After Always (Always Series Book 5)

by Lindsay Becs

  Sitting out back under the night sky, I jerk off thinking about brown eyes I want to get lost in and curls I want to wrap my fist around. It causes me to feel both angry and turned on at the same time, making me harder still.

  I feel my balls tighten, knowing I’m almost there. I pull my shirt over my head and ball it around my hand still fisting my cock. Letting out a groan, with Tilly’s name slipping from my lips at the end, I blow into my shirt.

  I sit there with my head back and eyes closed for a second to calm my heavy breathing. I sit up to clean myself, and when I open my eyes, I meet the same brown ones that had me hard as stone a second ago.

  I don’t know how long she was watching me, but from the look on her face, she saw, and probably heard, enough. I don’t take my eyes off of her as I quickly clean off with my shirt, tuck myself back into my shorts and toss the shirt into the trash can as I walk to where she’s standing, unmoved.

  I don’t say anything when I stop in front of her, tilt her head up, and drop my lips to hers. I give her one soft kiss on the lips. When I step back, I hear a small moan leave her now-parted lips.

  “Night, Cookie,” I tell her, turning to head inside, feeling relaxed and tired.

  TILLY

  Minutes After Hearing My Name On His Lips

  Ho. Lee. Fuck.

  I always thought Travis was hot as hell, but seeing him grip myself, grunting as his pleasure released… with my name dropping from his lips…

  I think a bucketful of my arousal could be wrung from my panties right now.

  And then his eyes found mine. Instead of being embarrassed or trying to act like I didn’t just watch him jerk off, he locked eyes with me. Stalking to me and pressing those full, soft, pouty lips to mine.

  Is it weird that part of me wants to dig the shirt that’s covered in him from the trash and keep it as a souvenir?

  Yes. Yes, that’s weird and a lot gross.

  But still. Fuck…

  He’s so hot and cold with me.

  Nothing for months. Then this.

  If he didn’t light my body on fire every time he looks my way, I would move on.

  But I’m addicted. And each tease and taste I get draws me in further and further.

  He said it would be slow, and he wasn’t lying. It’s the slowest play of seduction ever.

  I’m happy to wait around for the next act to play out. Each one gets better and better.

  What in the hell will the finale look like?

  Chapter 13

  Travis

  Twelve Years After Josie

  Things between Tilly and I are complicated. Neither of us wants anyone to know how we feel about each other, least of all Penny and Jesse. Basically, it means that we do exactly what we’ve done since she moved in next door. We talk and help each other out when we need it. We steal a few kisses here and there, we flirt, but that’s about it. We’re stuck.

  As much as she tells me that she wants me, I don’t think she’s really ready for a big committed relationship. And I’m not either. Yet, we don’t want the one-night stand or serial dating thing. So, again, we’re stuck.

  We’re on this revolving carousel. One of us jumps on, ready to have fun, and for an instant, we both spin together in bliss. Then, it slows, we open our eyes, and one of us jumps off again.

  My head is fuzzy with thoughts of what I want with Tilly. She’s awesome, and when we can both relax for a minute and let down our defenses, we have a great time. She can make me laugh in a way I don’t with anyone else. She puts me at ease and calms me, and I think I do the same for her.

  But, timing. It’s just not right. I don’t know if it ever will be entirely.

  “Bex, what are you doing in the kitchen?” Ollie yells to his wife from where he sits on the floor playing with cars with Max. He then looks to me like we’re going to die from whatever it is she exits with, making me smother a laugh.

  Penny and I came over to spend the day with them. Something we don’t do often enough but try to when we can.

  “I’m ordering food like a freaking champion is what I’m doing,” Bex tells her husband, hitting him over the head with a stack of takeout menus.

  “Ouch! Fuck!” he yells like a little girl, rubbing his head.

  “Max is right here,” Penny tells her brother, annoyed with him. “Two bucks for your potty mouth in front of my nephew.”

