as Audrey would’ve predicted. Perhaps so much time together in swimsuits lessened the awkwardness. Still, she felt nervous about what was to come.
Leo cleared his throat. “Uh, Audrey, I don’t have any protection.”
“Me neither, but let’s not stop. I’m, um, I’m not very regular because of swimming, so we should be fine.” Leo hesitated. “We shouldn’t do this.”
“Probably not.” She gave him a devilish grin and pressed her mouth against his. He eagerly returned her kiss, not seeming to care about his cuts and bruises. Their bodies melded together. Audrey felt him beneath her, and her excitement rose as well.
Audrey paused and lifted her head up.
“Have…have you changed your mind?” Leo asked.
She smiled. “No, but if you even think about throwing up right now, it’s over between us.”
Leo laughed and she giggled. It had been so long since he’d even smiled. It felt wonderful to share a laugh with him. She tried to relax as they fumbled together. He took it out like a sprinter, and brought it home like a distance swimmer.
Lying together, her cheek against his chest, Audrey hummed the song from the radio again while he rubbed slow circles on her back.
She listened to his steady heartbeat and the echo of his words in his chest as he spoke. “Today was horrible before I came over.” He squeezed her tighter, holding her flush to his sweaty body. “You’ve made it the best day of my life, Audrey. Thank you.”
All James could hear was the even sound of his breathing as he rounded the corner of the track. He ignored the high school track team as he left them in the dust. Running was the only way to soothe his anger and help him think. The conversation with his wife ran circles in his head as he ran circles on the track.
That she would dare threaten to leave him was unfathomable after all he had done for her. He could have easily left after the car accident, but nobly, he’d stayed. He’d stuck by Mary’s side despite her crippling injuries and the crippling medical bills. He’d stuck it out, practically as a single parent to two rambunctious boys, with the older one constantly testing the limits. He’d stuck by her side even though they’d not made love since the accident. At first she’d said sex was too painful, then she’d had no desire.
Naturally he’d had to turn elsewhere. Her overall lack of gratitude was appalling.
Then there was his first son. For four years he’d blocked all thoughts of Jason, and the boy’s surprise appearance had jolted him.
Jason was more like James than either wanted to admit.
Despite what she’d become, had he not met Mary, James knew he’d be in prison or maybe even a homeless alcoholic himself. Jason hadn’t encountered his Mary yet, and probably never would. James realized he was losing her — the woman who’d changed his life. But he’d fight to keep her.
James pushed himself harder as he began the fourth mile. It felt good for his lungs to burn and his legs to focus singularly on his pace. However, the sickening image of Leo’s forehead wound kept flashing in his mind. His son unconscious and bloodied…he’d gone way too far.
But Leo had to succeed, and James’s anger upon learning about the drug abuse had overtaken his senses. Leo was the one shining beacon for the family — the only sign James’s life mattered at all.
Sometimes the compliments he received about Leo’s swimming and school performances were the only thing that kept him going. He’d given up on Mary and Jason long ago, but Leo could save the family.
As James accelerated his pace again for the fifth mile, he started planning Leo’s glorious return to swimming. Now that the drug was out of his system, he might have a chance to come back for the state meet. James regretted that Leo’s bruises would prevent him from returning to practice anytime soon, but maybe he could sneak in some laps at the community pool.
He’d just have to keep him focused — no
Leo cleared his throat. “Uh, Audrey, I don’t have any protection.”
“Me neither, but let’s not stop. I’m, um, I’m not very regular because of swimming, so we should be fine.” Leo hesitated. “We shouldn’t do this.”
“Probably not.” She gave him a devilish grin and pressed her mouth against his. He eagerly returned her kiss, not seeming to care about his cuts and bruises. Their bodies melded together. Audrey felt him beneath her, and her excitement rose as well.
Audrey paused and lifted her head up.
“Have…have you changed your mind?” Leo asked.
She smiled. “No, but if you even think about throwing up right now, it’s over between us.”
Leo laughed and she giggled. It had been so long since he’d even smiled. It felt wonderful to share a laugh with him. She tried to relax as they fumbled together. He took it out like a sprinter, and brought it home like a distance swimmer.
Lying together, her cheek against his chest, Audrey hummed the song from the radio again while he rubbed slow circles on her back.
She listened to his steady heartbeat and the echo of his words in his chest as he spoke. “Today was horrible before I came over.” He squeezed her tighter, holding her flush to his sweaty body. “You’ve made it the best day of my life, Audrey. Thank you.”
All James could hear was the even sound of his breathing as he rounded the corner of the track. He ignored the high school track team as he left them in the dust. Running was the only way to soothe his anger and help him think. The conversation with his wife ran circles in his head as he ran circles on the track.
That she would dare threaten to leave him was unfathomable after all he had done for her. He could have easily left after the car accident, but nobly, he’d stayed. He’d stuck by Mary’s side despite her crippling injuries and the crippling medical bills. He’d stuck it out, practically as a single parent to two rambunctious boys, with the older one constantly testing the limits. He’d stuck by her side even though they’d not made love since the accident. At first she’d said sex was too painful, then she’d had no desire.
Naturally he’d had to turn elsewhere. Her overall lack of gratitude was appalling.
Then there was his first son. For four years he’d blocked all thoughts of Jason, and the boy’s surprise appearance had jolted him.
Jason was more like James than either wanted to admit.
Despite what she’d become, had he not met Mary, James knew he’d be in prison or maybe even a homeless alcoholic himself. Jason hadn’t encountered his Mary yet, and probably never would. James realized he was losing her — the woman who’d changed his life. But he’d fight to keep her.
James pushed himself harder as he began the fourth mile. It felt good for his lungs to burn and his legs to focus singularly on his pace. However, the sickening image of Leo’s forehead wound kept flashing in his mind. His son unconscious and bloodied…he’d gone way too far.
But Leo had to succeed, and James’s anger upon learning about the drug abuse had overtaken his senses. Leo was the one shining beacon for the family — the only sign James’s life mattered at all.
Sometimes the compliments he received about Leo’s swimming and school performances were the only thing that kept him going. He’d given up on Mary and Jason long ago, but Leo could save the family.
As James accelerated his pace again for the fifth mile, he started planning Leo’s glorious return to swimming. Now that the drug was out of his system, he might have a chance to come back for the state meet. James regretted that Leo’s bruises would prevent him from returning to practice anytime soon, but maybe he could sneak in some laps at the community pool.
He’d just have to keep him focused — no
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