Page 76 of Mommy

“I thought we had established that the car is technically still my house.” I murmur, breathing in the scent that is woven into her hair. The chaos curls hold pictures of orange blossoms, and they fall all the way down into her lap, the ends tickling over where my hand still holds onto hers.

I nuzzle my nose against hers and can hear her soft exhale when my lips brush hers.

It’s not a real kiss, just a chaste peck.

“You know,” I whisper. “Studies have shown that men that kiss their wives goodbye every day live up to 4 years longer.”

Quiet laughter bubbles up her throat, and I inhale it like a drug. She’s got such a beautiful laugh. Now that I hear it more often, I can actually pin point what exactly it is that I like about her laugh.

At first I thought it was just melodic, but over time I realized that she laughs like a child. It’s honest and raw and a little bit shy.

“A kiss is supposed to be at least 6 seconds long, you know?” I say, my voice rough against her mouth.

Fuck, I’m desperate to make her laugh again.

She does and I seal my lips to hers, trying to capture each hicuppy giggle.

One. Two. Three. Four.

She makes to pull away, but I’m not done counting, so I follow her to keep my lips on hers.

Five.

I don’t think six seconds will be enough.

Six. Seven. Eight.

Ivory’s giggle grows into a full blown laugh, and she’s pushing against my chest to pull away.

I resist for another glorious second before I release her from my grasp.

“That wasn’t six seconds.” She says with a shake of her head, but I can see the small smile on her lips that tells me she doesn’t mind. At all.

“You’ll be late for work.” I say, nodding in the direction of the radio, where the clock reads 7:58am.

A string of curses follow my statement, and she bustles out of the car. On the side walk she turns around and waves.

“I’ll see you at home.”

Home.

She means my house.

Fuck. Yes.

Ivory realizes the mistake but the grin is already spreading across my lips. I nod.

And then drive off before she can take it back.

We might only be pretending, but the whole playing house situation is soothing a part of my nervous system I didn’t know could be anything other than stressed. Having her around all the time and knowing she’ll be there when I’m home, calms the chaos that’s been in my head ever since my mom left me to live with my dad.

It’s like Ivory is the fix to that abandoned feeling inside my chest.

I don’t know if that’s a good thing, but it sure a fuck feels good, so I’ll keep that going for as long as I can. If it means pretending for the rest of my life, then so be it.

Chapter fourty

Ivory