The Predicament

  “But even if you talk to all the women in your mommy group, you still have to communicate what’s going on in your head to Nate.”

  Casey winced and rubbed her eyes. “He has to already think I’ve lost my damn mind.”

  “Knowing Nate like I do, I’m sure that’s the last thing on his mind.”

  “Like you wouldn’t be slightly concerned about Emma’s sanity if she had run out on you like I had?”

  “Well, maybe a little,” Aidan admitted.

  “I rest my case.”

  Aidan’s expression became suddenly grave. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something—something not a living soul besides Emma knows. And I’m only telling it now so that you can feel a little better about what happened.”

  With Aidan’s tone and body language, Casey couldn’t help leaning forward expectantly on the couch. “What is it?” she questioned in almost a whisper.

  After doing a nervous pop of the knuckles on his hand, Aidan cleared his throat. Whatever he was about to tell her seemed especially painful. “This one time when Noah was about two months old…” He swallowed hard. “Emma fell asleep when I was going down on her.”

  Seconds crept by as she could merely stare at him, blinking. If her situation hadn’t been so bleak, she probably would have busted out laughing at the absurdity of it all.

  “Aidan, while I appreciate you trying to commiserate, I can tell you from a woman’s perspective that’s really not a bad thing.”

  Aidan’s blue eyes widened. “Are you fucking kidding me? Putting your wife to sleep during a sex act is never, ever a good thing.”

  “But oral for a woman can be very relaxing—sometimes an orgasm is just what we need to get the best sleep of our life.”

  He shook his head furiously from side to side. “Oh hell no. It’s not supposed to be this—” He closed his eyes, lolled his head to the sound, and made exaggerated snoring sounds.

  “But—”

  “It’s supposed to be this!” Rolling his eyes back in his head in mock ecstasy, he then mimicked the high-pitched voice of a female as he moaned, “Oh God! Oh God! Yes, yes, YES!”

  Casey snorted back a laugh, which earned her a frustrated grunt from Aidan. “Last time I ever tell you something to make you feel better,” he grumbled before hopping up off the couch.

  As she watched his retreating form stomp away, Casey sighed and rose up herself. She followed him into the kitchen where he had his head stuck in the fridge. “I’m sorry.”

  He pulled back to eye her around the side of the fridge door. Waving a longneck at her, he asked, “Want one?”

  Her mouth watered in anticipation. “I really shouldn’t.”

  “Pump and dump. You’ve earned it.”

  A laugh escaped her lips. Who would have ever thought Mr. Manwhore Fitzgerald would understand all the ins and outs of breastfeeding? “Okay. You twisted my arm.”

  Always the gentleman, he popped the top off before passing the cold bottle to her. Holding his bottle, he clinked the neck of hers. “To great sex.”

  With a groan, she repeated, “To great sex.” After taking a long, foamy swig, she leaned back against the counter. “Just for the record, your reputation as the ultimate lover has not waned one bit in my eyes because of that story.”

  Aidan grinned at her over the top of his longneck. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” After nibbling his bottom lip a tad bit nervously, he added, “And it was only that one time.”

  Casey bit back a smile. “I believe you.”

  “Good.”

  Aidan’s phone began to ring. When he picked it up, he glanced at her. “It’s Nate.”

  Sitting the beer down on the counter, she waved her hands back and forth. “I don’t want to talk to him.”

  With an exasperated look, Aidan answered the call. “Hey man.” Although Nate couldn’t see him, Aidan bobbed his head. “Yeah, she’s here, and she’s fine.” Nate must’ve asked about talking to her because Aidan grimaced before scratching the hair at the back of his neck. “Um, she really doesn’t want to talk to you right now.”

  If she tried, she could almost picture Nate at home, pacing around their bedroom—his dark brows furrowed in worry. His hair was probably disheveled from jerking his fingers through it, which was one of his nervous quirks. The thought that she was the source of that worry caused an ache to burn through her chest.

  “Tell him I’m on my way home,” she blurted.

