Breaking Old Habits

by Melissa Bender

  My eyes found Griffin. He was already standing, muttering fuck as he took off towards her, stalking and glowering directly at her. “You need to leave. Now.” His voice was cold and harsh.

  “I missed the boys. What are you—Why are you dressed up?” She went to touch his chest, and he flinched away.

  “Karen.”

  Her eyes filled with tears. “Griffin… Please, let me spend five minutes with them. I miss them.”

  “Karen!”

  “No. Please don’t do this. You let me come over all the time before. Just five minutes.”

  Was she kidding me right now? What the heck?

  “It’s my damn wedding, for Christ sake. Do not come here and wreck this for us. You need to leave now.”

  Her eyes widened, looking around at everyone there and realising that her friends were celebrating with us. It must have finally hit her that it was done and over. She had no claim to him anymore. He was off limits—married and completely taken. I began to stand, and her eyes narrowed at me.

  It was nothing compared to the slap across the face she got as the two boys came yelling excitedly towards me from the other side of the house where she could not see.

  “Mum! We found a spot.”

  Toby cut Mack off. “We know where we want our bike track. Come and look, Mum!”

  “Mum?” Her voice was a low, menacing hiss as her eyes glued to mine.

  Every hair on my body stood on its end. Oh, shit. “Boys, go play,” I said. They did not need to see any of this.

  “Griffin, what the hell is this!” She went past him and came at me.

  Maggy was running over to her along with Helena. “Karen, this isn’t the time or place. You should go.”

  “Bullshit! You’re all meant to be on my side. How could you? How long have they been calling her mum for? She isn’t their mother, Griffin. I told you how much I didn’t want that, and now you’ve gone and forced it on them!”

  “I didn’t,” I said in a whisper. I did not force them to.

  “I never asked them to. Neither did she. They asked her, and you know what? I don’t care how you feel about it. You’re completely irresponsible, leaving them alone for nights at a time. I found out about your weekend bender and leaving them to fend for themselves. Now get off my property before I have the police called and your chances for custody are done for.” His hand thrust out, pointing back to where she came from.

  Karen glared again, ignoring him and screaming at the top of her lungs. “Mack! Toby! Come here now! You’re coming home with me!”

  Both boys slowly walked over, but neither looked happy. Toby spoke up as Mack hid behind him. “We don’t want to leave. We want to stay.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Get in the fucking car now. You’re coming with me. Do not make me walk over there and get you.” She glowered at them, threatening the boys with an obvious punishment.

  “Look, Karen, you need to leave. I’m calling the police.” Bryan pulled out his phone and began to dial a number. He looked up at her with threatening eyes. “Last warning. You need to leave. Now.”

  Karen pointed and poked her finger into Griffin’s chest, but he did not budge. “You fucked over the wrong woman. All of you can fucking rot in hell! I’m done!”

  She left us all gobsmacked. We stood there, wondering what the hell had just happened. The boys were obviously shaken, and our night had come to an end. Nothing to ruin a party like an ex with a mission to destroy it.

  I took them inside and led them to their new rooms. Not much was said as they climbed into their beds. I tucked them in, walking out once Griffin came down to say good night. She really knew how to put a damper on our evening.

  Scooping my hair to the side, I went to undress when the bedroom door closed behind where I stood. “Here, let me help with that.” His voice was soft, calmer. “I’m sorry for how everything turned out.”

  “Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” The back of my dress unzipped and pooled at the bottom of my feet.

  “I should have seen this coming. We can sell and buy somewhere else untainted by her if you want. I’ll do anything to keep you happy.”

  I smiled. “I like this house, and she was just outside. Next time, I’ll get the garden hose on her.” Or charge at her with a pair of hedge trimmers. “She’s becoming unpredictable. It's frightening.” She was scary at the best of times. Now, she was just plain crazy.

  “I’m going to call my lawyer in the morning. I think custody may have just gotten worse.” He was right. Things were going to become harder for him now that she knew the boys both wanted to call me mum. “What you said tonight in your vows… How you spoke to my sons, Ayla… I don’t even know what to say to that. It meant more than you could know.”

  “I love you and understand you’re a package deal. I love them like my own.”

  “I really don’t deserve you… her coming here…”

  Turning in his arms, I tilted my head back to look up at him and slide down one of his suspenders. “No more talk of her. It’s our wedding night.” A playful smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “Let me undress you and make love to your cock with my mouth, and then you can have your wild way with me.”

  “Jesus…” he groaned and fell into bliss as my warm mouth made him forget all the worries of tonight.

  ***

  A ray of sunshine warmed up my naked back as I lay with my eyes half closed. The body pressing behind me gave me a smile as his arms drew me in closer. No words were said as my leg was lifted and he slid inside me. I moaned, wincing as we had only just fallen asleep not long so ago. He was still obviously, in the mood. Last night had been amazing, especially that part when he told me to hang on. Damn, he really meant it. He left no part untouched, kissing and sucking my breasts as he fucked me deliciously. His cock had me in every position possible, and we finished the night off with a tender lovemaking. I was utterly spent.

