Chapter Six

The next morning I wake up to a pile of drool on my chest and a mouth full of little boy hair. Rolling Liam off me, I use my hoodie to wipe the moisture from my body. I drag myself to the bathroom and into the shower, letting the warm water loosen my muscles.

Taking extra-long in the shower leaves me less time to get ready. I let my hair air dry and throw on some makeup before grabbing another fucking hoodie to put over my scrubs.

I wake up the boys and shuffle down the hall. I glare into the living room where James is asleep in the arm chair and Laurent is spread out on the couch, and move straight to the coffee maker. I get my favorite cup today.

Thirty minutes later the boys are at Dad's and I'm parking in my spot at the hospital. Dad said he'd keep the boys tonight so I can have alone time with "James," but really James can kiss my fucking ass and hang with his boy again tonight.

"Girl," Sue calls the second I walk through the double doors. "The boss wants to see you in his office."

My steps stutter, not remembering about Edward having an office, which immediately brings up the image of Edward and Leah in the lounge.

The stupid fucker did that on purpose.

"Thanks, Sue. Cover for me?"

"You got it," she winks, and I frown at her suspiciously before stomping down the hallway.

Dr. Edward Masen the door says, and I don't bother knocking before throwing the door open.

He doesn't have his ugly white coat on, but instead a long sleeved grey button up stretches tightly across his chest. He tilts his head with a smirk, his eyes going directly to the covered-up marks across my neck.

"Good morning," he laughs, moving from behind his desk. He saunters toward me looking hot as fuck, his green eyes bright behind those sexy glasses of his. He bumps against my chest, reaching around me to push the door closed, and my back meets hard wood as he keeps on pushing and pushing giving me no breathing room.

"Edward," I say, slapping his shoulder. "Back it up. I have words to say!"

He jerks the ties loose on my hoodie and pulls the neck out and down, leaning down to run his precious lips across my tender flesh, making me groan weakly. I grab his hips and arch into his touch, and he sucks roughly before licking the sting away.

"Did you fuck her?" I ask, pulling him closer.

"Does it matter," he asks, and I feel him grinning against my neck which makes me see red.

I slap him in the side of the head, and he jerks his face out of my neck to narrow those fucking green orbs at me. "You don't want me to fuck her, huh?" He taunts, lifting his arms, effectively boxing me in. "You don't want her wrapping those red lips around my cock?" He bites my lip, and I moan in frustration, gripping his shirt. "God, baby," he groans, his lips roughly brushing my own, the feel of his rock-hard erection digging painfully delicious against my stomach. "Her mouth, fuck me," he rasps, grinding his erection against me.

Yanking his hips closer, I get off on his hissed breath against my cheek, the wetness gathering between my legs both a welcome and inconvenience. I turn and bite at his chin and reach down to grip his hardness in my small hand. He growls and jerks his hips. I stay silent, listening to his uneven breaths.

A knock on the door has me gripping him tighter, and he lets out a pained groan, and kisses my nose gently before backing up a tad to pull the door open, leaning to the side to keep me hidden.

"Dr. Masen, Sue is leaving, but she can't leave until Bella's back," stupid Carmen says sweetly.

I roll my eyes and bang my head once against the door, and Edward side eyes me with a smirk before saying, "I'll find her."

He closes the door and backs away, his hand roughly pushing at his cock through his pants. "When does he leave?" He asks aggressively, grabbing his coat and slipping it on.

I shrug and tie my hoodie back together. "Why? You want to have another slumber party?" I ask sarcastically.

"Yeah," he sneers, gripping his dick. "Maybe I'll stuff your mouth full of cock to shut your smartass up."

God, I love his bad fucking attitude. This is a new side to him, from friend to jealous lover.

"Mmmm," I moan dramatically and lick my lips. I yank the door knob open and slip out the door, blowing him a kiss and a one finger wave just to piss him off.

I send Sue off, patting her cute little head when she gives me the stink eye.

Throughout my shift, every now and then I bump into Edward, his professionalism a sight to behold.

With a few minutes left, I grab my phone and send James a quick text.

what are you doing?

watching a game with Laurent. what's up?

It takes a lot, but I refrain from rolling my eyes.

dad's keeping the boys tonight. i'll be home late. don't wait up.

k, he says.

Fucking "k"?

Suck my dick, husband.

For the life of me, I can't muster up any fucks to give right now. Maybe, just maybe, I'd be a little more caring if he hadn't brought a buddy home on his time off.

What husband does that?

Months, fucking months of no sex, and he's all cuddly like a teddy bear.

If not for Edward, I'd have a complex.

Edward. God, he knows how to piss me off and turn me on all at the same time. To think, a year ago, he was the new doctor in town, fast becoming my friend, and now I can't stop thinking about him and all the wonderfully good things he does to my body and my pathetic heart.

I'm a shit wife, but right now, my husband is shittier.

