Page 114 of Because of Blake
“I know it sounds silly, but it was the catalyst for everything else. Blake was taking over all aspects of Charlie’s life. It started with the beer, then suddenly Blake was my date to all the neighborhood functions. He was giving my kids presents and helping celebrate our birthdays and holidays. He even wanted to go on family vacations. Charlie was being replaced and I finally saw it.”
Michelle looks at me with loving pity in her eyes. “You wouldn’t know a good thing if it came up and slapped your ass, would you?”
“What?”
“Those things Blake’s been doing are because you’re in a relationship! Why do you think he wants to do all that stuff? He’s only trying to be a part of your life. Let’s look at the facts, shall we?” Michelle scoots onto the bed, crossing her legs beneath her. “Blake is what? Twenty-nine, right?”
I nod.
“And the man is downright gorgeous. Mags, he could be drowning in pussy if he wanted to be.”
I scoff at Michelle’s lewdness, but she has a point.
“But he’s not. He chose you. A thirty-seven-year-old, single mom of two kids. Who, by the way, he treats like his own, does he not?”
A dull ache forms in my chest as I think about Blake interacting with my children. How he naturally fell into the role of the dad with them. Spending time with them, speaking to them like people instead of juveniles.
“And those kids love him. That’s got to mean something, too. You wouldn’t be with someone your kids hated, would you?”
I shake my head vehemently.
“Okay. Then there’s the fact he never once asked you to put Charlie on the back burner. You may think that’s what he was doing, but he never expected you to put him ahead of Charlie. Did he?”
I think very hard about this one. There were so many instances when Blake took Charlie’s place, did things Charlie should be doing, and I never saw it for what it was. They were subtle, unassuming moments. My throat closes up as I think over each one, berating myself for letting Blake take them over.
It started with the garbage disposal. Then, it was movie night, which led to us having sex on his couch. Possibly setting off a string of the best sex I’ve ever had, but that’s just another way he manipulated his way into my life.
Did he, though?
Blake was always the perfect gentleman. He never pressured me at all. If anything, he over checked his boundaries, and confirmed I was okay with everything we did. That’s part of the reason I fell for him.
Then, there’s all the time he spent with the kids. Playing video games with Dylan, attempting to break Sydney out of her shell, helping with homework and school projects. In the past almost year, Blake has done some amazing things for me and my family, and they were never about him. He never made himself the center of attention.
Except when he stripped in my living room.
My cheeks heat, but I swallow down the emotion and focus on Michelle’s question. Blake never asked me not to bring up Charlie. Instead, he would listen intently when I told stories, or relived a memory. He never expected me to stop talking about my late husband, in fact, he gave me a gift to commemorate my marriage.
I glance at the river rock on my nightstand and my eyes well with tears. Then, a funny thing happens; Charlie’s voice echoes in my mind,Magpie, be happy.I close my eyes and I can almost feel him with me, my heart fluttering.
“And lastly, Mags, Blake loves you. The man has thrown himself into a relationship with not only you, but your kids. You told me how he would stay the night and not pester you for sex because he knew you didn’t want to with the kids down the hall. Hell, the guy spent two months without you because you told him you needed your space. Which was a bad call, by the way.”
“I know.” I open my eyes, meeting Michelle’s gaze.
“You are never going to find another guy who treats you and your kids so well and looks that good while he does. Trust me.”
The tears bubble over and spill onto my lap. “I miss him so much, Michelle.”
She crawls across the bed and wraps her arms around my shaking body. “I know you do. I’m sure he misses you, too. But you have to ask yourself if you’re ready to fix this. Are you?”
I shake my head and sniffle. “I don’t know if I can. The damage is done. I told him to never speak to me again, and if I know one thing about Blake, he’s a good listener.”
“Well, if I know one thing about Blake, it’s he’s undeniably, irrevocably, in love with you, and he won’t let you go that easily.” She loosens her grip, pushing me back to look me in the eye. “Now, is there some way we can run into him by ‘coincidence’? Like a neighborhood get together, or something?”
“The next one will be the Fourth of July, but Blake won’t go to it. He hates that party.”
“And it’s too far away. We need to fix this now.” Michelle bites her lip, dropping her chin into her hand.
“His birthday is Friday. His thirtieth.”