Too Hard(20)

Is he going to be upset that I outed him to his kids? He might not do random women, but that doesn’t mean he wants his sons to know about this.

I know nothing about parenting and this could be something he wants to tell them on his own. One of them finding me dressed in his shirt in the middle of the night likely isn’t how he wanted this to go down. It doesn’t help that I’m about their age. I reason with myself that they aren’t his birth children, so maybe them being around my age isn’t that odd.

I don’t care what age he is or I am because we’re both are adults, but his sons might not feel the same way. Owen seemed pissed when he thought I’d been in Elijah’s room, but then it turned to shock when he realized I was with Butch. Afterwards he smirked about it, so I can’t help but wonder why me sleeping with his brother made him mad, but not with his dad.

I use the bathroom and when I’m finished I gasp as I look at myself. Not only did I run into Owen in the middle of the night wearing Butch’s shirt, but it’s easy to see I’ve been having sex all night.

I do the best I can to try and tame my hair without a brush. Butch’s shirt is longer than the dress I had on last night, so I think it’s okay to walk around the house in it. There’s no option at this point because I don’t know where my dress is to put it back on.

When I open the door, Owen is standing there with Elijah beside him. They stop whispering and turn to me and it’s then I notice they’re both only in sweatpants and not wearing shirts. They’re fit and I recall Butch mentioning something about them playing sports. I’m sure most everyone would find them attractive, but there’s nothing there for me. Butch is the only person who has ever snagged my attention and I think it’s because he calls to something deep inside of me. He sees a need in me I didn't know was there until he brought it to the surface.

“I still can’t believe it and I’m looking right at her.” Elijah shakes his head. “It does make sense why he was getting so pissy the other night though.” He smiles the same as Owen did when he realized I’m here with Butch.

“Hey.” I give a small wave and it’s awkward because I don't know what to do right now. If Butch and I keep going like we are, would they be my stepsons? That sounds so ridiculous in my head. “So.” I look toward Butch’s door and pointedly back at them. They’re blocking the hallway and I need them to move so I can get back to Butch’s bedroom.

“You hungry?” Elijah asks me.

“We can make a pizza and play Call of Duty.” Owen quickly adds, and I laugh.

I guess I’m making it a bigger deal in my head than it is because they seem to be okay with it.

“I could eat,” I admit as my stomach rumbles. Butch and I never did get around to dinner last night. Unless you count eating each other.

“I’ll heat up the oven,” Elijah says, walking past me.

Owen throws an arm around my shoulder like we’re buddies and I guess maybe we are. “There was an update on one of the maps last night. You see it yet?”

The world could have exploded last night and I would have missed it. Crap, I should probably text Nellie and let her know I’m okay. One night with Butch and already I’m consumed.





Chapter Fourteen





Butch





I wake up and reach for Harlow, but the only thing I grasp are the cold sheets beside me. I sit up in bed and blink a few times, trying to get my eyes to adjust. It’s dark, but I’ve got blackout curtains so it could be the middle of the day for all I know.

We went at it hard last night so I slept like the dead. I feel anxious as I look around and don’t see any of her things. I didn’t pay attention to where they went last night when I took them off of her, so I can’t really say they’re missing. I grab a pair of loose lounge pants from my dresser and pull them on as I peek in my bathroom and see the light off. I look around for my phone thinking maybe she sent me a text or something, but she wouldn’t just leave like that. Would she?

I open the door to my room and I pause when I hear her laughter. I walk down the hall and to the end of the stairs where I see the lights on.

“Shit.” I look over and see the boys’ doors are open and I realize she must be down there with them.

I wasn’t ready for this kind of conversation, but there’s no time like the present. After the things Harlow and I shared last night, I have no intentions of giving her up, so I guess in a way it’s better to rip the Band-Aid off.

I make my way down the stairs and walk into the family room. I pause as I take in the sight of all three of them playing video games and eating pizza. Owen and Elijah are on one side of the room on the big couch with their headphones on and empty plates in front of them. Harlow is in my recliner wrapped in my blanket with headphones on. I like seeing her in my spot with her hair messed up like I fucked her all night. I have to take a breath and get myself under control because I can’t pop wood in front of the boys.

“Morning,” I say as I walk into the room and all three of them turn to look at me. I go straight for Harlow and put my hands on either side of the recliner as I bend down and give her a quick kiss. “You disappeared on me.”

She blushes and bites her lip as she looks over to the boys. “I got lost looking for the bathroom and then they lured me away with pizza and a video game update.”