Stolen Tyme

by S. L. Ziegler

  “Thank you for driving us. I didn’t even think about it when I rode in the ambulance with her,” he says with his voice so low I almost didn’t hear him, never taking his eyes off a sleeping Charlie.

  “Stop thanking me. I would’ve done it for anyone. You get her, and I’ll get the door.”

  He cradles her in his arms, and I can’t help but smile. He may have his doubts if he will be a good father full time, but I don’t. I never did. Xavier was made to be a parent to her. They just mesh.

  With the door unlocked, he brushes past me on his way up the stairs, and it’s like I have glue on my shoes. I’m stuck in a house that holds memories. Good memories. I should get into my car and leave, should want to say good bye, shouldn’t want to comfort him after the day he’s had. I should walk away, turn around and never look back. But I don’t want to say goodbye, and I do want to console him.

  I want to stay and play house. With him. For him. With Charlie. And for now, I will.

  My fairytale is quickly nixed as X’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “These are the days I wish I could drink a beer. Thank God Callum got my truck to the studio so I don’t have to worry about that mess, too.”

  “I’m sure.” I’m sure he wishes he could have more than a beer. I want to ask if he called his sponsor, if he reached out for support there, but I don’t. It’s not my place.

  “Want some tea?”

  “I should be going.”

  “You should,” he states.

  “I should,” I mimic.

  He’s inches away from me. I’m surrounded by what I once thought would bring me hope.

  “But you don’t want to.” X looks fully into my eyes.

  One beat of my heart, and even the air around us seems to have stalled waiting for my answer.

  “No.”

  “I don’t want you to, either.”

  “I’ll take the tea.”

  Reality. This is mine. If I stay, this will change everything. I don’t want to hold on to hatred for him. I want to forgive. It’s time.

  “Good idea. Want to go in the living room? I would say outside, but I want to keep an ear out for Charlie.”

  I walk into the room, glancing around every inch of the same spot I once spent almost all my time, one summer, long ago. It’s familiar, homely, and welcoming. What it is, is trouble. Nothing has changed since I left, except for the pictures of an aging Charlie over the years. I step closer to the table, a picture of her from the time I met her and one of her now, side by side. Shaking my head, I don’t know how I didn’t see Charlotte was Charlie. She is a genetic copy of X.

  She looks the same, more mature, but the same girl that said she loved my coloring books back then.

  “Here you go. I put some honey in it. Hope that’s the way you still like it.”

  “Thank you.” The sofa swallows me as I collapse onto it. “Are you better?”

  He sits down, crossing his legs over the coffee table before he speaks. “A little. Zoey storming in and acting like she’s the best parent out there, and then insulting you, was too far. I guess our daughter wanting to come home with me helped. And the fact I have her for the next two weeks makes it even better. I just wish Zoey actually cared about her as something more.”

  “I’m sure.”

  We both sit on opposite sides of the couch, in silence. Tension building with each sip we take of the tea.

  Setting the cup down, X wipes his hands on his pants and clears his throat. “This is awkward. Wanna play our old game?”

  The bitter taste of tea is still in my mouth, much like that game we once played. “You and that game of yours.”

  “Hey, that game of mine helped me learn a lot about who you really were.”

  “I guess it did.”

  And he did, that game meant more to me than he knows. It’s why I was so hurt that he claims he didn’t know what he did to me would’ve had such a deep impact on my life. I gained perspective on who X really was, and it was in those times, when he shared things, I fell in love with him. I could have never hurt him the way he had me.

  “I’ll start. I’ve written songs for seven Grammy-winning artists and took no credit for them.”

  “I still don’t understand why you wouldn’t want your name on your work.”

  “Parts of me aren’t all that proud of those songs. I wrote a shit-ton of them about you, some about shit when I would watch a movie, some about my time using. But mostly about you. And having someone else sing them was a therapy in a sense, like it was someone else’s messed-up story, but it was still getting out to the masses. I can’t explain it, and I’m sure you don’t understand it; Callum doesn’t, either.”

  My face grows hot with his admission. Our broken love story. One summer. Three months—that’s all we had together—but the impression it left on both of us was deep. Different collision yet oddly similar.

  I’ve probably heard people singing his songs for years and never knew it or put the pieces of the puzzle together. I could’ve cried to his words, danced to them, sung to them, and I never would have known.

  “In New York, nothing lasts. It’s a revolving door of change. But here, it’s like a constant. It’s like walking déjà vu.”

  “That’s why I like it here. But how do you like it?”

  “Different, it didn’t change. Nothing. Not a street sign or another store. It’s like this place pressed pause on life for seven years. But I changed—I mean, I don’t even feel the smallest resemblance to the person I was.”

  “Can I ask you something before I say my truth?”

  “It’s your game, you can bend the rules however it fits you.”

  “Is everything okay with you? I mean health-wise?”

  Placing a hand over my chest, just the thought of my health causes my brain to remember the heavy beat of my heart that day.

  “Yes, I just have to do checkups on my heart and brain for the next few months.”

  “It’s a hard life out there. Not many people understand that.”

