"Mari, look at me," I hear him say through the fog I seem to have fallen into. He grabs my hand. "Mariana, I already went to my professor and asked to be assigned to another study partner.""What?" The fog starts to lift enough to hear what he's saying."I didn't appreciate her proposition, so I went to my professor and asked to be reassigned to another partner.""What… what did she say?"He continues to rub my hand gently with his thumb. "She said she didn't like doing it. That the whole point of it was to learn how to get along with a teaching partner. So I explained a little bit about what happened and she agreed to reassign me. Said that I did the right thing telling her, because in a school environment the first person I should tell is my principal to keep something like this from getting out of hand."I nod, still shocked by this turn of events. "So who is your new partner?""Her name is Jerry.""Her?""Her. She's fifty-seven years old and has always wanted to be a teacher but ju
I drop the last of the boxes in the kitchen. At least, I think it's the last of the boxes. There may be more hidden somewhere, but at this point, I'm not asking.Putting my hands on my hips to help regulate my breathing, I look around the room. When Mari said this place was perfect for her and the kids, she wasn't kidding. Just standing here, I can imagine her chopping vegetables on the black and white granite island while looking on as the kids play in the den area. The kids race into the room and jump up and down around me. "Can we play outside, Daddy? Can we, please? Can we go swing?" "Okay, okay, you can go outside," I laugh and try to get to the back door through the gaggle and arms and legs surrounding me. "But be careful with the swings. Don't go too high and watch out that your brother doesn't stand in front of you while you're swinging."The chorus of "Yays" sound as I open the door, and just as quickly as they ran in, they all run out."You think they'll be okay out there?"
"EEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!" Myra's scream can be heard from at least a block away. But who can blame her? When Santos launches her into the air, he doesn't hold back. She lands in the water with a splash and comes back up giggling.Lina's up next. She's even more funny because she's the exact opposite of Myra. When Santos throws Lina into the air, her eyes get huge and her mouth opens wide, but no sound comes out. At all. She's literally scared silent. It's hilarious.Theo's turn. Santos doesn't throw him nearly as high, thank goodness. But that doesn't keep Theo thinking he's just as cool as his sisters. His deep voice comes out more like a "Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh" than a scream. My boy still hasn't figured out how to baby giggle. Being almost two, I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed.The whistles sound and the lifeguards all yell, "Adult swim!" to the chagrin of all the kids in the pool. Not that there are many. Just ours and a few others.Santos quickly plucks our brood out of the water, and
Six months later…Dishes. I swear I'm always doing dishes. Only now I'm doing them while looking out my window into our backyard. I watch Santos and the kids kick a soccer ball back and forth. For the umpteenth time, the ball goes right between Theo's legs and I find myself laughing. Looks like our boy didn't get the athletic gene. Lina, however, seems to be a natural.I quickly dry my hands and grab my camera, taking shot after shot of them in their colorful winter coats, eyes bright with excitement, cheeks red with the chill in the air. It's not cold for the rest of the world, but for my kids, February in Houston is chilly.I was worried when we moved in that I would lose my friendship with Marcus. But since we got here about six months ago, the opposite seems to be true. He's here all the time. He says it's because his new neighbors make way more noise in the bedroom than even the people who lived there before us. I don't believe him. I think he just misses us.After our conversati
As our tongues tangle together, she tastes of coffee and donuts and most importantly… her. God, I missed my Mari while we were apart."I want you, Santos." Then she moves away from me. Never taking her eyes off mine, she pulls her nightshirt over her head and drops it next to her feet.Her very bare feet. That are attached to very bare legs. And bare hips. Bare stomach. Bare breasts. Bare neck. "Holy hell, you're beautiful," I whisper, my gaze fixed on her gorgeous body. Her heavy breathing causes her breasts to bounce ever so slightly, and I think I'm going to come in my boxer briefs if I don't get inside of her soon.She gives me a cocky grin. "Your turn."Quickly, I shove my athletics shorts and underwear down to the floor and take two steps until we're in each other's arms again. My hands run up her smooth back, down her sides, around her ass to her thighs and I pick her up, her legs instinctively wrapping around my waist.It's been so long since we've been naked together. Too lon
The sounds of the shower water running wake me out of my sleep. Ever since Theo got his own room and I haven't had to share with him, I've slept so much better. Unfortunately, my 'mom' instincts have also kicked up a notch, which includes my ability to hear what's going on just about anywhere in the house.I guess I should get up and start the day before the kids come racing in here.Quickly brushing my teeth and adjusting my ponytail that made a mess of itself overnight, I head down the hall to the staircase, the smell of coffee guiding me. You have to appreciate a man that gets up early and makes sure coffee is brewing before waking you up.As I pass the hall bathroom, I pause, putting my hand on the door. I can hear the shower running and I know it's because Santos is bathing. I want, more than anything, to join him.Sex has come up in several of our therapy sessions over the last year. It's in integral part of any relationship, but I've been too scared to let myself go. Scared of u
I hear her before I see her. Okay, that's not right. I hear the kids get excited as she walks through the room. She always greats them with a smile and kiss, even if her eyes are barely open. I love that about her.Stirring the scoop of hot chocolate I just dumped into her coffee, I turn around. The sight at the island makes me smile.Mari and Lina are both sitting on stools, head resting on their arms, still not quite awake. My two girls are not morning people."Coffee?" I slide it her direction, and she immediately grabs it and takes a sip."Mmm. Thank you." She sips again and shifts on her seat. "I love a man that knows how to doctor my coffee in the morning."I lean over and give her a quick kiss before pulling out the fancy waffle maker we got for Christmas."Mickey Mouse waffles?" she asks with a smile."Lina has been talking about them for days. Right, Lina?""Hrmph." I chuckle. It's the only answer we're going to get from her for at least ten more minutes. "You know tonight's
"Mari?" I race into the room and drop down beside her. "Mari, are you okay? Are you hurt?" I look over her frantically, trying to see if she's injured."I can't believe this is happening again," she whispers."What? What's happening again?" She refuses to make eye contact with me, which causes me to panic even more."After everything we went through," she cries. "After everything we've tried to rebuild, it's happening again. I'm so stupid!" she yells and throw my shirt at me.I'm so confused. "What are you talking about? What happened?""This happened!" She grabs the shirt back out of my hands and shows me the bottom of it. It's crusty and stiff. I feel my face heat up."Um, yeah." I rub the back of my neck, embarrassed that this conversation is about to take place. "That's not what it looks like."Her eyes narrow as she glares. "I was married to you for a long time, Santos. I know what your fucking semen looks like." She shoots up off the floor and begins pacing. "Did you go to anoth