Page 57 of Wild Mistake
“Aiden.” I press my hands to his cheeks. Laughter bubbles up through my belly and shakes my chest. “I’m fine. It’s fine. Even if you did attempt to drown me with your orgasm.”
His arms band protectively around my body, but his lips twitch with the start of a smile. “You’re never going to let me live this down, are you?”
“Never.”
19
OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO
Dear Sarah,
How are you? Are things going well at school? Make sure you tell all my favorite teachers hello. Are you getting lots of hours at the diner? I don’t want you to work too hard. Remember to fit some fun into your schedule. Yes! Even without me!
I haven’t stopped thinking about all the fun we had when you came to see me graduate from basic training. It meant a lot to have you standing by my parents for that. I will never forget the time we spent together—with and without my parents. I am pretty sure I’ll cherish those memories for the rest of my life. Thank you for the gift you gave me, for trusting me, and for making me the luckiest man in the world.
I feel like I can do anything with you in my corner. I can’t wait to see you again, and to doitwith you again. You are so beautiful. You know that, right? And generous, and kind, and perfect in all the ways I’m lacking.
I overheard my parents talking once, telling Ryan what makes a good, solid marriage. They said it’s not just finding someone who you think is attractive. It’s about finding a partner who brings out the best in you. About choosing every day to love and respect that person’s passions and dreams. You bring out the best in me. You make me want to be a better man. I hope I do the same for you. I’m going to make it my personal mission, once I’ve served my time in the Army, to give you everything you’ve ever wanted. Dream big, baby. The world is ours.
Forever and always,
Aiden
20
SARAH
PRESENT DAY
“So,you were out late last night,” my mother says after stepping outside and handing me a mug of coffee.
“Thanks for watching the boys,” I say, uninterested in recapping my sexcapades with anyone, least of all my mom. Not that she would shame me. I just don’t want to hear her words of warning, however well-meaning they are. My inner voice has already given me a talking to. When it comes to Aiden, I need to guard my heart. He’s already shattered it once. A second time would be my fault.
It’s an unusually warm afternoon, which is why I’m sitting outside instead of in the trailer waiting for the boys to come home from school. I’m bundled up but the sun feels good on my face.
“It was good seeing Aiden.” She takes a seat next to me and gives me a pointed look over the rim of her coffee cup.Of course she’s not going to let this go. “I didn’t realize he made deliveries for the diner, or that the two of you had reconnected.”
We reconnected, all right.Fuck me. My body aches from the exertion from last night’s fun. Not the kind of pain I’ll ever complain about, though. I don’t remember the last time my body responded that enthusiastically to a man’s touch.
That’s a lie. It was him. It’s always been him.
I want to do it again.
I want to seehimagain.
Which is scary as hell, because what do I hope to accomplish by rekindling things with an old flame.
“Sarah?”
“Yeah?” I meet my mother’s annoyed gaze.Shit. She hates being ignored. “Sorry. My brain’s foggy today.” I need to take my medication. I’m almost out. I should stop by the pharmacy. Maybe Parker and Gabe will want to take a drive with me over to Show Low. If I don’t go today, I won’t have time until next week.
“I know it’s none of my business,” Mom starts. Itisnone of her business, but that doesn’t stop her. “But it’s okay to be happy again.”
My gaze whips to hers. I don’t know what I expected her to say, but this is not it. “I am happy.” I hate that I’ve given her any more reason to be concerned. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I know you are strong and capable. That’s not what I mean.” She holds my stare. “You left Jake for a reason, and I know you don’t want to tell me.” She holds up a hand. “That’s fine. I probably don’t want to know. But I can guess you brought your boys here because you deserved better. And that starts now. You’ve been working yourself ragged since you moved back. No more, Sarah. It’s time to let the light back in. It’s time for you to find what makes you happy.”
I fight the urge to argue with her. I am happy. Kind of. Mostly. I love my sons, and I won’t stop working to make a better life for us. But she’s right. The last few months I’ve been existing, going through the motions and feeling numb to it all. My goddamn husband cheated and I found out through a stranger on Facebook. I didn’t yell or scream, I just packed my shit and moved forward. Because that’s what I needed to do to survive. Because if I let myself feel all of it, I might break.
