those next few nights, i kept dreaming about katelyn. some of them were of her coming back, others were fun memories we've made. there were even a few very intimate ones. i know i'm with jess but i honestly kinda enjoyed them. ever since i've told brooke about kate, i can't get her out of my mind. i just think about her all the time.
•••
brooke: daddy!!!!!!!!!
brooke yells from the backyard and i go out.
josh: what?!
i thought something happened to her. she's just sitting in her treehouse smiling.
brooke; daddy come pway
josh: brookie i gotta go into work for a bit. i shouldn't be gone long. once i'm home then we can play
i go over to her treehouse. since i'm tall, my head reaches the entrance of it. i kiss her cheek and leave.
•••
at work while i was in the meeting, i just daydreamed of katelyn. i need to stop. i have a girlfriend. speaking of her-
____________________________________
jess
______
jess
hey josh. wyd
josh
at work rn but leaving soon.
jess
ah. wanna do something?
josh
i promised brooke id play
with her. you and stella can
join us for dinner and then
stay the night if you want? i
mean we can't do anything
with them in the house but
yk
jess
sounds good. just text me
when you get off work
josh
alright. bye
____________________________________
the meeting only lasted an hour after th at. once i was home, i texted jess and she said they'd be over in a bit. i go to brookes room where her and carmen are watching tv together.
josh: i'm back
brooke: daddy!!
she stands on her bed and jumps into my arms making me laugh.
josh: hey carmen. thanks for watching her
carmen: of course
josh: jess and stella are staying the night tonight so if you could clean up brookes room a bit that's be great
i hate asking carmen to do things. she already does so much but she smiles and puts away the few toys since it wasn't much.
josh: munchkin, stellas gonna sleep here tonight in your bed with you
brooke: why
josh: because her mommy is staying over. will you be nice to stella? for me?
she sighs, making me laugh, and nods her head.
jodh: that's my girl
i tickle her just to hear that adorable giggle which she does.
•••
we're all sitting at the table. me, brooklyn, stella, and jess.
jess: stella your gonna share a room with brooke tonight
stella: but why?
jess: you guys are gonna have a sleepover.
stella: ok mommy
•••
we're not outside. the girls are playing in the tree house while jess and i are cuddled on the couch by the fire pit.
jess: they get along better than i thought
josh: ya they do
jess: well that's good
i nod.
jess: so how did brooke take it when you told her about her mom?
josh: i don't think she fully understands. i mean- i hardly do. she feels as if i'm gonna leave her too now. that's why she flips out when i try to leave
jess: that's why i don't want stella to know about her dad
i can tell she's worried, so i kiss her head and hold her tighter.
•••
we get the girls tucked into brookes bed. carmen said she'd sit with them til they fell asleep. jess and i go to my room and close the door.
jess: ya know... we could make it quick and quiet
josh: but what if they hear?
jess: in the shower that way it covers the noise?
josh: i- actually carmen will make sure they stay up there. i guess
a smirk comes onto my face before we head into the bathroom.
•••
jess and i are laying in my bed exhausted after going 2 quick rounds.
jess: you think anyone heard?
josh: hopefully not *laughs
i kiss her and soon enough she falls asleep in my arms. i feel kinda bad. when we were... doing it... for some reason i was thinking of katelyn. not the whole time, but some of it. that's not fair to her. i've gotta keep katelyn out of my mind.
that night i dreamed about katelyn coming back and us being together.
••••••••••••••••••••••
