.

“I get it, you love it. I love it too,” she said, laughing.

Eli had been true to his word. They didn’t keep their relationship a secret, and the first time they kissed in front of her, Katie had squealed.

After entering the house, she went to the fridge to pour out some blood punch for all three of them.

“Ann, are you busy tomorrow after school?” Katie asked.

“Friday, I’ve got half a day as Mr. Graves wants to close shop and check for bugs. He thinks aliens have come down and are tracking him.” She loved working with Mr. Graves.

“Can you come to the school for a pre-Halloween lunch?” Katie asked. “All of the other girls are talking about taking their mothers and well, I don’t want to be the only girl without a mommy.”

Ann’s heart pulled. “Katie, it’s up to your dad. I don’t know if he’d like it.”

They hadn’t exactly talked about her taking the role of mom or any kind of parental role. She never interfered when he had to punish Katie, not that he ever did. She’d refused to do homework one night, and he banned her from the pool.

“Dad doesn’t mind. I’ve asked him and he said I had to ask you. If you would go. Please, please, Louisa is already laughing at me, saying I have no mommy.”

“I’m happy for you to go,” Eli said.

“Erm, sure, I’ll go.”

Katie ran off screaming in excitement.

Ann looked back at her before turning to Eli. “Are you sure?”

“She wants to take you, and to be honest, I think it’s time for Louisa’s mom to get the message. She texted me, you know, offered to sit with Katie at lunch.”

“Oh,” Ann said.

Louisa’s mom had looked at her with such hatred when she’d turned up with Eli to pick up Katie. The other woman clearly had designs on him, and she’d screwed with the other woman’s plans.

“Yeah, oh.”

“But, I don’t want you to think I’m crossing a line.”

“Ann, I told her to ask you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re not crossing any line. Unless of course you don’t want to?”

“I do. I adore her, you know that. I’m just worried.”

“What are you worried about?”

“In case this doesn’t work out with us. I don’t want her to get too attached.” The truth was, she didn’t want to get too attached. They shared their houses. The spare bedroom had even been made up for Katie. They spent a weekend decorating it exactly how she’d like it. Pale-pink walls, blue curtains, and she’d stuck dog and puppy posters on the walls. Her laundry consisted of her own clothes, mixed in with Eli’s and Katie’s.

If Eli had a conference or an important phone call, she took Katie to school and picked her up. She even dealt with lunch as well.

Eli came to the law office or the DIY store to eat with her. He’d even allowed Mr. Graves to scan him with a device to check for an antenna or something.

They walked Elizabeth’s dogs every single day. The older woman had really grown on her. She had even gotten a phone call from Eli to say that he was eating dinner at her house, and to bring Katie along. She’d had dinner with his parents and she adored them.

From his mother, she did get the motherly warning, again, another surprise to her.

Everything seemed to be moving fast but rather than panic, she felt at peace, until now. She was happy going at a steady pace. They didn’t talk about previous couples or the house curse. Elizabeth tried to talk about it, but Eli always changed the topic. Neither of them had said the I love you. Nothing.

Eli kissed her. It wasn’t a soft kiss. Another of his deep, possessive kisses that threatened to make her go weak at the knees. She was totally gone on him.

Just because she hadn’t told him with words that she loved him, Ann knew without a doubt her feelings for him were strong. In fact, she truly believed she loved him, only it scared her.

What if he laughed at her?

“I need you to stop worrying,” he said. “We’re good together, aren’t we?”

“Yes, I know we’re good together.”

“I don’t mind Katie getting attached to you. I’m very much attached to you.” He cupped her ass, squeezing the cheeks.

She also didn’t have it in her heart to tell him she’d skipped a period. She was due another one next week. She had counted her cycle and hidden away her notes when she should have started.

Her last cycle may not have happened because of stress. She’d checked out all possible signs for no menstruals. Stress was a big one. Of course, pregnancy was the number one cause, but they had been careful, and she was on the pill.