hapter 46
“Is everything okay in there? Did the hot water run out?” Lorraine’s concerned voice came through the door.
“No, it’s fine! It’s still hot,” I replied quickly. “I’m actually done.”
I couldn’t help but ask a question as I had already turned off the shower. “I just need help with something…”
“What can I do for you?”
The question hung in the air, and I could hear the slight embarrassment in her voice. I was momentarily lost, not knowing how to respond to her. I couldn’t possibly tell her that I needed her help to get me my underwear, right?
I cleared my throat and convinced myself that Lorraine was just being polite, nothing more. After all, I was in the shower, a After all, I was in the shower, and there was nothing she could “help” me with.
“It’s nothing, really. I just…”
“Did you forget your
she guessed.
Her matter–of–fact tone threw me off. I froze, unable to think of a response.
Maybe it wouldn’t feel awkward if I had just told her myself. But now that she had figured it out on her own, I felt like a complete idiot.
“What’s going on?” she pressed, her voice soft but insistent.
“I… Well…” I took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage I had. “I forgot my underwear.”
Lorraine fell silent for a while. The silence stretched so long that I started to wonder if she had walked away.
“I didn’t mean to forget! I was in a rush, and, uh, I wasn’t trying to… I mean, it’s not like…” I rambled, tripping over my words in my effort to explain.
Chapter 47
I couldn’t help but scratch my head. My face was burning red even though Lorraine couldn’t see me through the bathroom door.
Was this what being in love felt like? It had been so long since I had experienced anything like this–this shy, giddy feeling that made me feel like a teenager all over again. “Why am I even embarrassed? I’m a grown man!” 1 muttered to myself, shaking my head.
“Actually, I…”
Lorraine’s laughter rang out from the other side of the door, soft and teasing. “Oh my gosh, you’re so cute!”
“I just feel bad. It’s our first time staying together, and this happens…” I trailed off, unsure how to explain myself. Thankfully, Lorraine seemed to understand without me having to spell
it out.
“It’s just underwear! Who knows, maybe tomorrow, I’ll forget something too. Hang tight. I’ll grab it for you,” she said cheerfully.
I exhaled in relief as her footsteps faded down the hallway. Wait, did she mean we’d be staying together tomorrow, too? Was this arrangement going to last the entire trip? Not that I minded, but this could look bad for a woman if word got out. Knowing Yvonne, she’d waste no time spinning it into gossip.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. It was Lorraine, now knocking on Yvonne’s room door. Her polite knocking grew louder. She was trying to be heard over the racket inside.
“Hello? I just need to grab something,” she called out.
The door finally opened, revealing Yvonne, who stood there with an annoyed look on her face. She scanned Lorraine from head to toe.
“Where’s Cole?” Yvonne asked sharply. I found her tone far too familiar considering she was someone who was supposed to be out of my life.
“He forgot his clothes,” Lorraine replied evenly.
“Is it his underwear?” Yvonne smirked, her feigned nonchalance clearly meant to unsettle
Lorraine.
Standing beside Yvonne, Jonas gently tugged on her sleeve to remind her to be more polite. He didn’t understand the details, but even he could sense that Yvonne’s tone wasn’t kind.
Lorraine, unfazed, held her ground. “Could you please hand it to me? He’s busy right now.”
Yvonne tried to close the door, but Lorraine pressed her hand against it. “He asked me to grab it because it’s inconvenient for him to come.” Her voice was polite but firm.
Yvonne’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your relationship with him?” Her tone was less like an ex- wife and more like a jealous spouse interrogating the other woman.
Lorraine didn’t flinch. “If I’m not mistaken, you two are divorced, right?”
The words hit like a slap. What right did Yvonne have to question her?
“Yes, but if you’re planning to be with Cole, that means you’ll have to step into the role of a stepmother to my kids. Naturally, I have a right to judge your character,” Yvonne said, her tone dripping with condescension.
Lorraine let out a dry laugh. The way Yvonne framed it, she sounded so noble and responsible. Yet Lorraine knew the truth–Yvonne had barely lifted a finger for the kids until now. Just as Lorraine was about to respond, a cold, cutting voice interrupted from down the hall.
“Did I judge your character?”
I strode toward them, now wearing a pair of pants I had managed to find somewhere. My expression was ice–cold, my glare fixed on Yvonne.
“Daddy!” Jonas cried out, running over to wrap his arms around my legs. “Mommy’s being mean!”
I gently ruffled Jonas‘ hair, my gaze never leaving Yvonne. I had expected some tension, but not this level of hostility between the two women.
“Since the divorce, you’ve barely even asked about Jonas,” I said, my tone sharp. “You can’t just waltz here and act like you care now.”
Yvonne pursed her lips, but she didn’t reply. She had been nothing but hands–off. If I hadn’t suggested that she hold Xavier’s custody, I was confident that the court would’ve granted me custody of both our kids.
Back then, I really wanted both the boys. But Xavier was just too attached to Jared. I shook my head, not wanting to dwell on unpleasant memories.
Chapter 45.
