About Face by Adam Gittlin Page A

me.
    She called me out for being at an unusual loss for words. I half smiled. Knowing her strength was intact was comforting. But I hated myself for putting her and her young child in a place where her voice could ever sound this nervous.
    I closed my eyes, collected myself.
    â€œCinquante-douze. Five-twelve.”
    Fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I opened it. Perry, wearing jeans and a tight-fitting white cotton tank top, stood with her hands on the shoulders of Max who stood in front of her. He too was wearing jeans, and he had on a blue t-shirt with the Superman
S
. Both were in Nike running sneakers. There was one small, black rolling suitcase standing upright next to them.
    The second our eyes met I wanted to pick her up by her waist and swing her around. For a fleeting moment, all the circumstances surrounding our meeting here, now, were gone. That changed when I looked down, as if Max’s gaze was pulling at mine.
    I squatted down so Max and I were face-to-face. He had just turned eight years old. He had a full head of dirty-blond hair and his cheeks were a bit flushed. He had a peaceful yet dazed look on his round face. The look of a confused boy in new surroundings who just completed a long journey, but did so unquestioningly because of the faith he has in, and love he has for, his mother.
    â€œHow are you, Max?” I asked.
    Sure, I knew Max. But overall my experience with children was minimal, and from an emotional standpoint, it was zilch. I stuck out my hand. I was surprised by how small and soft his palm was against mine when he shook it.
    â€œI’m okay,” he answered with a shrug.
    â€œDid you have fun on the airplane?”
    His brown eyes looked tired. He rubbed them.
    â€œI guess.”
    I stood back up, looked at Perry again. Then I reached out and grabbed their suitcase.
    â€œWhy don’t you both come inside?”
    Max entered first. Immediately, he perked up upon sight of Neo and dropped to his knees to greet him. Always the friendly one, and never of mind to turn away a belly scratch, Neo flipped onto his back. Perry followed Max in and stopped in front of me. Without a word, her eyes briefly taking in the scabbing scratch from Red, she placed her hand on my cheek. I only wanted to touch her back—feel her smooth skin, run my hand through her flowing brown hair. With our eyes we absorbed each other. As usual, she barely had on any makeup. And, as usual, she looked gorgeous.
    â€œMommy, I
really
need to go to the bathroom,” Max said, his gaze still on Neo. Apparently, he had found a good spot on my little partner. Neo’s left hind leg was twitching out of control as his tail wagged wildly.
    â€œThere are two,” I responded as I closed the door. “There’s one right here and another in the bedroom.”
    Max stood up and started for the one off the living room.
    â€œBaby, use the one in the bedroom,” Perry said taking her hand from my face. “Mommy needs a minute alone with Jonah.”
    Max listened and headed off. As he did, neither of us said a word. We just stood there, face-to-face, staring into each other’s eyes. After a few seconds we heard Max close the door behind him.
    Perry stepped closer to me. She reached up with both hands and grabbed the sides of my head. Then she pulled me into her and kissed me deeply. I let go of the suitcase and wrapped my arms around her waist. Between her pulling up high and me pulling down low, lifting her into me, our bodies were pressed against each other in a way that I’d previously only imagined. Her stomach was as tight as her grip. Her breasts were firm and her hard nipples sticking into my chest were driving me crazy. I wanted to tear her clothes off. The only thing stronger than my urges was the reality Max would be back any minute.
    Perry pulled her lips from mine. We both froze.
    â€œI’m so happy you’re a good kisser,” she said. “Talk