  But he did. He tried to show me, tell me what I was stepping into. Although, nothing could’ve prepared me for that kind of craziness—of life surrounded by lights.

  “Even with your warning, I sure didn’t understand. I stayed busy. Then people asked me for things, and I was afraid to say no. I thought it would ruin me if I did, or I was letting them down. It would’ve been too much for anyone. But I thought I was invincible and burning out wouldn’t happen to me. Boy, did it though. I ended up shooting myself in the foot. But now I don’t know how I’ll ever go back to not having at least six hours of sleep a night. I think my assistant may kill me because she’s going to be the bad guy to a lot of people.”

  “I’m glad you found that out early on. Took me too long to figure that shit out.”

  “Yep…okay...” With the game forgotten, the weight of the conversation becomes too much. “I’m going to head out. I’ve got Lock’s car.” But I don’t move—I can’t as X softly places his hand on my thigh.

  “Thanks again for everything.”

  My brain works overtime to forget the fact he’s rubbing circles with his fingers over my bare thigh. “Stop it. Seriously, I’m just glad she’s okay.”

  “Me too.” He glances at my mouth, then back to my eyes.

  I swallow heavily. “See you later?”

  “Yes.”

  X moves closer to me before placing a soft kiss on my cheek. “Bye,” he whispers, moving his hand off my leg.

  “Bye.” It’s a struggle to get the word out, but it’s even harder to leave him after the way my body screams for more. To my surprise, his absence makes me cold.

  I did not stop at the store and get coloring books to impress X at all. However, I did wake up extra early for the shower and makeup I applied to look my best for him.

  My heart dances around as I wait for him to answer the door. This is so stupid. I’m tripping over myself for him.

  “Hey. This is a surprise. A pleasant one, but
still a surprise. This place is still a mess from last night because I was on guard for Charlie. But please, come in.” His eyes are wide in shock.

  “I was just in the neighborhood and figured I’d drop off some stuff for Charlie to do since they won’t let her play with her phone or watch TV with that concussion.”

  He simply offers a nod. A small grin forms on his lips before letting me inside. “She’ll love it.”

  “It’s some coloring books and colored pencils,” I say, placing the bag down on the kitchen table.

  “You do know she’s almost twelve now? I think you’ll lose all those cool points she added up for you with a damn coloring book.” X takes one look at my face. “I mean no offense, though. Really, the thought counts and all that shit.”

  “Yes, normal ones with princesses and shit she would hate, but these are the adult books. Everyone is doing them.”

  “Oh,” he says, but I can tell he doesn’t think she’ll like them.

  “Trust me, she’ll go nuts over this one. It’s famous song lyrics. Charlie will get it. I promise.”

  “If you say so, I’ll leave that up to you. She’s still asleep, but I’m sure she’ll be awake soon if you want to wait around to give it to her. I’m sure she’d love to see you.”

  “I would really love to, but I can’t. I have to get going and get some stuff ready. I just wanted to see how she was doing. I’m performing later this week so I need some practice.”

  “You’re leaving?” His brows raise.

  It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to care about the look of devastation on his face at the thought of me leaving here again. The only thing the devastation could mean is something too deep for me to jump into this early in the morning.

  “No. I’m going to be stuck here for a little while—remember what I said about free time the other night? I’m doing it for Penny. She called and asked. It’s been so long since I’ve been on stage just for pleasure, but I figured it would be fun.” And I don’t have anything to lose performing in that small bar.

  His brows shoot up, and I regret putting the memory of what we shared at the front of both our minds.

  “Plus…it means Lock won’t have to stay home, bored out of his mind thinking I can’t have a night to myself. I think he’s worried I’m going to slice my wrists open if he goes out on his own.”

  He swallows heavily, Lock being the ice water poured over any words. “Yep, okay. So I’ll see you later?” Xavier says it as a question, yet it also has some promise in it.

  “Yes, and please tell Charlie I hope she enjoys these. Let me know if she likes them, and I’ll get her more. And have a good day off school.”

  “Will do just that.”

  I glance over my shoulder as I walk out of the house and lock eyes with X. His wheels are turning in that mind of his, and I should be nervous. Yet I can’t think of what plan he comes up with.

  Chapter 9

  Xavier

  I stare at her on stage, my mouth wide open while Naomi works her whole body as if she’s the only person up there. The notes she sings becomes a story to the audience. This is her calling. Here, in this little hole in the wall. This is how she shines.

  I followed all her shows. YouTube was a constant source for my stalking. At least once a week, someone put up a new show of hers, but seeing it live burns my veins.

  “I’m sensing déjà vu?” Callum says with a hint of humor in his voice.

  Only I see no damn humor in memories like that.

  My cock twitches at the mere thought of what happened the first time she touched it. Right here, in this fucking room, with the same fucking girl doing the touching. However, this time, her body didn’t touch mine, she didn’t even spare me a glance. I’m invisible to her.

  “I fucking wish.” And I do. The whole forty minutes she’s been up on the wooden planks of the stage, she’s been feet away, but miles away from what counts. My dick was hard as a rock the second I caught a glimpse of her in the very corset she used to wear just for me. The red, the ties in the back, the push of her tits. God, nothing is more beautiful than seeing her wearing it again.

