Familiar Ground

by Michelle Lynn

  “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “I’m embarrassed that I went through all the money I got when Mom died,” he says. “It could have been college money for Dani, or a house for us. Instead, it went to fucking drugs and a lifestyle that ended up killing Dani’s mother.” As harsh as his words are, hearing him say them brings a smile to my face. To me, it shows he’s regretting decisions, instead of blaming it on someone else like before. He’s becoming responsible for his actions. About flippin’ time!

  I put my hand on his shoulder. “You never have to be embarrassed with me.” I gave him a long big hug, and when we pull away, we both wipe tears from our eyes. It’s the first time in years that I can remember my brother being so genuine. Maybe we’re off to a good start. I finally feel optimistic about our future.

  Just then Adam and Dani come barreling around the corner. Dani talking to Adam about her day and what she did. He responds just as excited as she is. My heart always swells when I see them together.

  When Dani’s eyes find Shane, her feet can’t move fast enough. “Daddy,” she exclaims.

  He grabs her and swings her around in a circle. “Dani.” He holds her in a firm embrace.

  “Are you coming home with us?” she asks, and Adam and I exchange a sad look.

  “No, I’m not. Just a little longer, okay?” His voice quivers. He places her down and crouches down to her level.

  “I miss you, Daddy,” she says with tears in her eyes.

  “I miss you, too, more than you know, honey. I promise as soon as I’m better, I’ll be home.” They both hug each other so hard while tears rain down their faces.

  I try to discretely wipe the tears escaping my own eyes at witnessing such an emotional good-bye. Adam puts his arm around me and pulls me close to his chest.

  Eventually, we leave Shane and pull out of The Meadows, listening to Dani’s quiet crying all the way to the hotel. I sit in the passenger seat, staring out the window with my own tears while Adam holds my hand. Having nothing to lose, I stare up at the sky and pray to my parents. Get Shane better, there’s no way this girl can lose her dad, and I can’t lose a brother.

  The train arrives in Chicago at five. I kept Dani busy while Leah studied on the train, and by the time we got back to Leah’s, we were all exhausted. Unsure if I should stay or go, since I’m in uncharted territory. I wish we could’ve stayed in that hotel forever.

  Dani lays on the couch, watching television while Leah starts doing the laundry.

  “Adam, can you come here?” She calls me down the hallway to the washing machine.

  “What is it, Leah?” I ask her.

  “Did you want to stay for dinner? If you have to go home, I completely understand,” she says with her blank face of what she would prefer.

  “Do you want me to stay or go?” I ask her.

  “Stay,” she says casually, pouring the detergent into the washing machine. A smile creeps across my face, and I immediately grab her. I place my hand on the back of her head and bring her lips to mine. Knowing we could have prying eyes at any moment, I pull back slightly, still holding her small frame against my broad chest.

  “What do you want? I don’t cook much,” she admits, biting her lower lip.

  “Let me rummage through your cabinets. I’m sure I can find something.” With a brief kiss, I walk back down the hallway, feeling her eyes on me the whole time.

  Leah was right, she doesn’t have much, but I find some pasta sauce and spaghetti. After it’s all prepared, we sit down around the breakfast bar, and I show Dani how to hold her spaghetti noodle in the back of her throat and wiggle it back and forth, much to Leah’s disgust. Leah shakes her head in amused displeasure, but Dani loves it, and it got her to eat the pasta. Then I take the noodle and hold the one end up for Leah. She shakes her head in a firm no, but I persist, and, eventually, she relents, placing her end on her mouth. Our eyes fix on one another until we meet in the middle. “The dog movie,” Dani proclaims, clapping her hands. Leaving a pink flushed Leah backing away, but I pull her back, giving her a brief kiss after we meet in the middle. Then I do my best to focus on my meal in front of me. It’s like a true family dinner, and it sure beats the hell out of being alone. When I decided to take them to Minnesota, I thought by today I’d be running home for some solace, but I’m dreading leaving.

