Home to You

That familiar tingle slides up my spine, and I know this’ll be over quickly. My body is like a lit fuse, sizzling and crackling as it gets closer and closer to detonation. The release I’ve been craving is right there, and all it takes is the sweetness of her name on my own lips to send me over the edge.

I come so hard, it steals my breath, but I don’t stop moving my hand until I’m completely drained of energy. My body sags against the tile, the too-hot water all but forgotten. My body feels sated, but I know it’ll be short-lived. With Haven back in town, I’ll be walking around in a perpetual state of arousal, no doubt.

I wash up, letting the heat relax my weary muscles. When I get out of the shower, I grab the last clean towel, a reminder I need to flip the wash over to the dryer before I go to bed. Otherwise, I’ll have nothing but a hand towel to dry off tomorrow morning, and that’ll suck ass. I slip on the boxers and brush my teeth, careful to avoid my own reflection in the mirror. I should feel guilty for picturing my daughter’s ballet teacher while jacking off in the shower, but I just can’t seem to find the urge.

The washer has completed its cycle, so I toss the towels and some dryer sheets into the dryer and turn it on. As I head back to the kitchen, I fill a glass with water and spy my phone on the counter. It’s just lying there, taunting me for some weird reason. The clock is approaching ten o’clock, way past an appropriate time to reach out.

Yet, here I am, reaching for my phone and swiping the screen.

A photo of Chloe and me from earlier in the summer appears on the screen and makes me smile. I took it at the zoo in front of the monkey enclosure. Her chocolate ice cream smile is full of exhaustion and excitement from her first big outing to see zoo animals. By the time it was time to go, I was carrying her out of there. I remember she passed out before we even got out of the parking lot.

I know I probably shouldn’t do this, yet I still pull up a blank text screen and type in her name.

Me: Just checking to see if you got home okay.

Before I can set the device back down on the counter, the little bubbles appear, and I’m suddenly holding my breath for her reply.

Haven:Uhhh, yeah, like two and a half hours ago. *insert smirk emoji*

Me:Well, I got busy with Chloe and bath time and one story turned to two…

Haven:It’s a good thing I wasn’t kidnapped. He’d have a horrible head start.

I roll my eyes at her sass as I picture her sitting on her bed, typing that message.

Me:Anyway, thanks for having dinner with me and Chloe tonight.

Haven:It was my pleasure. And like I said earlier, you didn’t need to pay.

Me:Just say thank you, Have.

Haven:Thank you, Have.

Me: Smartass…

When she doesn’t reply right away, I figure end this while I’m ahead.

Me:I’ll let you get to bed. Just checking on you.

Haven:To make sure I got home okay. Got it.

Me:Night, Have

Haven:Goodnight, Bash

There’s something incredibly familiar and easy with our communication, and I realize it would be so simple to fall into old routines. Not that it would be a bad thing…

I double-check the door locks, leaving the small light on above the sink. It’s not too often Chloe gets up in the middle of the night, but when she does, it’s for a drink of water. Only when I’m sure everything is set, do I finally head to bed, without completing my grading work. Oh, well. I’ll just wrap it up during my third period prep hour.

As I climb into bed, I flip on the television. I don’t need it to sleep, but the distraction would be nice. But the longer the program plays, the less I focus on what they’re saying and more on a certain green-eyed brunette with an angelic smile. The one who makes my heart beat like a fucking drum in my chest.

The one who may still own a sliver of said heart.

“Can I stay out here with you?” Chloe asks from the sidelines as the team takes off for the locker room.

Sighing, I give her a pointed look. “You know you can’t, sweetheart. I need to focus on the game when I’m out here.”

“I can help you, Daddy!” she insists, puffing out her lower lip in a perfect pout.

“You’re a great help, sweetie, but not during the game. I’ll never focus if you’re on the sideline with me. You’re gonna sit with Mommy in the bleachers.” We both glance up to see my ex-wife and her fiancé sitting in their usual spot in the stands.