  “Yeah, Ollie, better lock that shit down, now,” Bex says, already slipping a dollar into Penny’s hand with a smirk.

  Sitting back, I chuckle watching the free show in front of me.

  “Here.” Bexley hands me the menus. “What do you guys want? You know better than to expect me to cook when you come here. We don’t have a Tilly next door to feed us like you do,” she teases, but her jab makes me tense.

  Ollie, still rubbing his head like a baby, grabs the menus from me and starts rattling off what he wants her to order, knowing exactly what we all like to eat. He may act like a child, but he looks out for all of us better than anyone else.

  “So, either Gellar dating these days?” Ollie asks as we all dig into our boxes of takeout.

  Penny snorts into her fried rice. “Nope. You think I could get anyone to date me? Most guys know about you and Dad from when you ran the school.” She rolls her eyes. “They know of Benton and Tate, so there’s that. Then add in Jesse, who scares away anyone who’s left.”

  “Good, then. Job’s done,” he quips with a satisfied smile. Looking to me, we give each other a mental high five for the legacy we left behind. Then he stuffs another bite of food into his big mouth and turns to me. “And, Mr. Gellar, you tapping anyone yet?”

  “Oliver!” Bex yells in my defense as I grit my teeth. My eyes shift to Penny to see her eyes locked on her plate, looking uncomfortable.

  “What?” Ollie asks like it’s no big deal. I shoot him a look to shut the fuck up, but of course, he doesn’t. “You need to at some point.” He shrugs adding, “Probably take that scowl off your face,” and the fucker winks at me.

  “I don’t need to do shit,” I tell him through clenched teeth, “And I definitely don’t need to talk about it in front of my daughter.”

  He throws a piece of broccoli at me then. “Will you relax?” My head snaps up at him then, angry he isn’t letting this go. “I don’t think Pen expects you to be a monk your whole life. Do you, Pen?” he pushes more.

  My hand smacks the table, making Penny and Max jump. “You need to stop talking. Right. Now.” Ollie and I have a stare-off for a few before he finally concedes and goes back to eating. Me? I’m not hungry anymore.

  Standing from the table, I toss the rest of my food in the trash, kiss Max on the head and tell Penny it’s time to go.

  “Travis, you don’t have to go.” Bex tries to smooth things over, shooting Ollie a look.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry,” Ollie tells me, actually looking sincere.

  “Regardless, I need to go before I punch you in the face. And I really don’t want to lay you out in front of your family, or mine,” I tell him with little humor in my voice. He knows I’m speaking nothing but truth and nods in understanding.

  Ollie and I haven’t fought much through the years, but when we do, it usually ends with our fists. He’s not a fighter by nature, but I am. We’ve duked it out a few times, me winning each one with him admitting to being a douche.

  Penny cleans up her stuff and tells them all goodbye while I’m already halfway to the truck. We drive in silence until we’re almost home.

  “Dad?”

  “Just… Don’t. Not right now, LP,” I tell her and hate when I see her deflate a little in the seat next to me.

  We’re quiet a bit longer when she speaks up again. “You do know I know about the birds and the bees, right?”

  Air gets caught in my throat when the mention of sex comes out of my little girl’s mouth. Sure, she’s fifteen. Still don’t like it though.

  “Not that I’ve had it,” she tries to ease me. “What I said at Ol
lie’s was true. Every guy is afraid to get too close to me.”

  “O…K…”

  “Dad, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t date.”

  “Penny,” I groan as I put the truck in park after we pull into the drive.

  “I’m serious,” she says, rounding the front and following me inside the house.

  “I am too,” I tell her and pull a beer from the fridge.

  She huffs, jumping up on the counter. “I just want you to be happy. Are you happy?”

  I turn then, looking at her. Really looking at her. This girl of mine who is becoming more and more of a woman. I can’t keep her little forever, but hearing her talk to me about things like this is weird. I’m also proud of her for speaking her mind and not being afraid to tell me what she thinks.