  I bathe a very exhausted Dani, and then we put her to bed together. After we shut the door, I sit on the couch, and Leah cuddles in next me. Her continued yawns and dozing off tells me, she needs to go to bed, and I need to leave. Every ounce of me wants to spend the night with her, but I don’t want to rush anything, and Leah and I need to decide what we’re going to tell Dani before she starts finding me here in the morning.

  “I should get going, let you go to bed,” I regretfully say.

  “Oh—okay.” She slowly leaves my arms, and they feel empty immediately.

  “What’s your schedule for the week?” I ask. I don’t know how I am going to go without her for one minute let alone days.

  “Um, I have to teach Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and I have classes every day.”

  “Do you have a night free to go over to my parents with Dani?” I hate asking. I know she has enough on her plate without the guilt of seeing my parents.

  “Sure. How about Wednesday? I’m finished with classes around three.” She surprises me more and more. She doesn’t look upset, but instead upbeat, like she’s excited.

  “Great, I will let my mom know.” I pull her towards me and clasp my hands behind her back. “Thanks, Leah.”

  “You’re welcome. Dani needs to spent time with her grandparents. Hey, they raised you.” She smiles.

  “You astonish me.”

  “I try to keep you on your toes.” Her fingers wrap around my neck, brushing up and down the hair on my neck. God, I love it when she does that.

  “All right, I should go. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know what time I’ll pick you up, okay?” I say, bending down for a kiss.

  “Okay,” she says, leaning into me as well. When our lips meet, we slowly enjoy the pace until she moans into my mouth and applies pressure on the back of my neck to keep me there. I increase my speed, pulling her hips into me and locking her into place, perfectly aligned with my body. My tongue becomes more demanding, and she matches my rhythm beat for beat.

  Finally, we come apart. I don’t know who moves away first, but I rest my forehead on hers. “God, I’m gonna miss you, Leah,” I whisper.

  “Me too,” she softly says.

  Then a cold rush of air hits me as she slides away and opens the front door, making it a reality that I’m actually leaving her. When I get to the bottom step, I look up, and there she is, watching me leave.

  I smirk. “You checking me out?” I ask her.

  “Always.” She laughs.

  My smile widens. “Get inside and lock up.” I motion her back inside the apartment, waiting to hear all three of her locks click before I continue walking to my car and head to my lonely apartment.

  I shut the door, the excitement I felt when we were kissing and he pressed me against him still lingers. That doesn’t explain why he surprised me when he said he was leaving. I thought maybe he’d spend the night. Of course, I’m so tired I can’t imagine doing anything but sleeping. Who am I kidding, if Adam was in my bed, the last thing I would be doing would be sleeping?

  Dani wakes me up by jumping on my bed the next morning. Stretching, I must have fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I glance at my phone, and there’s a text from Adam saying good night last night. Adam has brought out a part of me I forgot was there. After Mom died I felt so alone, I had no choice but to take control of my life. It’s the reason I’m so particular and meticulously organized. When Adam took care of me this weekend without asking for my opinion or expecting an answer from me, it enabled a carefree and liberated side to come out. The part I love is that he not only appears to want to do these things but enjoys doing
them.

  By the time I drop off Dani and get down to campus, I only have a few minutes, and I was really hoping to catch a glimpse of Adam. Even if just for a glance and a wave. Going from five straight days with him to nothing is a hard adjustment. I walk by the chain link fenced off area and see a lot more workers than the previous times. I try to catch a peek on the sly, but there are just too many men all over the dirt filled area.

  Just as I’m about to give up, two hands grab my waist and pull me back.

  “You’re running late. I thought I missed you,” the deep voice says while moving my hair off my neck and kissing it. “Trying to check me out again?” he whispers.

  “You wish.” I smirk while moving forward and turning around to face the man that is stealing my heart away from me.

  When I see Adam, my breath hitches. He’s wearing a gray Carhart jacket over faded dirty jeans and even dirtier work boots. He’s displaying the classic rough and tough, hardworking guy persona, and I want him to throw me over his shoulder and take me to his bed.

  “Knew you’d be running late, so here you go.” He hands me my tea from the coffee shop down the street.