Stepping outside, I give Riley a call to check in and see if him and Liam are okay staying with Dad tonight. James is totally fucking up our momentum here. I thought I missed him, loved him, but that seems an impossibility at this moment.

"Hey, Ry-ry," I croon when he answers the phone.

"Auntie," he complains. "Don't call me that."

"You know you love it," I chuckle. "What are you guys up to? Are you being good for Grandpa?"

Spotting Edward's truck, I make my way over, praying he left it unlocked.

"Yes. He's letting Seth stay tonight. We're watching a movie."

I pull open the truck door, thanking my lucky stars Edward didn't lock it.

"Cool. What's Liam doing?"

Jumping up into the passenger seat, I toss my bag in the backseat and lean my seat back a smidge.

"He's coloring with Grandpa."

"Okay, give him a big kiss from Auntie," I tell him, making him groan.

"I'll pat his head," he says.

I laugh. "Get back to your friend," I say. "I'll see you tomorrow night. It's my last day tomorrow."

"Hey, maybe Uncle James take us to play ball. Maybe with his help you and Liam can finally beat me and Edward."

Gulp.

"Yeah, maybe. Goodnight. I love you."

"Love you, too," he says before hanging up.

I keep my eyes on the double doors, waiting to see when Edward graces me with his presence. I fidget in my seat, anxious for his attention, love or hate, I don't really care.

Five minutes later he drags his ass out the door, and I duck down in my seat a little. When he's a few feet away, I lean over and blare the horn, just to fuck with him, and it's worth it when his phone goes flying in the air. He fumbles, trying to catch it, and I giggle like an asshole as I watch him looking a fool.

He shakes his head at the windshield, a sexy grin playing at his cute lips. I lean my seat forward when he opens his door and climbs up.

"Hey friend," I smile like I'm your everyday stowaway. "What's for dinner?"

"Your pussy is the only thing on the menu," he chuckles. "I'm fucking starving." He pulls me across the seat and slams his mouth down onto mine.

Fucking finally.

Laurent left this morning, some family emergency.

James has been surly ever since.

Four days was four days too long if you ask me.

The boys want to go somewhere "fun" today since I have the day off, but James isn't all that into our plans which makes me fucking livid. He's moping on the couch like his dog just died. If I didn't know any better, I'd think Laurent was his mister. The thought makes me chuckle out loud.

"What's funny?" James asks as I slip my flip flops on and grab my keys, thinking of my own mister.

Edward took me for a ride last night, and I don't mean in his truck. We didn't even leave the parking lot but both of us parted ways satisfied.

"Nothing." I say. "Are you sure you don't want to come? You haven't really made time for the boys since you've been home."

"Nah, I'm tired. I'll hang with you guys tonight." He puts his head back down, and I flip him off behind his back.

"Boys," I yell. "Let's go!"

I'm slipping on my sunglasses when they come running down the hall.

"See ya, Uncle James," Riley says while Liam jumps on top of him, giving him a high five before running out the door behind Riley.

I don't bother saying goodbye.

I take the boys to lunch and then we go to the rec center where Riley plays basketball and Liam takes advantage of the playground area. I try to make nice with fellow mothers but when Liam accidentally falls on top of one little tike's leg, we head out before we get sued.

"Auntie, you have a new message." Riley hands me my phone, which is conveniently set up on anonymous notification mode rather than the message just popping up for everyone to see.

what are you doing?

Edward.

I respond quickly before we get back on the road.

why? do you miss me?

not as much as you miss me.

Smiling to myself, I slip my phone into my lap feeling it vibrate again before I can even reply. Liam and Riley chat happily about their day, and I think of how I'm going to get through these next two days with a husband who obviously doesn't want to be here. At this point, I don't blame him, but really what happened to him?

Parking in my driveway, I notice right away that James is gone. It's the boys that want his attention, and the fucker can't even give it to him.

"Where's Uncle James?" Liam asks after we enter the empty house.

"I don't know," I say, refusing to call and check in on him.

This marriage is going downhill at quite the steady rate.

The boys and I go our separate ways. I check the freezer for dinner options, grabbing a package of ground beef to make potato and beef burros. After tossing it in the microwave, I grab my phone and check my latest message.

saturday ball?

you might have an extra player, I tease, knowing James will already be gone Saturday morning.

I don't get a response from him all through dinner preparations or as we sit down to eat. James comes home after kitchen clean up, and I want to throw his burros at his stupid head.

Later that night he crawls into bed smelling like stale whiskey, and I keep my back to him. A warm, rough hand, the complete opposite of Edward's, wraps around my waist, pulling me against his bare chest. I try not to tense up, but it just doesn't feel right anymore.

He nuzzles into my neck, and I close my eyes, feigning sleep. Within seconds, he's snoring in my ear, and I slip from his grip.

I'm not going to lie, I feel kind of shitty when he mumbles my name in his sleep, but coming second to buddies and whiskey isn't going to work for me.

