Until Lilly (Until, #3)(18)

“Beast?” I wonder why they would name their ‘cute puppy’ that.

“Can we get one?” she asks, giving me her best pleading face.

“I, um...we can’t get one now.”

“Oh.” Her bottom lip pops out, and I know what’s coming.

“No pouting, what did we talk about?”

“But he’s so cute,” she says, that pouty lip trembling.

“I know, baby.” I laugh, pulling her head to my chest and kissing the top of her head.

“You know, you can come visit Beast whenever you want.” Ashlyn lifts her head to look at November. “Plus, I'm sure July, June, and May would like you to come over and visit.” I looked at Cash, wondering if this was some kind of strange test. Who would have the name November, and then name their children after the other months of the year?”

“Yes, those are their girls’ names,” Trevor says reading my face. “I think they’re trying to make a calendar.” He shrugs, making Asher hit him upside his head while November and Liz roll their eyes at the same time. Ashlyn wiggles, wanting down.

“I will be out in a few minutes. You be good until then, all right?” I tell her, not yet releasing her to run off.

“I know,” she says, completely annoyed with me. So just to annoy her more, I kiss her all over her face, making her scream with laughter.

“See you in a few minutes.” I kiss her one last time then release her. When I stand back up, everyone is staring at me, but Cash’s eyes are so warm that my pulse starts to race.

“Um…” I look around.

“Let’s get you washed up,” Cash says, grabbing a bag from the couch. I would have gone anywhere with him at that point, just to get away from the strange vibe I was getting from everyone.

“Is everything okay?” I ask as soon as the bathroom door closes.

“More than.”

“Oh, it just that I felt like everyone was waiting for something to happen.”                           

“My ex wasn’t the easiest person,” he mumbles, closing and locking the door behind us.

“What do you mean?” I slip off my sandals.

“She would start fights over everything under the sun. She always made it seem like everyone was out to get her.”

“Were they?” I mean, I don’t know this woman, but I do know women, and we have a tendency to band together.

“Nah, my family’s not like that; even if they didn’t like her, she would never know it.

“Oh.” That didn’t make me feel good.

“Let’s get this off.” He starts pulling my dress up.

“I don’t need to take my dress off to wash my legs.” I slap at his hands away.

“You’re also going to try this on while we’re in here.” He pulls out a black bikini from the bag he brought into the bathroom with him. The same bikini he was trying to get me to buy when we were in the store.

“I’m not!” I shake my head, pulling down the showerhead and stepping into the tub. Wrapping the bottom of my dress higher around my waist, I start to rinse off my legs.

“Will you please try it on for me?”

“No.” I don’t even look at him when I answer.

“Please?” I finish washing the pudding off my legs, turn off the shower, dry off, and reach out, grabbing the suit from him and pulling the shower curtain closed. I forgot this about him. I forgot that when he wanted something, he would not stop until I did whatever he wanted.

“You’re annoying,” I grumble, pulling my dress up over my head and hanging it over the shower rod along with my bra, but I leave on my thong. Once I have the suit on, I adjust everything, making sure nothing is popping out.

“See?” I slide the curtain open, placing my hands on my hips.

“Fuck me.” He brings his fist up to his mouth, biting down on it. “Yeah, you’re right; you’re not wearing that shit out there if Kenton or Sven come today.” He starts shaking his head in the negative.

“I told you so.” My stomach drops. I’m not gross to look at, but I don’t look like I did before when we were together. My waist and hips expanded, along with my breasts. And I have stretch marks from when I was pregnant. I pull the shower closed, take off the top and the bottom, and reach for my dress. Just as it slides over the rod and into my hands, the shower curtain opens. “What are you doing?” I ask, covering my breasts in a slight panic. His eyes are dark and hungry, making me take a step back.

“You were beautiful when we first met.” Great, I don’t need him to tell me how different I am now. I know.

“But now, that beauty has become something straight out of a f*cking pin-up calendar.”

“What?”

“Look at you.” His eyes roam my body from my hair to my toes. “I need to touch you so that I know you’re real—that you’re really here.” He steps into the shower and pulls the curtain closed. I can’t talk; I feel like I’m being cornered by a large predator.  He takes another step towards me, making me retreat a step back, causing my back to hit the cold tile behind me. One of his hands goes to the wall above my head, the other to my waist, pulling my lower body against him.