  Aidan’s brows rose, but he didn’t question her. “She’s coming home.” Once again, he bobbed his head. “Yeah, I’ll make sure she gets to the car okay.”

  Tears stung Casey’s eyes when she thought of how concerned Nate was for her. God, she loved that man with all her heart and soul. The last thing in the world she ever wanted to do was hurt him. Humiliation once again stung her at the way she had overreacted. Man, she could sure manage to fuck up a situation, couldn’t she?”

  As soon as Aidan hung up the phone, it dinged signaling a text. After glancing at it, he said, “That’s Em. She’s on the way home. You sure you don’t want to wait for her?”

  Casey shook her head. “I need to get to Nate—to make this right.”

  Aidan patted her shoulder. “It wasn’t ever a wrong, Case.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I know so. But I’m glad you’re going home. Nate sounded pretty desperate.”

  “God, I was such a heartless bitch to run out on him like that,” she lamented.

  “You were just doing what you thought was best in the moment. If you had stayed, you might’ve said something you would have regretted.”

  Casey stared at Aidan in surprise as she weighed his words. After shaking her head, she questioned, “Whenever did you get so wise, douchenozzle?”

  He laughed. “Becoming a husband and father was the jumpstart to maturity I desperately needed.”

  She reached out and patted his cheek. “It looks and sounds really good on you.”

  “Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.”

  “You’re welcome. And thanks for listening to me.”

  “Anytime.” With a wink, he added, “But if it’s all the same, I really hope Emma’s home the next time you have a crisis.”

  Casey snickered. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Picking up the baby monitor, he then proceeded to walk her out to the car just as he had promised Nate. He went as far as to open the car door and shut it back. She waved at him before cranking up. As she backed down the driveway, she thought how lucky Emma was to have Aidan. What had started out as a proposition had turned into so much more.

  Although there were a million things she wanted to say to Nate, she didn’t pick up the phone. What she needed to say should be said in person. When she pulled into the garage, Nate stood waiting for her in the doorway. He’d thrown on a pair of boxer shorts, but besides that, he was exactly as she had left him.

  From his body language, she could tell he wanted nothing more than to bound out to the car and take her into his arms, but he wouldn’t let himself. He was giving her the space he thought she needed. Just when she thought she couldn’t love him more, she did.

  She flung open the car door and sprinted to his side. For the second time that night, she threw herself into his arms. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” she murmured against his neck.

  He rubbed comforting circles over her back. “You don’t have to apologize.

  “Yes, I do. I acted like a crazy shrew.”

  Nate’s chest rumbled with a good-natured chuckle. “You had your reasons.”

  “Not good ones.”

  He brought his hands to her shoulders and gently eased her back. Staring into her eyes, he smiled. “Let’s don’t play the blame game anymore, okay? It’s late, and we both need rest. Let’s spend the time we have working things out about about what happened earlier.”

  Casey groaned. “Why do you have to be so good at communication??
??

  “Just one of my many gifts,” he teased.

  As he started to pull her into the house, she stopped him. When his brows rose in surprise, she said, “I love you, Nate. More than I can ever say or show you.”

  A pleased expression flooded his face. “I love you, too, babe.” He then wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her into the house.

  The next morning before work Casey found herself pulling into the parking lot of her favorite coffee house. She eased her SUV into a space next to Emma’s. After what had happened the night before, an emergency girls’ meeting had been called. To ensure that they were able to speak as freely as they needed considering the subject matter, Emma had left Caroline and Noah with Patrick while Casey had dropped off Olivia at Nate’s mom’s house an hour earlier than usual.

  As she stepped inside The Grind, Casey inhaled appreciatively of the tantalizing smell of roasted coffee. She had loved the illicit substance before Olivia’s birth, but she had practically been mainlining it to her veins during work hours to keep herself awake. Even though pumping and dumping was a pain in the ass, it was a necessary evil to keep her beloved coffee.

  After she inched forward in the line, she craned her neck around, searching for where Emma was sitting. Casey spotted her in the far corner. Always the punctual one, Emma had arrived early and snagged one of their favorite spots—an overstuffed couch and table. Like Casey, her appearance was a little more thrown together these days considering Caroline and Olivia were only a day apart, and then Noah was twenty months. But if there was anyone who could make motherhood not only look easy, but a walk in the park, it was Emma.

