She turns her head slightly to make sure no one is within earshot and I’m grateful my assistant isn’t at her desk. “I thought I could see you under the illusion of bringing food for your team.”

  I grab the coffee and the food and pull her into my office. I start to close the door but I don’t know how that would look so I just turn around, leaving the door open and she frowns. “We shouldn’t,” I tell her as I set the food and coffee on my desk.

  She pouts and tucks a dark strand behind her ear. “Fine, I should get back anyway.”

  I lean against my desk and let out a sigh because after the conversation with Bryan, I could use a distraction. I pull her to stand between my legs and she gasps as she peeks over her shoulder before turning back to me. I trace my finger up her thigh slowly and run it over the hem of her skirt, wishing I could push it up to play with her cunt. “You said we shouldn’t.”

  “I’m not good at listening to my own rules,” I tell her as I bring her so that she’s pressed directly against my dick.

  “Theo.” She gasps when she feels how hard I am and I reach around her to give her ass a squeeze. I slide my hand around to her front and under her skirt and drag my fingers along the edge of her panties.

  “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” she tells me as she runs her knuckles gently over my groin.

  Fuck, I want to finish. More importantly, I want her to finish. I want to close my door and let her ride my dick until she comes all over it but the sound of laughter just beyond my office door stops me from doing anything reckless. “You should go before I bend you over my desk without a care as to who’s here.” I stand up and gently move her back a few steps.

  She smirks, before dropping her gaze to my dick and then back up with a smirk. “Okay, I’ll see you tonight? Meet you there at eight?”

  I nod, hating that I can’t even drive her without that causing question. “I’ll be there.” She gives me a smile before reaching up on her toes to press a kiss to my lips that if I were anywhere else, I’d deepen. She pulls back after a second and bites her bottom lip before walking out of my office, leaving me hard, and thanks to the conversation with my older brother, like complete shit.

  The call with my brother has me on edge for the rest of the day, his words sitting in the back of my mind like a pesky conscience I’ve been trying my best to ignore.

  “Is everything okay?” Avery asks from across the table. She cocks her head to the side and leans forward to run her fingers over my hand and strokes it gently. “You’re so quiet tonight.”

  I sigh and run a hand through my hair, knowing I should probably tell her what I’m thinking instead of keeping it from her. “I’m sorry, I just have something on my mind.” She nods at me as if to say, well out with it. “I told my brother.” She stops stroking my hand and slowly slides it off of me. I immediately hate the loss of her touch so I reach for her hand before it’s completely out of my reach. “Hey.” I lean forward and press my lips to her fingers. I don’t say anything else but I hope my eyes say it all.

  I still want this.

  “What did he say?” She asks and her voice is soft and quiet before she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip, assumedly nervous over what I’m going to say.

  “What you’d expect.” I squeeze her hand. “He thinks this is a bad idea for reasons I’m sure you can guess.”

  “Are you having second thoughts about…us?” She doesn’t have tears in her eyes but I can see the sadness written all over her face.

  “I don’t think so,” I tell her honestly. “I spent a year trying to ignore what I was feeling for you and now that we’re here…” I trail off as I mindlessly trace her hand. “I don’t know how to just turn them off. I’m in too deep now.”

  “Same.” She sighs and laces our fingers together. “Lucas and I have been friends for a long time and I think he wants me to be happy. It will be tough at first, but maybe he’ll eventually understand that you make me happy.” She winces. “Or maybe I’m being really naive.”

  I’m about to respond when I hear my name.

  FUCK.

  I knew we should have gone further out of the city.

  “Hey, I thought I saw you,” the familiar voice of my daughter’s boyfriend breaks through our conversation. Dressed in a suit, with a smile on his face, Wes’ voice is calm and light and I try not to look at Avery because I know she’s freaking out and he hasn’t looked at her yet.

  “Wes, hey…are you here with Raegan?” First and foremost.