  “Griffin…” I reached behind as I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him in for a kiss.

  His tongue slid down my throat, and his body was heavy on top of mine as he begins to plow in deeper. Hard and fast, our breathing matched each other. My eyes closed, and I arched against him as we both come together.

  No, less than two seconds after he rolled off me, our door opened, and two sleepy-looking boys stood at the door. “We’re hungry.”

  “Give us two minutes. We’ll be out there soon,” Griffin answered, keeping the covers over us both—mainly me.

  Toby rolled his eyes. Walking away, he called out. “You do know, that bed isn’t as quiet as you think.”

  My face flushed with heat as I covered my eyes with my palms. “Oh, god.” I wanted to hide. “Do you think they heard us all night?”

  “No. Probably just then,” Griffin grinned and planted another kiss. “I’ll make a start on breakfast. You have a shower if you want.”

  “Nope. I’ll cook and wait until you’re ready to take one too.” I smiled, reaching for a bra and something to throw on quickly before they come back in again.

  Pancakes… waffles… bacon and egg…

  The boys were still unsure of what they wanted to eat. Mack just wanted anything while Toby and Griffin were changing their mind. As they were having what sounded like an in-depth conversation about food, I made the whole lot.

  “Someone’s here, Mum.” I looked up to see a shadow at the door when Mack walked over to take his plate of food from me.

  Griffin and I shared a look. Mine said, Please let me handle this without you going all caveman and beating the shit out of him. He nodded and sat back down.

  Harvey stood at the door with his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. “Hi.”

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, stepping outside with no intention of inviting him in.

  “I got your messages.”

  “Nice to know. You could have replied back to one of them.” I was not forgiving him easily. “Where have you been? You just dropped off the face of the p
lanet.”

  He shrugged and blew out a long breath. “I heard you got married. When?”

  So he knew that already.

  “Last night. You were invited, but you know… never answered the calls at all.” No, he was not invited due to Griffin’s strict No Harvey policy. “You should go.”

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I never meant to hurt you.”

  Ha, you never hurt me. Just embarrassed me, maybe.

  Looking around uncomfortably, I said. “It’s fine. I’m glad you found someone.” Whoever she was, she must really be something for him to give up his playboy ways.

  “She’s pregnant… six months along.”

  Oh. My heart ached in jealousy. Well, then. I could not really say much to that. “Umm. I’m happy for you.”

  “I didn’t think I wanted kids, but when she turned up and told me the baby was mine—”

  I cut him off. I could not bear to hear any more. “Please. Just go. I’m happy for you, but you need to leave, Harvey.”

  “He won’t let me in?” he asked, nodding as he spoke of Griffin.

  “It’s not just him. I think we need some time apart. I have to focus on my family, and you need to do the same. You’re going to be a father.”

  “I wish we could have done this together.” His confession made me feel guilty. I did not need to hear this. He should never have said that to me.

  With a smile, I walked back to the door. “Take care, Harvey.”

  Griffin walked over to me as I closed the front door. “Are you alright?” He had obviously heard, and it was hard not to be jealous that Harvey was going to have a baby soon. It was something I wanted with all my heart.

  Smiling, I slipped my arms up under his shirt and hugged him tightly. “I’m okay. Now, let’s eat before we go search out this place where you’re going to build a BMX track for our boys.”

  Griffin stopped me before I could walk away, his eyes searching mine for something. “Ayla, you’ll be pregnant soon. I promise.”

  “I know.”

  I hoped so, but then again, when does anything ever go my way without me suffering some kind of consequence?

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “What do you mean I can’t pick them up?” I asked, frowning at the teacher from Mack’s classroom.

  The tall, slim woman held her nose high as she sighed heavily as if speaking to me was a problem for her. “I’m sorry, miss. You can’t take them home.”

  “It’s Mrs James.” I corrected, still trying to get used to that name myself.

  “Miss Holloway, you can’t stop her. She’s our mum.” Toby frowned, crossing his arms over his chest.

  I smiled at him for defending me. He’s such a sweet kid.

  His teacher shook her head. “Karen Morgan is written down as your mother. I’m sorry, but you cannot leave with a stranger.”

  Toby’s hands were in the air as he exclaimed, “But they’re married! She’s not a stranger. We live with her and Dad. Oh god, he’s going to be so mad when he gets here. I can’t wait. Where’s the popcorn?”

  She just ignored him. “I will wait for your father to arrive.”

  “I’m Mack and Toby’s stepmother. Why can’t I take them home?” It was our week, and Griffin had no problems with me picking the boys up. They were teens, for crying out loud. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”

  “It’s called protecting the children, Miss James.”

  “It’s Mrs James, and don’t give me that.”

  Her brows raised. “You cannot take the children because there’s been a formal letter, addressing us that you’re not authorised to do so. Please, just wait until their father comes to collect them.” Well then, that explained that. With a defeated nod, I took a seat beside Toby and rolled my eyes. He smirked, and Mack slumped forwards, burying his head on the desk.