  “I’m happy,” I tell her with a grin.

  “But are you? I’ve never seen you with any woman but Tilly, and we both know that’s just weird,” she says, jolting me back a second.

  “Why is that weird?” I try to laugh it off.

  She shrugs. “She’s like this cool aunt or something. Mother-like. It’s weird to think you and she would do… anything like that.”

  I laugh when she fake shudders. It reminds me of when Ollie found out about me and Josie. I pull her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

  “I promise you I’m happy. I got my LP with me, and I don’t need anyone else.”

  “Dad…”

  “And we’re not going to talk about this again. Because it’s weird.”

  She laughs then. “Fine. But for the record, I’m alright with it if you did want to date.” She pops a quick kiss on my cheek before jumping from the counter and heading to her room. “Night, Daddy! Love you!”

  “Love you too, LP.”

  And what in the hell do I do with that?! My daughter is OK with me dating as long as it’s not the only woman I’m slightly interested in. That is just great.

  I also didn’t miss the way Penny spoke about Tilly like a mother figure, and that made me happy. Despite her feeling skeeved out about the thought of Tilly and me together, I’m happy that she’s always had Tilly to help her and be that woman in her life when Tatum wasn’t around.

  I smile when I pull out a letter that I guess I should have read a long time ago and never realized it. “A New Mom for Penny.”

  OK. I’m not crying. Nope. It’s totally easy to write this letter about another woman coming in to help raise my daughter. Not crying at all.

  Alright, fine. I can’t stop the tears from falling. But this one has to be written, so here it goes…

  I expect it. I want it, even if it does hurt to think about. One day, when you meet that person worthy of you, she’ll have to be worthy of our daughter, too. I know with all my heart that you won’t think lightly about bringing another woman into her life. I don’t worry about that.

  Just promise me that she’ll love our Penny as much as we do. That she’ll treat her like her own. That she will make her a priority in her life and shower her with nothing but adoration and love. The kind that I’m not there to give her anymore.

  I’m happy that you found someone to share our daughter with. A partner to join with you in life’s journeys. I’m happy that you are happy.

  Always,

  Josie

  “Jesse!” Penny yells, running off toward him.

  He still has on his cap and gown, but it’s unzipped as he walks out of the auditorium to join us after his graduation ceremony. He wears a little cocky smirk, putting on the face he needs to at school with his friends, but I know his kind. I was his kind. Inside he’s feeling damn proud of himself and wants to break into a full-sized smile when he catches Penny in his arms.

  I sling an arm around Tilly’s shoulder, leaning over to whisper in her ear, “You helped him achieve this. You should proud of that. You did good, Cookie.”

  She turns her head toward me. “Thank you.” Her eyes search mine and drop to my mouth, inches away from hers. Our moment is broken when we hear the kids nearing us.

  “Who’s ready to party?” Jesse yells, carrying Penny on his back.

  Tilly and I break apart. Before she has time to react, I swing her on my back to mimic Jesse and Penny. “Let’s party!” I yell and run in zigzags with Tilly screaming in my ear. The other two follow behind us as laughter rings out all around us from other kids and families.

  I drop Tilly to her feet when we reach our cars. I give her a wink and open her door for her. She gives me a grateful smile for helping her keep her tears at bay in front of everyone.

  A few hours later, our backyards are full of teenagers. I don’t even think Jesse knows most of them, but where a party happens, the kids will follow. I remember.

  Inside, I find Penny curled up on the couch, staring at nothing. I nudge her shoulder when I sit next to her. “What’s wrong?”

  She shrugs, not wanting to answer me, but I push more.

  “Jess told me he didn’t want me out there with everyone tonight.”

  I can’t say I’m actually upset about that, but I get why she is.

  “You know he’s just trying to protect you, right?”

  She shrugs again. I open my mouth to speak, but Jesse beats me to it.

