Chapter 9: The Blue House

"It's beautiful, baby," I said, and put my hand on June's hair.

I didn't ask where the house was.

My lawyer's voice was in my head, and I kept my face easy.

"Is it a make-believe house?" I asked.

June looked at the floor.

"It's a pretend one," she said.

"It's a good pretend one. Let's get you back in bed."

I tucked her in with the bear and her backpack, and sat until her breathing went slow.

When I came back, Ross was standing at the counter with the wrench in his hand and the towel around his knuckle.

He had put the pipe back together without being asked.

The kitchen was dry.

"You should go," I said.

"I know."

He didn't move.

I crossed the room and stopped one step away from him.

"I almost kissed you in front of my daughter's door," I said.

"Almost," he said.

"I don't kiss people when I'm in the middle of a custody fight."

"Then don't."

"I'm going to anyway," I said, and I did.

He kissed me back hard.

His good hand went to my jaw and his bleeding one went to the small of my back, and the towel dropped.

I pulled him down by his collar and he made a rough sound against my mouth.

I could feel his heart through his wet shirt.

He backed me against the counter, and I let him, and my hands went into his hair.

For one whole minute I forgot the courthouse.

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