  My face instantly turns up in a smile “Oh, thank you.” I put my arms around his neck, bringing those gorgeous lips to mine.

  “You can expect one every day with a thank you like that,” he mumbles against my mouth.

  Our lips lock again, and soon we’re unable to keep things decent. Suddenly all we can hear is shouting obscenities and whistles. Adams’s hand leaves my back and out of the corner of my eye, I see his hand lift in the air.

  “I could kill those guys,” he says once we slowly pull apart.

  I smile.

  “Can I see you tonight?” he asks.

  “Yes,” I say without any thought except that I want him in my bed.

  He gives me a tight hug. “I’ll get Dani and meet you at your place at six or so?”

  “Great. I can’t wait.” Okay. I better get going.” I check my watch. “Thank you for the tea, you’re a lifesaver.”

  “Anytime, Leah, see you tonight.”

  With one entirely too short last kiss, he walks back to join the whistling men.

  During the day, I ache for Adam’s arms. I teach my class at the dance studio, fill Darcie and Vivian in about my weekend and recent break-up with Jason. Vivian is thrilled, since she never cared for Jason anyways, and Darcie asks for Jason’s number.

  As I walk down the sidewalk, looking a lot like the first time I met Adam, I greet him on my doorstep with Dani. Dani hops back and forth up the porch stairs while Adam asks her questions about daycare. All day I looked forward for us to play with Dani until she goes to bed, and then snuggling up to Adam. I know we have to address some things with Dani, and I figure tonight is the perfect night.

  “Hey, Leah! How was your day?” I ask her after doing a double take. I love her in her dance clothes, and I’m happy as hell that tonight I’ll be the one to hopefully undress her. Her ass in those leggings is something else.

  “Hey, guys, it was good.” I see her look down at my bags.

  “Mexican tonight?” I ask her, although I have plenty of choices, since I didn’t know what she liked.

  “Perfect, I’m starving. Let’s get inside before you freeze.” She grabs Dani by the hand.

  “Too late, Auntie Leah, I’m a popsicle,” Dani exclaims, and we both laugh.

  We continue with the same routine, eat dinner and give Dani a bath. I know Leah is big on consistency, and being the good guy I am, I try not to change it too much, at least for now. I read Dani a story while Leah cleans up the kitchen. When I’m about to leave Dani’s room she stops me.

  “Uncle Adam? Do you like Auntie Leah?” She asks.

  I should have grabbed Leah before Dani spoke. “Yes, of course,” I answer

  “You’re always looking at her. You look at her like Uncle Jimmy looked at Mommy.”

  “How is that, sweetheart?” I ask, trying to hold the bile in my throat, thinking about Jimmy. I would have to address that issue at some point, but not right now.

  “I don’t know, you follow her everywhere she goes,” she continues. “I see Auntie Leah looking at you, too.”

  “Can I tell you a secret, Dani?” I walk back into her room and get down on my knees.

  “Yeah.”

  “Promise to keep it to yourself. You can’t tell anyone.”

  “Promise.”

  “I like your Aunt Leah a lot. When adults care for one another they hug and kiss a lot. Is it okay with you if I hug your Aunt?” I ask.

  “Ehw… gross, Uncle Adam.”

  “That’s what I thought, but I’m going to do it anyways.”

  “I like it when you’re here.” She stretches her arms out in front of her.

  “You do?” I ask surprised.

  “Yeah, Auntie Leah seems happier when you are here, too.”

  “All right, enough talk, time for bed. Goodnight, sweetheart.” I bend down and give her a kiss on her forehead.

  “Goodnight, Uncle Adam.” She squeezes me in a tight hug.

  After shutting the door quietly, I make my way to Leah, who has her hands submerged in the sink, washing dishes.

  “I think I cleared the path for us a little.” I sit on the stool, watching Leah move from the sink to dishwasher. Her ass pulling at me with every bend.

  She looks at me confused. “Huh?” she questions.

  “With Dani, I told her I like you a lot, and when adults like each other, they kiss and hug.”

  “And what did she say?” She giggles.

  “Ehw. She thinks it’s gross,” I respond.

