Riding It Out

by Jennifer Foor

  He looked over at me with curious eyes. “Like how I feel?”

  “Yeah. It’s like that. Not a day goes by where I don’t miss my brother, my best friend, who just happens to be your real dad.”

  Immediately Shawn started to cry. “I don’t understand. Mommy said my daddy is alive. You said you were my daddy.

  “When your dad died I changed my name to remember him by. Your mom didn’t know that when she came looking for him and found me instead, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her that he was gone.” I reached over and put my hand over his, watching as he looked my way. “Shawn, I may not be your dad, but I’ll be the best uncle any kid could have. I’d like to think that your dad and mom are together in Heaven looking down on us, making sure we go to bed early, eat our vegetables, and behave. Maybe they’re our guardian angels.”

  “Do you think they have wings now?”

  I smirked. “I guess it’s possible.”

  “Was my daddy brave?”

  “He was the bravest. He once saved me from a roof that was collapsing on top of me. He came into the building with no fear and helped free my leg. I saw him save lots of children that had been injured. Your dad was my hero.”

  “So if you’re not my daddy, what do I call you?”

  “How about uncle Reed?”

  “Okay. Do I still get to live with you?”

  “Of course you do. Nothing’s going to change that.”

  He smiled and looked away, peering around the room at all the cool things Dingo had used to decorate. There were a couple replica grenades, and even a tank sitting on a shelf. He hurried over and did a closer inspection. “Cool!”

  “You can have anything you want, Shawn. Everything in this house belongs to you now. We’ll fill the truck up if that’s what you want.”

  He looked upset for moment. “Do we have to leave now?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. We can stay for a while if that’s what you want. I’d like it if you let me tell you more about your dad. It makes me feel better when I talk about him. You remind me a lot of him.”

  “I do?” He chuckled and played with metal tank replica. “Mommy says I have his eyes. She always said that I have his temper too.”

  I laughed. “Did she now?”

  “Do you think I’ll be brave like him?”

  “I already think you are. For someone as young as you are, I’m jealous of how much you’ve endured. You’re a brave little soldier, Shawn Reed.”

  That night, after tucking Shawn into bed, I stared at my phone thinking of Erica. I’d left with no explanation after she’d told me she needed space. Honestly, I hadn’t been worried about our relationship much considering I had a child to make my first priority. We’d been so caught up in our road trip that time had gotten away from me. It was now four days since I’d talked to her, or seen her beautiful face.

  She picked up on the second ring. “Reed, where are you? I’ve been worried sick.”

  “We’re outside of Dallas.”

  “What are you doing there?”

  “I wanted to take Shawn to his father’s old house. We stopped by those people’s house that they’d been living at. I gave them our address at the B&B so they could send cards and come visit. They’re real nice people. Shawn seemed thrilled to be able to see them. He’s really liking our man time.”

  “That’s great to hear. I’m glad he’s doing better.”

  “Listen, I won’t keep you. I just want you to know we were okay, and that I miss you.”

  “Wait! When are you coming home?”

  It felt so good to hear her ask me that. “Is that what you want?”

  “You do live here.”

  “That’s not what I asked, Erica. Look, I get that I messed up big time. I know this whole ordeal has been hard on you, believe me I do, but it doesn’t change how I feel. I’m still the man that’s in love with you. I’m the same man that met you on the porch that night of the storm; the one that made love to you that night and knew you were something special. That’s never going to change for as long as I live. I know I’ve got baggage, and a kid that not’s even mine. I can’t expect you to want the same things as me, and I don’t blame you if you don’t understand why I’m doing it.”

  “Just come home.”

  “Do I have a reason?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I miss you.”

  “We should be back in a few days. It’s going to take us a while to drive back. I’ll call you when we’re on our way.”

  “I’m still angry you know. It hurts me that you had to lie, but I get why you did it.”

  “As long as you still want me, you can be mad. It’ll give us more reason to make up when you’re ready.”

  “Goodnight, Reed.”

  After we hung up I crept around the house looking through some of Shawn’s belongings. I wanted his son to have as much of his dad’s things as possible, so I began boxing them up. In doing so, I found a ton of old pictures of the two of us. Reminiscing like this made me feel as if I’d been living so much of my life alone. He’d been all I had left, and before Shawn came into my life I was prepared to leave all these memories behind.

  I spent most of the night collecting things to take home with us. Even if Erica decided that we were through, I knew I’d live someplace close to her, just so I was able to see her living out a legacy.

  When I climbed into bed Shawn was already there. He sat up and gave me a pouty face. “Would my daddy love me?”

  I pulled him close, embracing him to take away those fears of being alone. “Of course he would, buddy.”

  “Will you love me, uncle Reed?”

  His question caught me off guard. I didn’t have to think long. This child belonged to someone that I’d love like a blood relative. “I already do.”

  This brought tears to my eyes, bonding like this in my best friend’s home. All I could do was look up and say thanks, because in that moment I knew for sure he’d been sent to me. This was the last piece of the puzzle.

  Chapter 14

  “How much longer?”

