Relapse

Irrational anger tries to take over, but I push it down just enough to answer him. “Fine,” I say sharply and when I look up, I find that his eyes are not on mine, instead they’re on my… neck.

Right where I know Emmet left the fresh hickey against my caramel skin. Nathan’s eye moves over my shoulder, down the hall before he returns his gaze to mine. He doesn’t make any comment about the mark, just releases me.

If only he knew that wasn’t the only part of my body that Emmet had his mouth on.

I push past him before he can say anything else and I quickly head to the backyard to collect the kids. They’re still playing and Lilly is jumping up and down as Chase holds onto her hands. I pause, watching them and a weird feeling forms in my chest that isn’t quite like the anxiety I felt earlier.

Chase looks up and when his gaze meets mine, he smiles. I look away, turning my gaze down as I make my way over to them.

“Tanner, it’s time to go,” I say when I spot him.

His mouth drops open, “But-”

“No arguing,” I say sharply and I don’t miss the anger that fills his gaze. “We have to go.”

“Is everything okay?” Chase questions as he moves over to me.

Stop asking me that.

“It’s fine,” I say as I take Lilly away from him.

He open his mouth and I prepare myself to fend off his question, when Lilly interrupts with her favorite word, “Fuck.”

Chase’s eyes widen slightly before his lips press tight and as his shoulders start to shake, I can tell he’s holding back a laugh. No one else finds it quite as funny though because I find the other parents looking at me with wide eyes and I can just hear their thoughts.

Oh my god, the two year old just said the F word. What kind of home life is going on in that residence?

My cheeks heat and I can’t stop the embarrassment. “Come on,” I bark at Tanner, turning to leave and trying to ignore the gazes of the others.

Instead of going back through the house and risking running into Emmet or Nathan, I open the gate and quickly move back to our house with Tanner on my heels. When we get in the house, I sit Lilly down and when I turn to look at Tanner, I find him glaring at me.

Before I can ask what’s wrong with him, he’s marching down the hall to his room where he slams his door.

Jesus, fucking help me.