  “No, I had a meeting.” He turns toward the table behind him where two other men are seated. “I’m heading out though. Rae wants a very particular ice cream that is not in our freezer.” He chuckles before adjusting his glasses and turns his eyes toward Avery. “I’m sorry, forgive my rudeness, I’m—” He stops when he realizes who it is. “Avery?” Although he’s not facing me, I can tell he looks confused at first and then a flash of realization crosses his face.

  “Wes!” She stands and gives him a polite hug like it’s the most normal thing in the world that the two of us would be out at a restaurant on what looks like a romantic date.

  “Uh, hi!” He collects himself quickly even though I’m guessing he knows what’s going on and he turns his head back to me. “I will let you guys get back to your dinner. It was great seeing you both.” He clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “Avery, you look lovely. Nice to see you again.” He nods at me. “Theo.” And then he’s gone moving towards the exit.

  Avery is staring at me with a panicked expression and I nod. “Relax, baby. I’ll handle it,” I tell her before I’m out of my chair and moving in the direction that Wes went. I’m grateful he didn’t go back to his table which would force me to engage in a bunch of football related pleasantries. I find him just outside the restaurant waiting for his car. “Wes.”

  He turns to look at me and then back to the restaurant. “I—It’s none of my business,” he says as he holds his hands up.

  “What you saw in there…”

  “You were having dinner. Nothing out of the ordinary to me.” He turns back to the road assumedly looking for his car and I wonder if for the first time I’m the future father in law making him nervous.

  “You can’t say anything to Raegan and I hate that I’m asking that of you but…”

  “What’s there to tell?” He asks.

  “Wes, I’m serious.”

  He sighs. “Look, it’s not my business and I don’t want it to be my business. I don’t want to be forced to keep things from Raegan and I’m certainly not going to be the bearer of that news.” He points towards the restaurant. “But if this blows up? Do not take me down with you. This never happened.” He lowers his face and looks at me over the top of his glasses. For a moment I feel like I’m being scolded. “I didn’t see anything. I don’t know anything.”

  I let out a sigh of relief because I actually believe him. I don’t think Wes has any interest in telling his pregnant future wife who happens to be my daughter that her father is having an affair with a girl she grew up with. I hold out my hand. “Thank you, Wes. I appreciate it.” I nod, grateful that I don’t have some asshole future son-in-law that could have used this situation to his advantage. “Have a great night.” I turn back towards the restaurant when he speaks again.

  “What I will say, however,” I turn to face him, already not liking where this is going. I knew that was too easy. “I’ve done the whole sneaking around with a younger woman that should have been off limits. You need to come clean before you get caught. Tell Lucas. I can help you with Raegan a little bit, when the time comes, but tell your son. Because if you’re out at a public restaurant, that means it’s more than…” He gives me a look and holds his hands up. “Out in public in Philly no less! Come on. Even I took Rae to another state when we went out on dates.” He rolls his eyes.

  “Mr. Beckham, your car.” One of the attendants gestures towards the black Maserati that pulls up and I eye it briefly in appreciation before turning back to him.

  “I know what it’s like to fall in love with someone you shouldn’t,” he continues. “While our situations are different, they are similar in that we both had something to lose. There are no fraternization policies in place for a reason and I broke all of them and some that didn’t exist before that certainly do now.” He chuckles. “Get in front of it before you get caught. It’s much easier, I promise.”

  “I don’t think—”

  “Don’t even say you’re not in love with her.” He gives me a look. “It’s written all over your face.” He moves toward his car. “Hers too for that matter,” he calls over his shoulder and then gives me a wave before getting in his car.

  And again, I’m annoyed at how much I fucking like him.

  Theo still isn’t back from talking to Wes and I’m starting to get a little worried. Maybe it’s not going well? Maybe they’re arguing? What if he threatened to tell Raegan?

  No, Wes is so sweet. He would never.

  From the two times you met him? my subconscious sneers.