  Once she had her venti Vanilla latte, Casey headed over to the table. When Emma caught her eye, she popped off the couch like a Jack in the Box and opened her arms in an inviting hug.

  With a roll of her eyes, Casey snorted and held up her coffee free hand. “Jesus, Em, would you stop being so melodramatic? I only fell asleep during a blowjob.”

  Emma shook her head. “You can play it off all you want, but I know you.”

  “Is that right?”

  Jerking her chin up, Emma replied, “Yeah, it is. You hold three things sacred in your life—your family and friends, your career, and your sex life.”

  Casey gave a grunt of frustration before sinking down into the soft cushions of the plush couch. “You do know me too well.”

  “I would be a pretty lousy bestie if I didn’t,” Emma replied, with a teasing smile.

  “True,” Casey murmured before taking a steaming gulp of her coffee. She couldn’t help laughing when she saw the longing look on Emma’s face. “You know, you can always pump and dump like I do,” she suggested.

  Emma sighed as she swished the cup that held her Passion Tea Lemonade. “I know. It just seems like even the least amount in my bloodstream has Caroline wired for hours. It never seemed to effect Noah.”

  Casey grinned. “I think it’s more that Caroline is going to be a little firecracker and take after her Aunt Casey.”

  Emma laughed. “That’s true. She’s already way more outgoing and social than Noah was, and he hammed it up most days for kisses and smiles.”

  “So far so good that Liv seems to be taking after Nate personality wise,” Casey mused.

  They were momentarily interrupted by Emma’s phone dinging. After glancing down at it, Emma smiled. “Megan’s here.”

  “I thought she was working today.”

  “She is. She’s just popping over during her break.”

  Great. The fact that Emma had felt the need to invite Megan made what had happened last night seem even more horrific. Swallowing another gulp of coffee, she said, “Please tell me you didn’t invite Connor, too.”

  Emma’s cheeks tinged pink. “He couldn’t make it this morning. But he sends his love and support.”

  Casey groaned as she sat her coffee down. “Jesus, Em. You’re seriously making feel like a real nutjob, you know that?”

  “That wasn’t my intention at all. I just wanted to be supportive,” Emma argued.

  Megan pushed through the front door and made her way through the crowd. Outfitted in a pair of pink scrubs, her long, blonde hair was swept into a ponytail. “Hey guys,” she said with a bright smile. As she sat down across from them, the enormous diamond wedding band on her left hand caught the light and almost blinded Casey. After marrying the handsome and dashing Alpesh “Pesh” Nadeen two months ago, Megan exuded the perfect picture of a happy newlywed.

  “Damn, Miss Newlywed and Oversexed, I’m practically getting a contact orgasm from sitting across from you,” Casey joked.

  While Emma’s eyes widened at the comment, Megan only grinned. “I have to say I’m a very satisfied woman.”

  “Yeah and I hate you,” Casey replied sullenly.

  Megan’s brows shot up in surprise at the change in Casey’s tone. “What?”

  Attempting to diffuse the situation, Emma slid an iced mocha across the table to Megan. “I went ahead and got yours.”

  “Thanks,” Megan replied, before sucking a large gulp out of the straw. After she swallowed, her gaze flicked between Casey and Emma. “Okay, seriously, what’s up?”

  “Emma didn’t tell you already?” Casey questioned.

  Megan shook her head. “Nope. Just that we needed an emergency girls’ summit.”

  Casey rolled her eyes. “Really it’s nothing.”

  “Case,” Emma implored.

  Refusing to look at Emma, Casey said to Megan, “Em’s just overreacting. You know, I never got to hear all the details on the Paris honeymoon.”

  Emma wagged one of her fingers in Casey’s face. “Oh no. Don’t even try to change the subject,” she warned.

