“I have a deep respect for Michael. He may not like how I came into his life, but he accepts and loves the hell out of my son. And he stood by your side.” Stenton grimaced. “I’ve done undue harm to his family, but he still respects me enough to let me hang out with you guys.”
I sat up and turned toward him. “Stenton, I hope after all these years you don’t blame yourself for me getting pregnant. From what I recall, we were both in the act…enjoying each other none the less. Heck, we still do. After all these years and the…confusion…I still can’t keep my hands off ya,” I jeered.
But I didn’t get the mirthful response I was going for. He turned to me, face hard, nostrils flared and lips balled together. His eyes bounced from my face to the side of me, to over me. He was mentally wrestling with something—perhaps emotionally. Then he exhaled, rolling his eyes, clearly tossing the idea to the side. Stenton turned back to the water. Just when I thought the conversation was a wash, he spoke again.
“Zoey, let’s make something clear.” His eyes still out on the water. “When I met you, you were damn near a kid. Don’t get me wrong, I have no regrets in having my son, and damn sure didn’t fuck up on who his mother is. But I was the responsible party as a man almost ten years older than you. I was very reckless with you, never managing much self-control. You were a premature gift that I spoiled, and I don’t mean in a giving you everything you asked for manner. I mean in a tainting and possibly vitiate type of way—”
“Stenton,” I cut him off. “I knew full well what I was getting myself into. I also knew I pushed you before you were ready.”
He shook his head, expelling the notion. “I exposed you to so much shit well before your time. And if I’m going to keep it real, most of that shit I did by design. Once I realized I was your first, I wanted to be your first every—” he paused. “Well, let’s just say, I wanted to make it hard for anybody who came behind me.”
I chuckled as I gazed out at the water, embarrassed by what my sex life had been without him. It wasn’t something I was ready to share with him. He’d never understand bad sex. He was Stenton Rogers…Number 2 Overall Draft Pick, three-time MVP Awardee, and four-time Champion, Stenton Rogers. He’d had the king’s pickings of women. He was a skilled lover himself, unlike me, needing assistance or direction. I would not clue him in on my pathetic love life.
“Well, anyway. Let’s just say having a baby when we did was totally on me. I’ll take that.”
“Thanks, Stenton, but you and I both know that isn’t true.” Needing to change the course of this conversation, I stood and stretched. “Well, I don’t think my dad would be proud to hear we both suck. I’m over this fishing thing already. Let’s go back to the beach.”
“Damn, Zo. It hasn’t even been thirty minutes,” he grunted as he stood.
“Yeah, but fishing isn’t an activity that gives me an excuse to touch you.”
That stopped him in his tracks. That elicited the intended reaction. Stenton’s eyes turned hooded and his voice thickened.
“Shit. You don’t ever need an excuse to do that. I’m all yours.”
And that statement hit me in a manner I was sure Stenton didn’t intend. It stung because he wasn’t mine. No, he no longer had a girlfriend, but he wasn’t saying I could be either. Did I want him to be?
Yes. I did.
“We have lots of ground to cover when we leave.” Out of nowhere, I felt his big hot hands at my waist and his breath hitting my ear. “That will be the most important one.” My eyes flew up to him. “Okay?”
I nodded, grateful for his understanding of my needs. I needed clarity. I needed answers. Being with Stenton without them for these past few days was wonderful, but I knew we’d soon resume our lives. And mine never fared well without him.