  “Yeah, I can see that.” She smiles. She puts the detergent in and starts the dishwasher then turns and walks over to me. Leah always moves with such grace. “I didn’t really expect her to understand it.”

  “Are you laughing at me?” I ask, putting my hands on her hips.

  “For someone who is so great with kids, I’m surprised at how badly you handled that one.”

  “Hey, I had to say something before she woke up tomorrow and saw me in your bed,” I dare to say.

  “What makes you think you are staying in my bed?”

  “Just hoping I guess.” I jokingly put on my sad face and peek through my eyelids up to her.

  “Stop the act. You’ll be waking up on my couch, but you can spend some time in my bed.” Her flirtatious eyes flutter in my direction.

  “I thought you would never ask.” I draw her to me, brushing my hand from her hair down her neck, through the crease between her breasts, and down her stomach.

  Adam’s hand ends up at my hip after his slow exploration of my body. Tugging me toward him, I willingly fall between his legs, and I bend down to meet his waiting lips. When we’re only millimeters apart, he pulls me the rest of the way, smashing our lips together. Our mouths frantically devour each other’s, darting our tongues in and out.

  All the pent up want comes out in a storm of fury as our hands grab, grip, and tug on each other’s bodies. He stands up and rests his hands on my thighs, right under my ass. Pushing my legs forward. “Wrap your legs around me,” he requests. I do as he instructs, and our mouths meet once again while he walks me to the door. Pressing my back up against the cool metal, he locks all three locks with me kissing and licking his neck. As he carries me down the hall to my bedroom, I’ve never felt so wanted by someone.

  My heart pounds fast in my chest, and the way he’s moving tells me his is too. I’m slightly panicked knowing I don’t have much experience; I guarantee less than him. When we enter the room, I spot his duffle bag on the floor, and I wonder when he snuck it in here.

  He gradually lays me on the bed and then inches on top of me. “Have I told you how hot you look tonight?” he asks, staring into my eyes as his fingers play with my hair on the side of my face.

  “Oh, please… I should take a shower before we…” I say, beginning to sit up, but he places his hand on my chest, easing me back
down.

  “Don’t you dare! I’ve been imagining taking these clothes off of you all night. To be honest, ever since the first day I met you.” He slips my arms out from my sweatshirt and raises it over my head. His hand glides over my ribcage, and he lowers his body back down over me.

  I shift under him, and he locks me into a kiss even more aggressive than the last. My hands reach under his thermal, feeling his tight and strong back muscles. His skin so soft and smooth, I can’t stop my hands from exploring up and down. Inching the fabric up, he eventually pulls his shirt off, and I splay my hands across his chest, finally, feeling all the hard ripples I’ve been admiring for weeks.

  Kissing my neck, his hands snake up my tank top, releasing a moan from the pleasure he’s inducing. “You have no idea how hard it is to go slow with you, but I want to savor every touch and kiss,” he whispers in my ear before biting on my earlobe and sucking it into the warmth of his mouth. He pulls the top of my leotard down, sliding my arms out, and pushing it down to my waist to reveal my naked upper body. “I have dreamed of these ever since my first sight of you.” Putting one hand on my left breast and his mouth on my right, he encases my nipple into his mouth and twirls his tongue, making it even harder.

  “Oh God, Adam, that feels so good,” I say, bringing my hand up behind his head to make sure he doesn’t detour from the area.

  He doesn’t stay long enough on my breasts as his mouth travels down my stomach while his right hand moves between my legs over my leotard and leggings. Kneading my clit with his thumb, his fingers nudge against me, and I whimper. He rains kisses across my stomach as his hands move, reaching into the bunched up fabric at my waist to pull them down. Sitting up on his knees, he tugs them down my legs, over my ankles and feet, then he finally drops them onto the floor. As he intently stares down at my naked body, a self-conscience and vulnerable feeling invades me. His hands gently rest on my shoulders and slowly travel across the top of my body. Callused fingertips brush across my nipples and then my stomach, lastly they tremble against my folds. When his eyes reach mine, the desire I see filling them causes my heart to stammer in an unsteady beat.