  “Nugget?” My eyes, as well as Penny’s, go to him as he shifts from foot to foot. “It doesn’t feel right without you. Come on.” He tilts his head to the back. “Most of the idiots are leaving for another party.”

  I give him a small nod in approval and I see his lips twitch a little, glad that I have his back.

  I nudge Penny’s shoulder again. “Go. Have fun.”

  She gets up and jumps on Jesse’s back as he carries her out to the backyard, the two of them cracking up when he loses his balance, hitting the counter.

  I shake my head, walking in the opposite direction to the front porch.

  “Hey,” Tilly calls me when I close the door.

  I walk to her porch and sit next to her. “Hey, yourself.”

  “Tell me, should I be worried about what will happen back there tonight?”

  A laugh bursts from me. “Why do you think I would know the answer to that?”

  “I have a feeling you went to your fair share of parties in high school, that’s why.”

  “Maybe…” I smile at her. “But I was the good one,” I add.

  “Mmhmm.”

  My hand goes to my heart. “I am insulted.”

  “No, you aren’t,” she laughs.

  “Alright, I’m not, but no, they’ll be fine back there. They know we’re here. There won’t be an orgy breaking out or anything.”

  “Freaking A, Travis,” she laughs harder. “I don’t want to think about him doing stuff like that. Ever.”

  We sit for a while in silence, quietly listening to the noise coming from behind the house. “He wants to move out soon.”

  “So, he’ll be able to have his orgies there, then?”

  She smacks my shoulder. “No, smartass. I’m half proud of him and half upset he wants to leave and get away from me that fast.”

  “I don’t think it’s like that. He just needs to make a life for himself without needing help from everyone else. It’s not a bad thing.” I grin at her. “I was the same way. He’ll be fine. You should be proud of him.”

  “I am. But I’m going to miss the little shit.”

  “Now, you can have orgies too,” I tell her, and she gives me another smack with a glare. “Yeah, you’re right. You’re just waiting for one cock to enter your hen house.”

  “Yep, I’m done. I’m going to bed.” She stands, making me chuckle. She turns to leave, but I pull her hand to make her sit on my lap. “Travis...” she warns.

  “Everyone is out back,” I whisper as I pull on one of her ringlets. Cupping her jaw, I run my thumb across her bottom lip, which I crave to kiss. “We’re getting closer to our time.” She nods her head, agreeing with me as our eyes stay locked on one another. Leaning in closer to her I go to her ear. “Night,
Cookie.” I don’t miss the shiver that runs through her before she stands to head inside.

  And I’m left on her porch with a boner and a yard full of teenagers to supervise. So, that’s awesome.

  TILLY

  Minutes After Getting Closer

  I close the door behind me and let out the breath I was holding as he whispered goodnight in my ear. This man can turn me to mush with two words.

  And don’t even get me started on the nickname he’s called me for years. At first, I didn’t like it, but now it’s like sex dripping from his lips every time he calls me Cookie.

  Soon. He said we’re getting closer to our time. I don’t know what he meant by that entirely, but I’m hooked. I’m just waiting for him to reel me in and make me his completely.

  Chapter 14

  Travis

  Thirteen Years After Josie

  We just finished helping Jesse move into the house he bought not far from ours. All the years of him working for me, he was smart and saved. He bought his truck a couple of years back and now an entire house. Not too bad for an eighteen almost nineteen-year-old kid.

  Penny is having a hard time with the fact that he won’t be next door anymore, but knowing my daughter, she’ll be here just as much as she is at home.

  The two of them conspired against me until I caved and agreed to let her stay at his place tonight so they could both get Bear acquainted with the house. The stupid side of my brain said OK, while my dick was rejoicing that he might get closer to Tilly.

  I’m like a teenage boy myself as I excitedly drive back home. It’s been a long time since I had a night without Penny under the same roof as me. I should feel guilty for how excited I was to leave her behind with Jesse. But I don’t. Yet.