  It calls to me.

  “Sure you do.”

  “It’s almost over anyway.”

  “Fucking stalker.”

  I shake my head at Callum’s words. But don’t deny it.

  I was.

  I am.

  Every single show she had her hand in, I know by heart. Hell, she could have the tip of her toe in it, and I know about it. From the words, notes of the songs, the cast, the story. I know it all. I’m the stalker she knows nothing about, and the most humiliating thing about my stalking abilities…I’m damn proud of it.

  Just like I know, the show is now finished with her last b flat.

  The crowd’s on their feet, screaming for more as Naomi leaves the stage, but they won’t get that. She doesn’t do encores. I haven’t figured out why, but she earned her nickname, Mistress of Tease, because of it.

  I watch like a hawk as people file out, buying time ‘til I can pop in backstage. “I’m going to the dressing room.”

  “Want me to wait?”

  “Nah.” I’m nervous, anxious, horny. I don’t need my friend waiting for the bomb to explode when she sees me here.

  “Have fun.” Callum wiggles his brows with the biggest grin on his face. Wish I felt the confidence he does.

  Naomi makes me feel young again, brings me back to her age and gives me that spunk I used to have earlier in life.

  I fell in love with that, and I want it back with a vengeance.

  I stopped by the florist before I came. I decided looking like a douche was the best thing I could do for her. I told myself it was only to say thank you for helping Charlie, but fuck that. It’s not. My fist knocks on the door, my arm screaming at me for picking the heaviest arrangement the place had. I’m buying her love, one damn petal at a time. And I don’t feel one speck of guilt about it, either.

  Go big or go home, and I have no intention of going home alone tonight. Not with one touch from her.

  “Come in.”

  Taking a deep breath, I open the door. I pop open my mouth, only to close it just as fast. My vision goes to Naomi’s face, with her stage makeup caked on, but her hair down, falling over her shoulders. In waves. Begging me to wrap my hand around it.

  But that’s not what does me in.

  Not even in the slightest.

  Naomi is in a bra and panties.

  Nothing else.

  Black lace bra and see-through panties at that.

  I’m in heaven—I’m in holy hell.

  “Oh Lord, X, I thought you were Penny.” She’s breathless, but makes zero attempt to cover herself up.

  Lord, strike me dead or help a brother out. Because either way, I’m fucked.

  Royally.

  I drop the flowers over the bulge in my pants and gather strength to speak without my voice cracking like a twelve-year-old boy. “Do you open the door like that to everyone?”

  “What if I did?” She props her hands on her hips, and each time her chest moves, the piercings in her nipples catch the light like a fire—a fire that is spreading over me.

  “I would say I need to knock on your door more often.”

  Every single goddamn day. Every damn hour. Every damn minute. Naomi is my damn angel standing right in front of me.

  “I think you knocked on my door two times too many. Where’s Charlie?”

  “The hovering was driving her nuts, so she called Hadley for a sleepover.”

  She raises her brow, but a grin plays on her lips. Naomi’s happy I’m here. “Why are you here?”

  Clearing my throat over the emotions trying to get out, I take a stab at a conversation. “I wanted to give you these and tell you I enjoyed the show.”

  Naomi eyes the flowers, the grin turning into a smirk. “Why are you really here?”

  Swallowing deeply, I feel my Adam’s apple bob in my throat. “To see if you wa
nted to go on a date with me.”

  A date. A real one where I don’t have to hide her from anyone or keep her a secret. A date that’s seven years too late.

  I’m so fucking addicted to her, all that she does, the way she moves.

  Everything.

  “Why?”

  “Because I want to?” It comes out as a question, only I didn’t want it to.

  “No.”

  “Yes, just one.”

  “Xavier, we’ve tried to make this into something it clearly wasn’t. Why would we try to do that again?”

  I take a step closer to her. “It’s not clear from my side. I think about you all the time.”

  Every day.

  Every second.

  “You think about what’s between my legs, nothing more.”

  I stare into her dark brown eyes, and with every breath she takes, I know her words are just a shield she’s using to protect herself. “It’s much more than that…so much more. I think about your tits, your moans, your screams. Don’t get me wrong, the sex is good.”

  “Good?”

  Another inch closer to her, and her chest moves rapidly.

  “Fucking eye rolling, teeth clenching, earth splitting in two, fantastic. But that’s not the only thing I want. I want you. Your brain, the conversations. You. It’s you. That help your pride any?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can I tell you something?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want you. In more ways than I can count.” Another step closer, I now tower over her.

  Time after time, we’ve been like this, and with each occasion, the jolt of sexual tension grows stronger—never smaller.

  I’m beginning to think it’s…us. Not her or me. But us together that make this thing so electric.

  She takes her lip between her teeth and stares at me with lust shining in her eyes. “I want you, too.”

  Naomi admitted it. No take-backs now.

  I pick her up, the skin of her ass in my hands. She wraps her arms around my neck.

  “Jesus, it seems like a lifetime since I’ve been in you,” I growl out.