  “For fuck's sake.” God, my panties get wet every time he gets mad. “This is pathetic.”

  Before long, my knight in shining armour was here—well, knight in a navy blue suit who rocked a week-old shadow around his chin. Standing up, he came over and kissed me on the cheek then looked at their teacher. “I thought this was cleared up. She’s my wife.”

  I’m his wife! I loved saying that to anyone and everyone who would listen.

  “Mr James, there had been a formal complaint made about your… partner coming to collect your children.”

  “They walk home when they stay with Karen. What fucking difference does it make if my wife picks them up herself?” Griffin shot back, glaring.

  “Maybe you could have a one-on-one session with Karen to dis—”

  He cut her off once more. “Bullshit. This isn’t even an issue. Mack and Toby are my sons. Ayla is my wife, and Karen is the only one with the issue. I’ll be getting my lawyer involved.” Turning from her, he motioned for the boys to grab their bags and leave. “We’re going, and I authorise my wife, Ayla to be allowed to pick up our kids from school. Write it down.”

  Did I say my panties were wet? No? Oh, ok. They are actually soaked.

  Walking to my car, he sighed as he opened the driver’s side door. “I’m sorry, baby. I thought this shit was over with.”

  I shrugged back as I slid into my seat. “It’s okay. I mean, I don’t know what the problem was. I dropped them off, and we were literally almost at the car when they were called back. I’m sure if the boys didn’t want to come with me, then they’d have said so.”

  “I’ll meet you home, alright?” he asked, leaning over me as I clipped up the belt. His mouth were mere centimetres from mine. “Drive safe. I’ll follow behind.”

  “I like it when you’re behind me.”

  “I like it when you’re coming around my cock.”

  Laughing, I faked disgust. “You dirty man, get away from me. No sex for you tonight.”

  “Try to resist me, baby.” His mouth finally closed the distance, and he kissed me longingly and tenderly before pulling away completely. “I love you.”

  With a smile, I replied. “Love you back.”

  There were a thousand things I wanted to say to Karen right now. She was doing my head in. Ever since Griffin had banned her from coming into our house or even getting out of her car, she had gone worse than before. He had a hearing coming up in four days, and I had a feeling things were not going to go so well.

  Karen was due to take the boys back to her place tonight, and they did not want to go.

  The boys wanted to live with us. They asked about that all the time, but Griffin, being the nice one, told them it was one week here, one week there. He was doing the right thing by Karen even though she wanted him to suffer.

  Hell, she wanted him back.

  ***

  Flicking the kettle on, I pouted as I faced the wall. “Why can’t we go on our honeymoon? We’ve been married nearly two months.”

  “We could go to my parents. They still have no idea I’m married to the sexiest woman alive.”

  I laughed, facing him. “How come she did not tell them?” I really thought she would do so just to make drama for us.

  “I think she wants me to start my own war with that one. Fuck, Mum’s going to lose her shit.”

  That was an image I did not need in my mind. “You’ve got that right.”

  He just rolled his eyes. “We’ll go on our honeymoon soon, I promise you.”

  “I need to find work soon. Maybe I could bag up groceries in the grocery store. Coles or Woollies?” It would not matter where, just as long as I brought something to the table money wise.

  “Say you get a job, and then you end up pregnant, you won’t be able to keep working.” His voice turned serious. “I don’t see why you have to work.”

  “Because I refuse to let you pay for anything. Besides, I enjoy working. It gave me something to do. You know, other than you.” I grazed a finger over his hip bone. “Speaking of that, you want to go have a quickie?”

  A low groan escaped his lips, and he sighed. “Wish I could
, pretty, but I have to get back to work.”

  “Such a shame. I knew sex would stop after I married an older man.” I loved to tease him.

  Checking his watch, he stepped back out of the pantry and then came back in again, closing the door and smirking. “Very quick, and I’m not old. Just wise.”

  I came. He came, then he left back for work again.

  Finally done making my hot chocolate in the new coconut flavour I got, I walked out with a smile on my lips. Griffin sure knew how to make a girl happy. Toby and Mack were in the media room watching tv, so I went to the back porch and sat on a lounge chair, curling my legs up as I watched the hail storm bucket down.

  Life out here was so much different than in the suburbs. Well, being near Karen was more like it. I could come outside and not worry that she was snooping around. Our home was Karen-free, and it was an amazing feeling—like freedom. Griffin and I could breathe on our own without her interfering or always putting her two cents in.

  Things had turned out so much differently since being here: me losing my job, and Harvey having a baby. I hated that I was so jealous about that. It was not fair. Then again, when was life ever fair? We had been trying to get pregnant for a couple months, almost three, and nothing was happening. I hated that I was getting my hopes up every month only to be let down. Sex was the best part, though. We were fucking like crazy animals most nights.

  As I took another sip from my mug, the screen door flung open, and Toby stood there with a sad smile. “We have to go. She’s here.”

  My mood suddenly dampened. I hated when they had to leave. With a nod, I stood up and walked over to him. “Go help your brother. Get his bag. I’ll just go tell her you’re on your way.”