  My thoughts are interrupted by a FaceTime call from Rory. It’s only eight-thirty so I’m sure she’s not drunk but I’m also surprised that she’s FaceTiming me. She moved to New York this week also, so I’m wondering if she’s calling to show me the Dior showroom. In which case, just kill me now. I end the call and shoot her a text.

  Me: At dinner, what’s up?

  Rory: Ah! I’m at this party and I’m not supposed to have my phone but I wanted to show you these new shoes we are launching this fall that are to DIE for. Who are you at dinner with?

  Me: Oh send a pic!

  Rory: I will! Also, there are so many celebrities here, not going to lie. I’m starstruck as fuck. But dinner…? Guy?

  Fuck.

  Me: My mom

  Rory: Oh tell Camille, hey girl hey!

  Rory: By the way, I feel like something is going on with Lucas

  Me: What makes you say that?

  Rory: I don’t know, he’s just been weird ever since we got here. He’s been drinking a lot and sleeping with a lot of women.

  Me: Well…that’s normal? He’s always drunk a lot.

  Rory: More than usual! And he’s never been a manwhore.

  Me: Okay…well, what can we do? He’s grown lol

  Rory: I think he’s going through something.

  Me: Liiiike?

  Rory: I don’t know! You’re his best friend?

  Me: You live there with him!

  Rory: He doesn’t open up to me the same way he does with you

  Me: Okay, I’ll talk to him.

  Rory: Don’t say I put you up to it!

  Theo slides back into his seat and I put my phone down. “How did it go?”

  “Everything’s fine. He’s a good kid.”

  I give him a look and he chuckles before rubbing his forehead. “I think of him as a kid because he’s dating Raegan. You know what I mean.” He takes a sip of his whiskey, draining the full glass before sitting it down. “He’s not going to say anything.” He moves his chair around the square table so that he’s closer to me and holds my hand in his. “He did say I need to tell Lucas soon.” He presses his lips to my fingers and I melt at how romantic he is all the time. “I know that’s not the plan, so we just need to do better about lying low for now.” He looks around the restaurant. “We’re still too close to home.”

  “Okay.” I agree. He leans forward and captures my lips with his, sliding his tongue through them and rubbing it against mine. I moan and he pulls back slowly, his eyes tracing my face as a smile pulls at his lips.

  “Your little noises are going to be the death of me, Avery.”

  Later that night, we are back at Theo’s place where we are finally spending the night for the first time. My car is parked at my college apartment, and in the morning he’s going to take me there so I can drive it home under the illusion that I stayed there tonight. Yes, the whole plan is risky and convoluted, but I’m dying to stay the night with him in his bed and I don’t want to wait any longer. We’re still naked from multiple rounds of sex, lying on our sides facing each other. The room is mostly dark, other than the few candles he’d lit around the room when we got here.

  “You’re so incredible.” He strokes my cheek so softly that I could cry, and part of me wants to after the orgasm I just had. It was the first time we had sex that felt like more than just frantic fucking where we didn’t feel like we were rushing against time or in fear that someone was going to call looking for one of us. It felt slower and more intimate and not at all like the times we were racing to our climaxes. “I just can’t believe you’re you.” He turns onto his back and stares up at the ceiling. “I still remember the day we moved in.” He sighs. “Rae and Lucas had been arguing for two days. I don’t know if they were taking their anger towards their mother out on each other or what, but they would not stop yelling.” I prop my head up on my fist as I listen to him because I don’t think I ever knew this. “And then you just showed up at the front door bouncing up and down like you’d just consumed a mountain of sugar.”

  I do remember that. I remember my mom sending me next door with some food because my mother’s love language has always been feeding people and that was how she welcomed all of our new neighbors.

  Eight Years Ago

  I can’t even stop the blush from creeping onto my face as the hottest guy I’ve ever seen in my entire life answers the door. I don’t know much about the people that just moved in, only that I saw two kids that look about my age and I’m excited to finally have some people to hang out with or ride the bus with. There was no one close to my age in this neighborhood, a bunch of elementary school and high schoolers but no one I could suffer through the middle school years with.

