Reed's Reckoning

“Ari, you’re apprehensive. A lot has happened in the last week, but Davis isn’t the only one I want to get to know.”

Air leaves my lungs and I try to catch my breath. He tightens his grip on my waist and holds me until I step back.

“Please don’t. Please don’t say things like that to me.”

“I’ll give you some time, but I know what I want.”

“I need to get back home.”

“Okay then, let’s go.” He steps back and we turn around.

The silence is killing me so I try to make casual conversation. “Where’s your new place?”

“Right there,” he points to a grey and white shingled beach house.

“Reed! You’re less than a mile from us.”

“That’s the point.” He teases.

I can’t help but grin. He probably paid a fortune for the place just to be close.

“So, what are you and Davis doing today?”

“I’m taking him to the fields in town.”

“What’s going on there?”

“Summer soccer sign-ups.”

He stops walking and his face turns red. He’s trying to control his attitude but he’s failing. “Soccer! Really, Arianna? Isn’t there some sort of football camp he can go to?”

“He likes soccer. It’s just a small league, but when he turns four, he can play on a team. It’s good to get him into organized sports.”

“Football is an organized sport!”

His hissy fit is hilarious and I laugh in his face.

“This is not funny, I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

“I’m coming with you two.”

I want to tell him no, but his face a few minutes ago comes to my mind. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Um hmm… Meet me at the house in an hour.” We’re at the edge of his property and I plan on dropping him off so I can run the rest of the way home.

“I promised to get you home, we better get moving.” He says playfully and takes off in a sprint. I chase after him smiling and wondering if I just made a huge mistake.

Reed

My knee is fucking killing me. I overdid it this morning with the run, but it was worth it. My Jacuzzi should be delivered tomorrow and I can soak it then. Being with Arianna is worth any amount of pain.

I can’t believe I lost my shit, but damn if it didn’t feel good to have her touch me. Even with just the feel of her fingertips, my body came alive. Seeing her after all these years, old feeling resurfaced. The raw pain I felt has been replaced with anger. Ari may not believe it, but my love never went away, I just buried it deep. I saw the hesitation in her face and her guard went up when I told her I wanted to get to know her again, but she doesn’t realize I was being soft. What I really wanted to say was, ‘you’re going to be in my bed again, and I’m never letting you go’. Baby steps.

I walk to her house so she has no other option but for me to ride with her. If there is one thing I remember from pee-wee sports is all the dad’s around. Showing up with her is my way of making a statement.

I ring the bell and hear shuffling inside. Davis opens the door and smiles up at me.

“Hey, Mr. Reed.”

His reference is like a kick to the gut. I smile down at him and ruffle his hair. “What’s up, little man?”

“Nuttin’. Mama told me you was coming so I waited.”

“You excited about going to the fields?”

“Yep, Miles is going to be there.”

“Miles your friend?”

“Oh yes, they go to daycare together and are practically inseparable. He’s a sweet kid.” Ari walks in and my eyes bulge out of my head. Her black shorts are tight against her tone legs and her red tank top hugs her waist and chest. Her long brown hair hangs to the middle of her back in waves and her sandals wrap around her ankles. She’s a walking wet dream. I sit in the closest chair to try and hide the swell in my shorts.

“Wow,” is all I can manage to say.

“What?”

“You look really hot.”

Her face blushes and she looks away. “It’s just shorts and a tank.”

“Maybe to some people, but on you, it’s sexy as hell.”

Her eyes cut to me and then back to Davis who is trying to put his shoes on.

‘Sorry’ I mouth. Another thing I need to learn is not to cuss so much. She’ll kill me if our kid starts talking like a sailor.

“You ready?” I ask him and he runs out the door. We follow him to Ari’s car. I notice immediately her car is old. The paint is faded and the inside is torn apart.

She looks around for my car and I explain that I walked over. She nods and puts Davis in his seat.

“So why exactly did you want to come today? It’s just a bunch of little boys running around while the parents fill out the paperwork and watch them.”