  “Em, I—”

  “Did you or did you not show up to my house at nine o’clock last night wearing your bathrobe where you proceeded to cry on my husband’s shoulder?” Emma demanded, tapping her shoe.

  “Yes,” Casey grumbled.

  A triumphant look flashed in Emma’s green eyes. “I rest my case.”

  After glancing curiously between the two, Megan asked, “Once again I’ll ask, what’s up?”

  When Emma opened her mouth, Casey shook head. “It’s my story. I’ll tell it.”

  “By all means.”

  Casey had hoped after talking to Aidan it would get easier telling what had happened. But she soon found that wasn’t the case. In the light of a new day, her whacked out reaction seemed even more insane, not to mention it was still mortifying that she had actually fallen asleep during a blowjob.

  Once she finished with every mortifying detail, she gaged Megan’s face for a response. With blonde brows furrowed in confusion, her mouth hung slightly open. “Wow,” Megan murmured.

  Casey snorted. “That seems to be the unified consensus.”

  Emma shook her head. “That’s not what I said when Aidan told me.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Casey countered, “Oh really. Just what did you say?”

  “If you must know, I said, ‘Poor Casey’ because I knew how devastating it had to be for you.”

  “Seriously? You weren’t the least bit confused about how I managed to do it? Like was Nate’s dick harmed if I was blowing him?”

  “No because Aidan was pretty thorough when he told the story, especially when it came to the fact that Nate was…you know, all right down there.”

  Rolling her eyes, Casey muttered, “Fucking Penis Brotherhood.”

  “What?” Emma asked.

  “Nothing.”

  Megan leaned forward on the couch. “Look, at the end of the day, shit happens. What happened to you could have happened to any one of us--” When Casey started to protest, Megan shook her head. “There isn’t a woman out there, who if she’s honest, hasn’t had something mortifying happen in the bedroom.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yes. Really.”

  Casey’s brows rose in challenge. “What’s yours?”

  Paling slightl
y, Megan shifted on the cushions. “Well…there was this one time I farted in a guy’s face when he was going down on me.”

  “No you didn’t!” Emma questioned in horror as Casey snickered.

  Megan nodded. “I was a freshman at UGA. I was up on a kitchen counter at this guy’s apartment I’d been crushing on. He was on knees below me. In my defense, he had a death grip on my sides and was squeezing the hell out of my stomach.” Closing her eyes, she shook her head. “Needless to say we never had sex, and he never called me after that.”

  “Oh my,” Emma murmured.

  “Thank you for that,” Casey said.

  With a laugh, Megan replied, “You’re welcome.”

  When both Casey and Megan looked to Emma, her face turned blood red. “Do I really have to?”

  “Yes,” they both answered in unison.

  Staring down at her hands, Emma practically whispered, “Once when Aidan was going down on me, I fell asleep. He didn’t realize it until he heard me snoring.”

  Casey busted out laughing at the absurdity of hearing a repeat of the story that haunted Aidan. When she continued to laugh, Emma straightened her shoulders in a huff. “Well, I don’t think it’s that funny.”

  After wiping her eyes, Casey said, “No, it’s not. It’s more the fact that Aidan told me the same story last night.”

  Emma gasped. “He did?”

  Casey nodded. “He was trying to make me feel better. You know, like a ‘We’ve all been there falling asleep during oral sex’ kinda thing. It surprised the hell out of me that he admitted it.”

  “It surprises me, too. I mean, men have such fragile egos when it comes to sex, and while Aidan might put on a good front, he is very sensitive about his abilities as a lover and in turn, what that says about him as a man,” Emma replied.

  “I might not have a dick, but trust me that I feel his pain. Sex is something I’ve always been good at.”

  With a shake of her head, Megan argued, “And you still are. You had one slip up. It’s not a game changer in any way.”

  Emma nodded. “Megan’s absolutely right. Aidan felt way worse than he needed to about what happened, and he did for a long time. Just like with you, there were outside forces at hand. I had just gone back to work after having Noah. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. It felt so good that I just got way too relaxed. But in no way did it mean that Aidan was a lousy lover—his track record over the years totally disproved that one. Just like yours does.”