  “Hello! I live next door,” I tell him, trying to keep the squeak out of my voice as I point to my house. “My mom wanted me to bring these. She owns the best bakery in town, so the brownies are great. The lasagna?” I hold out the hand not holding the food and give it a little shake as if to say meh. I hold the food out for him with a bright smile and he takes it while giving me a look of confusion. “I’m Avery Summers.” I smile as I hold out my hand.

  “Theo.” He shakes my hand with a smile before setting the food down on top of a table set amidst a sea of brown boxes. “Thank you very much for this.”

  “You’re welcome. But what’s your last name? I can’t call you by your first name; my mom will have a fit.”

  He chuckles. “Graham.”

  “Great, now that we have that settled, Mr. Graham. Do you have kids? Preferably a girl around thirteen?” I point at myself, excitedly.

  “Well, she’s fifteen actually, but I have a son that’s thirteen.”

  “Hmmm, that’ll do. Can they come out?”

  “Please, take them.” He laughs before he calls into the house. “Rae! Lucas!”

  “I don’t think they came home for two days.” He laughs. “Well Lucas did, but I think Raegan stayed at your house for the next two nights.”

  I smile at the memory of finally having what felt like a big sister. “It was so nice having a girl around and she was older and cooler than me. She probably thought I was so lame.” I chuckle, although if I can remember, Raegan loved hanging out with me and my mom and it didn’t take a therapist to understand why.

  “No, Rae has always loved you like the little sister she wanted instead of Lucas.” He laughs and I frown thinking about what it could mean now. “You were the best thing to ever happen to Raegan and Lucas and at the best time.” He turns back towards me and pulls me closer. “And now you’re….” He moves us so that I’m beneath him and though he doesn’t say the words explicitly, I hear the implication. “What are you doing to me, Avery?”

  “The same thing you’re doing to me,” I tell him. “I used to fantasize about being here with you and now I’m actually here.” I pull my eyes from him to look around his bedroom.

  “I never thought you’d ever be here. Honestly, there’s been so few times I’ve had a woman here at all.”

  I raise an eyebrow, curious about this particular conversation and the women who came before me. “Yeah, about that. You never dated anyone seriously. At least no one you brought around Rae and Lucas. How come?”

  He shrugs. “I never felt like I met the right woman that I would feel comfortable introducing to them.” He looks me over. “This is not to say I didn’t date, it was just harder. Rebecca wasn’t here, so it’s not like I had weekends or days where they could be with her and allow me to really spend an extended amount of time getting to know someone. I was always running one of them here or there. I couldn’t stay overnight at a woman’s place and I wasn’t allowing just anyone to come here. If they were both sleeping at a friend’s house, I could or before Bryan moved to Arizona and they’d stay there for a night I could have someone over but I don’t know. Meeting someone was never my focus. I guess I felt like Rebecca robbed me of that in some ways. I didn’t want them to feel like they had two parents that didn’t put them first. That I valued a relationship with someone else more than I did with them.” He shakes his head. “And now I wonder if that’s exactly what I’m doing with Lucas. Am I just as bad as Rebecca? Or hell, worse because he expects that kind of selfishness from her and doesn’t from me?”

  I am at a loss for words, hearing him unload all of his fears and when his eyes dart to mine, he winces at the look of shock on my face. “Shit, Ave. I shouldn’t have said all of that.”

  “No!” I press my lips to his as I try to calm the anxiety taking over that comes with sharing too much. “Of course you should.” I sigh, unsure of what to say. “It’s messy.” I nod in agreement. “Especially when you phrase it like that.”

  “I’m fucking crazy about you and I’m not taking into consideration how that fact now affects him. Does that make me selfish?” He rubs his hand down my shoulder gently and goosebumps pop up in response.