  We’d been trying to make the drive home without stopping. After one flat tire, I was losing hope that we’d make it before daybreak. As much as I wanted the little guy to get some sleep, I knew he was excited to get back to the pretty blonde who’d called and talked to him while I drove. It wasn’t surprising that he bonded with Erica. Not only was he desperately missing his mother, but she had a knack for making people feel welcome.

  “Maybe another two hours. Try and take a nap.”

  “But I don’t want to go to sleep.”

  “That’s too bad. I wish I could take a nap. I’m exhausted. Are you sure you don’t want to stop and surprise her in the morning?” It would be nice to take a break from driving. The long country roads were making me sleepy.

  “No! Lets keep going.”

  “Okay, buddy. We’ll keep on keeping on.”

  He laughed at my comment while I cranked up the tunes to occupy our time. When I started humming to the tune of the music Shawn giggled. He began mocking me, dancing around in his seat.

  For a while we played around to every song that came on the radio. Eventually I noticed he’d gotten quiet and fallen asleep. My last forty minutes were silent, giving me ample time to think about how I was going to convince Erica to give me another chance. I may not have deserved her, but I was planning on fighting for our relationship anyway. I couldn’t let her walk away from what we had, because it felt so right in every way.

  Pulling up the lane to the B&B was a great moment. Not only was I ready to hit the sack, but I knew there was someone inside that I couldn’t wait to hold in my arms. I climbed out of the truck and headed to grab Shawn from his seatbelt. With him in my arms, I turned to see Erica standing on the porch. She had her arms folded across her chest, standing in only a long t-shirt. She was so beautiful, especially because she was smiling at the sight of us.

  “I didn’t want to wake you,” I whispered as I cli
mbed the first step.

  “I heard you pull in. Come on, let’s put him to bed.” She started to turn to go inside.

  “Erica, wait! Before we go inside I need to say something.”

  She spun around with a curious look across her face. “Okay, I’m listening.”

  “I told him the truth. He knows I’m not his dad. We stayed at Shawn’s old house, and packed up a few of his things to bring home with us. I promised him that I’d be the best uncle he could ever have. I told him he’d never be alone.” I looked down at the sleeping boy in my arms. “I let him know how much I loved his father, and how much I already love him.”

  “Reed, that’s so sweet.” Erica said kindly.

  “Thanks, but I’m not looking for approval. There’s one thing Shawn needs that I can’t give him. Before we walk inside I need to know something.”

  “Reed, I-.”

  “He needs an aunt, Erica. This kid has talked about you since we left. We’re both crazy about you. I know I’m asking a lot, but I’m in love with you. Let’s get married. Let’s raise Shawn here together.”

  She just stood there staring at the both of us. Tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t speak.

  “Say something,” I pleaded.

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  I stepped closer, breaking the distance between us. “I’m so sorry I hurt you, babe.”

  She put her hands on my cheeks and closed her eyes. “I thought you weren’t coming back, Reed. I kept thinking I was going to have to run this whole place by myself.”

  “Is that the only reason you wanted me to come home?”

  She shook her head quickly. “No. Of course not. I wanted you to come home because I love you, because deep inside in the pit of my stomach I know the lie doesn’t matter. I trust you with my life, and I know why you made the decisions that brought you into my life. I also know why this little boy belongs wherever you are.”

  I smiled, feeling overwhelmed with happiness. “He’s getting pretty heavy standing here. How about we put him in bed and get caught up?”

  Erica followed me upstairs, and pulled the covers down in a clean bedroom for Shawn. Once we’d tucked him in, I left a light on and the door cracked so he’d be able to find his way to us.

  I didn’t wait until we were in the confines of our room to take Erica into my arms. I needed her close to me immediately. My fingers pinched the fabric of her t-shirt as she attempted to walk in front of me. She turned around slammed against my chest. I could feel her lips so close to mine. “I know I’m asking a lot. I wouldn’t hate you if you told me to leave and never come back.”

  “That’s not going to happen.” She kissed me slowly, only pulling away to say something. “There is something you give me in return though.”

  “Anything. Name it.”

  “I’ll marry you and help you raise Shawn, if we can have one of our own.”

  It was the easiest request I’d ever gotten. “I think that can be arranged.” I picked her up with little effort, pressing her against the hallway wall. Her legs easily wrapped around me, as well as her arms. I freed my hands, lifting them up to her breasts. The soft mounds hardened at the tips while my fingers trailed over them. I savored her kiss, feeling every inch of her tongue tangling with mine. As our groping increased I knew I had to get her into bed. I opened the next room we came to and carried her inside, tossing her down on the plush queen-sized bed. She backed up on the mattress, giving me ample room to join her. While I climbed on, she was tugging off the t-shirt, and tossing it onto the floor. I licked my lips as I approached her body, savoring the fact that she was lying there naked with anticipation of being with me again.

  This hadn’t been the welcome home I’d expected, but I was far from stopping to think about it. I wanted this. I wanted her, more than I’d ever wanted something in my life. Being with Erica reminded me that I was home. I’d found my forever, and now we were going to be family. Nothing could have prepared me for the pleasure it gave me.

