Page 49 of Boxer Next Door

“Mom! Mom, get up, it’s Christmas morning!”

Lydia, body pressed against me, squirmed in protest at the sound, burying her face further into my chest. I chuckled, guessing what would come next. The door to the bedroom burst open, and Bryson came in and jumped on the bed.

On the same day we’d made up our minds, Lydia had brought him home to explain the situation to him. I’d stuck with her for moral support, not that there was much I could have said without making the situation even more awkward. She had to explain to her son why she would have another man in the house, in her bed, when his dad was back in town. He didn’t even seem surprised his dad was back, just took it in his stride. As for our relationship…

“It’s like getting another dad, right? And Ken will still teach me boxing?”

Just like that, it had been resolved. And I’d practically moved in with them. He was happy to see his dad, and he didn’t mind me staying with his mom. He was a wonderful kid, better than I was at his age.

But because he knew and he was around us more, we were more cautious. We’d made love every night we spent in the same bed, but we’d take a shower and put on night clothes before going to sleep, just in case. Besides, the weather was getting pretty cold, so a pair of cotton tracks and a t-shirt were a must.

“Mom!” Bryson whined loudly, shaking Lydia, who only groaned louder. “Come on! You promised you’d get up early! We have to start preparing for tonight!”

“Can't you give me a few more minutes, honey?” Lydia asked for understanding, her voice muffled under the covers.

“No,” was the immediate, stubborn response.

I laughed and sat up. “Come on, Lydia. The little man has spoken. Let’s get down and get breakfast started.”

“I’ll be waiting for you downstairs,” Bryson declared, sliding off the bed. He pointed a finger at me. “Have her down in five minutes, or I will come back up here.”

I had to bite my cheek to hold myself from laughing. The boy was just too cute. I gave him a mock salute and grinned.

“Yes, sir,” I said seriously.

He returned my grin, then ran out of the room.

“Come on, Lydia,” I coaxed, shaking her a bit gentler than Bryson had been doing. “We need to get up. Can’t have your son waiting, you know?”

She grumbled as she pulled the covers off her head and glared up at me.

“Whose fault do you think it is that I’m this tired?”

I just smirked, remembering how she’d clung to me last night. “You didn’t exactly complain, Lydia.”

She couldn’t say anything to that, but she still grumbled as she left the bed.

I was out of clothes, so I had to go back to my place after lunch to get more. At some point, I’d have to start doing laundry. Probably over at Lydia’s house instead of mine. I also had some things to do for the studio. It was locked up over Christmas, but I’d decided my one employee needed a bonus for his part in helping me get my head out of my ass before I lost Lydia. I didn’t have to go there personally since I’d left him to take care of it the past few days, so I just called him and set it up. Reopening wouldn’t be until after New Year’s and Bryson’s break was over.

In the afternoon, I went back. I got there, around the same time Mike did, and we met at the door.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hi,” I said back.

We stood for an awkward moment, neither of us making a move to knock on the door.

He and I didn’t hate each other. I’d thought I would hate him, but watching him with Bryson, it was hard to. He might have made some bad choices, but he was a really good father to his son. And now that he was back, he was doing his best to be there for him as much as possible. He’d even bought a house in the neighborhood, though thankfully far from Lydia’s and mine.

“I wanted to apologize,” I said, clearing my throat. He arched an eyebrow at me. “Um, that day I punched you. I’m sorry, that was out of line. I knew nothing, and yet…”

He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest and ducking his head down. “No, you don’t need to apologize about that. I should thank you for that punch in the face. I deserved it for what I did to Lydia. I walked out. What right did I have to come back and try to give her problems? She deserves better.”

There was another lengthy silence. I almost felt sorry for him. Not enough to give Lydia up to him, though.

“I’m not going to apologize that she chose me,” I told him, just to clarify.

He looked up at me with a smile. “I wouldn’t expect you to apologize for that,” he reassured me. “Besides, it’s my fault. I went about things the wrong way, and I hurt her. And… I’ve seen how she is with you, and she’s happy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for her. How could I complain? It’ll take some time to adjust, but I promise I won’t make things any more awkward for you.”