Reaching for my phone, I turn the brightness down and read a missed text from Edward.

no.

what. why? me and liam could use an extra hand.

i'll give you an extra hand. across your fucking smart ass.

I grin at my phone before leaving him on read.

Saturday morning Edward meets us at the field, and boy does he look fucking pissed.

I may have left out the whole James not leaving until tonight tidbit of information. As fucked as it sounds, I really wanted to see him, even if he is glaring at me with my husband is 20 feet away trying to show Liam how to hold a bat properly.

"Edward, hey!" Riley calls from the pitcher's mound.

"How's it going, Ry," he calls, moving toward me.

I look over at James and he gives Edward a passing glance before going back to batting instructions.

Edward stops at my side, close enough to give me a whiff of jolly ranchers and aggression.

Yikes.

Grinning, I look up at him and he sneers down at me.

"What the fuck," he says, bumping me harshly with his shoulder, making me grin even harder.

"What?" I ask sweetly.

I mean, really Edward, what's to be mad about? He's the only one getting anything from me. I wonder if he could say the same about me?

"Shut up," he says, pinching me in the side, making me yelp loudly.

I wave my hand nonchalantly when three pairs of eyes turn my way. "Damn baby ants," I call, pretending to brush ants off my feet, making Edward chuckle under his breath.

"Well, are you ready?" I ask, lightly slapping his tight stomach. "You're going down, friend," I whisper.

His eyes narrow, and I turn my back on him, jogging to James and Liam. Looking over my shoulder, I watch as Edward moves to Riley, his eyes on me the entire time.

Captain fucking obvious.

"Ok, big guy," I say, bending down to Liam's level. "Are you ready to win?"

"Is that Laurent?" I hear Riley say, and I stand in confusion.

Lo and behold, big mocha beauty is walking upon us, and I move my eyes to Edward as James meets him halfway.

What the actual fuck?

"What are you doing here?" James asks, giving him one of those manly hugs. Laurent's smile is fucking blinding me.

"I'll keep you company on the drive back," he says.

Edward's watching the two buddies with avid interest, and I lose my fucking patience.

"Are we going to play or what?"

James yanks his eyes off Laurent, and…wait, is he fucking blushing?

"Yeah," he says, nodding his head toward Laurent. "Come on, man. You'll play on my team."

What is this team he's really speaking of because I'm just now realizing Laurent is more than just a fucking buddy. Fuck buddies more like it.

I can hear Edward's amused chuckle, and honestly, I feel a bubble of hilarity trying to find its way up my throat and out my big mouth.

There is just no way this is what I think it is.

How did I miss this shit?

I look at Edward, and he's watching me with interest.

"Bella, you come on our team," Edward calls, and Liam protests in outrage.

"Auntie's on my team!"

"Take him, babe," James says, and I laugh when Edward glares at him.

Is this really happening right now?

"Four against two? You've got no chance," I say kind of angrily, holding my hand out to Liam. He grabs it immediately and we move to the other team.

My husband lost interest in me because he has an interest in dick.

Why does that piss me the fuck off?

We end up kicking their ass at ball.

Later, the boys and Edward sit around the picnic table with Laurent, and I pull James off to the side.

"What's wrong?" James asks, his eyes going over my head every damn second.

"James, focus," I snap, grabbing his arm.

He looks down at me, and I look up at him, trying to imagine this thing he has going on. Does he love him? Are they just fucking?

"So, what's going on with you? You and Laurent?" I ask, point blank. Why beat around the bush?

His eyes widen, and he stutters, "What do you mean?"

I roll my eyes, throwing up my hands. "James, do you have a thing for him?"

He looks pretty pissed right about now.

"Bella, why the fuck would you ask me that!"

"Don't yell at me," I snap. "You haven't touched me in for fucking ever." I hold up my finger. "You bring a damn friend home on your days off and don't fuck me once. You're all about Laurent."

"He's my friend," he says defensively, crossing his arms.

Friend, huh? I've got one of those.

"James, it's…" Before I can finish my sentence, his bearded lips are on mine, tongue and all. He yanks me against his body, and all I can think is how Edward's going to be livid.

Do I predict a hate fuck coming on?

James releases me, breathing hard. "Bella, you're my wife. Laurent is a friend. I'm not gay." He laughs nervously, and God, I feel sorry for him. "Seriously, this is ridiculous."

I pat his chest, kind of not wanting to push this subject in front of our lovers. "Okay, I'm sorry."

"Would it make you feel better if we made love before I go?"

God no, you fucking twat I don't say out loud. "It's getting late," I say instead, evading that awkwardness. "You don't want to be driving all night."

He nods, saying, "Yeah, you're right."

He looks relieved I'm not pushing this, but little does he know, this shit isn't happening. I'm not going to be his wife for all pretenses while he fucks his buddy behind my back.

Heading back to the table, I catch Edward's tight smirk, letting me know I'm in big trouble.

Bring it on, friend.