  I couldn’t help myself from sliding in between her supple thighs and savoring her juices. My tongue traipsed over her smooth skin once, and then back over it again. I flicked her little clit, again and again, using the vibration of my moans to increase her pleasure. Little cries escaped her as I kept going at it, determined to take to her to the highest of places. I wanted her to experience euphoria while my lips sucked on her soaked pussy.

  My tongue tightened and forced it’s way into her channel, vigorously. I knew she was close from the way she kept begging me not to stop. My other hand played with her asshole, just enough to send her over the edge. Her body arched, urging me to go at it faster. With as much precision as possible I continued, even after I felt her cum. Little jerks of her hips let me know she’d slipped into a euphoric coma.

  I lapped up her sweet pussy once more, treating it like my favorite dessert. Erica moaned and played with the hair on my head until I was finished. Even then I still kissed my way back up to her lips, leaving a trail of saliva in between her breasts.

  “How’d that feel, babe?”

  “Mmm, good.”

  “I think you missed me.” I didn’t need the reassurance. Erica had already proven that we were going to be alright.

  She licked her lips. “I did.”

  I rubbed my hand over her now swollen pussy. “I thought about this while I was gone.” I drove a finger inside of her when I said it. “Your pussy’s so tight. Tell me you want me to fuck it.”

  “I do. I want you to fuck my pussy. Please, I want it so bad,” she begged.

  I got a hold of my dick and slapped it against her little clit again and again as I began jerking it off over top of her. I wasn’t doing it to get hard, because I’d been that way as soon as we’d gotten to the hallway. This was more for her. I kept teasing her on that sensitive spot, making a sound each time our skin met. Erica arched her body. I knew she was going to cum again. I could tell from the way she bit down on her lip and tightened her face. She dug her nails into my shoulders and threw her head back at the last minute, screaming out words that had no meaning in the English dictionary.

  When I knew she was far from recovering I plunged inside of that channel, taking every inch she’d allow. Erica tied our legs together while I thrust a good pace. Her head banged against the headboard, albeit she didn’t complain. She pinched my nipples and leaned forward to take them between her teeth, teasing pain with pleasure.

  I picked her up and sat her on my lap, allowing her to take the lead. Erica bucked like she was riding a wild bull. Her ass slapped against my legs each time she came all the way down, sending my stiff cock deep inside as far as it could go.

  “Oh babe, I’m going to cum.”

  “Yeah, that’s it. I want it.” Her words were like liquid sex, sending me into overdrive. I started moving faster, losing all sense of self while ecstasy took over.

  Then we collapsed, exhausted and out of breath.

  A few minutes later we lay there side by side looking into each other’s eyes. “I told my mother you were taking Shawn back to his family.”

  “Well I’m not locking him in a closet when she comes to visit. You’re going to have to tell her the truth.”

  “I will, eventually.”

  “For now let’s focus on us. The rest will work itself out.”

  “You’re right. Thanks for giving me time to think. I just want you to know that being without you was never going to be an option. I need you, no matter what name you want to go by.” She started closing her eyes like she was going to sleep. I sat up and climbed out of the bed to put some shorts on. “Reed, what are you doing?”

  “At any second a little boy is going to come in here and get in bed with us. Unless you want to teach him about the birds and the bees, I suggest you get some clothes on.”

  She laughed and jumped off the mattress, quickly finding a shirt and a pair of shorts.

  Twenty minutes later, just after we’d turned out the lights and kissed goodnight,
we felt the bed moving and a little body climbing between us. I reached my arm over the both them, and I felt complete lying there. The three of us were going to be a family. We’d make it work together, and I’d be able to watch Shawn’s son grow up to be a man he’d be proud of.

  I felt him playing with my dog tags and opened my eyes. I’d worn them ever since Shawn had passed away. He’d taken them off as soon as he got out of the Marines. After he died I found them in his room. Wearing them was never about taking his identity. I wore them because he’d worn them for so long. I reached behind my neck and unfastened the necklace, then placed it on Shawn. “These were your dads. I want you to have them. They’re good luck.”

  He lifted up the tags and looked at them. “They say my name,” he noticed.

  “That’s because you’re named after him.”

  “I like them, Uncle Reed.”

  I rubbed his head. “I know little guy. How about we all get some sleep?”

  He nestled himself closer toward me. “Yes, sir.”

  “You’re a good little soldier.”

  Erica waited until she knew he was sleeping to talk again. “He trusts you to keep him safe, Reed.”

  “I’d give my life before I’d let something happen to him. I’d do the same for you.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that.”

  I chuckled lightly. “Babe, I’d ride out any storm as long as you’re by my side.” It was a promise that I intended to keep. “Let me know when you want to start working on that little girl. I don’t want to be too old when she’s growing up. Plus Shawn’s going to want to play with his little cousin.”

  “Since when did you want to be a dad so badly?”

  I shrugged and looked down at Shawn. “Ever since I realized what I’d been missing in my life. This little guy is like the missing piece to my puzzle. I’m glad we took that road trip together, and I was able to show him where and how his dad lived. It was good for both of us. I know Dingo’s gone, and I’ll never see him again, but look at what he left behind. I’ve got another chance to make him proud, and I’ll be damned if I mess it up.”