11. Pizza and a Kiss
1004 Words
They ended up in the dojo after all. They bought the pizza, Aidan mimicking a few movements to Cissy’s delight, and then they shared a huge ice cream. When sleep finally claimed Cissy, she dozed off on a mattress, Summer’s purse serving as pillow.
They had cleaned the mess and were finishing the wine, all while playing the 20 questions game, but keeping it lightly.
“Are you going to tell me why were you in such a bad mood?”
“It’s that time of the month, I guess.”
“Now that’s just lame.” He said playfully. “If a man says that, it’s sexism. But if a woman says it…”
“It’s true…”
“No, it’s not. But I will let it slide if…”
He looked at her seriously and crawled to her until their noses were barely touching. Summer fought the urge to retreat ot at least to put on some space between them, because, by his indolent smile, that was exactly what he expected her to do.
“If you allow me to teach you shorinji kempo.”
Whatever it was she was expecting, that wasn’t it for sure. Her eyes widened and she blinked a few times, while his indolent smile made an appearance again.
“Are you nuts? I just told you…”
“That you can barely touch your toes, I heard you… and when I’m finished, you’ll be touching them and doing backflips at the same time.”
She burst out laughing. He sounded so seriously that it seemed he truly believed it.
"I’m not joking, Sunshine. I can teach you. And you can kick your bad humor away with a good training.”
“I’m not…”
“Yes, you were. And sprite was worried.”
“What?”
She was caught unguarded. Open mouthed, she looked at Cissy’s sleeping figure, nestled in the mattress, and then looked at him.
“What?”
“I don’t know what happened today, but Cissy heard you scream with someone on the phone. She said that you seemed firstly annoyed that downright furious.”
“My four-year-old used all of those words? Before or after a soup of letters?”
He snorted.
“It wasn’t her first choice of words, I concede that.”
“Oh, you do? So glad…”
The irony was just wasted on him, who continued resolutely:
“Yeah, but she did say that you were angry and continued so even when you were at the fair.”
“She run away from me…”
“Stop making excuses, Summer.”
It was the use of her real name, more than his words, that caught her attention. He was serious, his eyes boring into hers as if he could look into her soul. They exchanged looks until Summer looked away, and for the first time in forever tears threatened to fall. It was due to sheer will of strength that they didn’t.
“My parents called.” She said simply.
“Not a pleasant conversation, I take it.”
“No, not really. In fact, we’ve hadn’t had a pleasant conversation in years.”
“Is it because of Cissy?”
She looked at him, studying him more closely than ever. He found it discomfiting not knowing the conclusions she had arrived. As for her, well… she was getting anxious at how good he was at reading her. No one had ever been so good at it like him.
“They never approved me keeping her.”
“And her father?”
“Not in the picture.”
“Never?”
“Not since he ejaculated.”
He snorted.
“You never tried to find him? Sue him for child support?”
“That would give him power over me. Over Cissy. He could try to take her away from me, I couldn’t allow it.”
“No court would take a child from a fitting mother.” He said frowning. She didn’t answer and averted her eyes.
“Stranger things have happened… Returning to your idea, it’s ludicrous.”
“Why?”
“why what?”
“Damn, it’s hard talking with you. Why is it ludicrous?”
“Because…”
“Now you’re being childish, because it’s not an answer…”
“Look… this sport is your life… I get it, believe me. But I’m different, I’m more of an ice cream person…”
“Yeah, I know… mint with chocolate chips. I remember. But you know what? You can be both.”
“Why do you even care if I drown my sorrows in ice cream?”
“Well… if you have to ask, then I’m really losing it…” he was speaking more to himself so his next move caught her unguarded.
He kissed her. Soft at first, his lips were playing her, asking permission. His tongue darted out, licking, caressing, awakening her hunger. They were barely touching and a heat was already spreading between her legs, something that she didn’t feel in an awful lot of time.
Aidan deepened the kiss, encapsulating her body with his arms, making her a willing prisoner. His tongue and lips were everywhere and she moaned silently when he reached her hear. When they both were gasping for air, her hand landed in his chest softly, stopping him from going any further.
“Am I the only one to feel this, Sunshine?” he whispered. He bored into her eyes, looking into her soul.
“You know you’re not. But not in front of Cissy.”
His eyes darted to the sleeping child ahead and silently cursed.
“You’re right, I’m sorry.”
He lended her a hand, helping her to get up. She looked at him, her face a mask of confusion.
“I’m not sorry about the kiss, I’m sorry for not thinking about it sooner. I would never do anything to hurt your child.”
She smiled softly.
“I know you wouldn’t.”
She didn’t know from where all of that certainty had come, but she truly did know. She left his hands roam around her body, before landing harmlessly in her waist.
“I don’t know what this is, but I want to find out.”
“So do I. but… I have Cissy to consider…”
“I know. I won’t force you to choose between myself and your child, Sunshine, that’s just ridiculous…”
“Yeah, well…”
It was the way she averted her eyes that made him clench his teeth. Someone had forced Summer to choose. And like a good mother, she had chosen her daughter. He couldn’t be any prouder of her. Yet, at the same time, he wanted to hunt down the bastard who had put so much weight upon her shoulders and tear him apart. Limb by limb.
But she had agreed to at least see where their budding relation was heading, so… her admittance made his indolent smile reappear.
“So, how about those training lessons?”
- Writer
