Read Online Always Enough by Stacy Borel - Free Book Online Page A

night, Ky.”
    “Night, beautiful.”
    She went in her room and shut her door. I ran my hands through my hair and gave it a frustrated tug. Time for me to take a cold shower and have a chat with the Behemoth. I’d never last the week with her kissing me like that.

 
     
    “Grandma, where’s Daddy?” I came in to the cool air-conditioned house after riding my bike outside. California is always hot during the summer.
    “He’s in his bedroom, baby. But I think he’s already asleep.” Grandma has weary eyes.
    Daddy has been living with my Grandma and Grandpa since Mommy made him leave. I spend a lot of time at Grandma’s house because my Mommy has to work a lot and Grandma runs a daycare in her home, so Mommy lets me come here all of the time. I don’t see my Daddy much though. He’s always gone with his friends. But when he does come back, he always walks back to his room, and shuts the door.
    “Can I go lay down with him, Grandma?” I ask.
    “Sure, just don’t wake him up. You know how he gets mad.”
    I walk down the hall towards my dad’s bedroom, passing all of the family photos that line the walls. There are a few pictures of me from school, a photo of my grandparents together, and pictures of Daddy when he was younger. He looked different then. Now he looks skinnier, and tired.
    I slowly open the door to the bedroom and walk into the dark space. It is lit by the small television that is playing a National Geographic show talking about venomous snakes. Daddy is lying on the bed face down on his pillow, already asleep. Creeping in, I silently slip my shoes off beside the bed and climb up, trying not to jostle him. There’s an extra pillow next to him so I put it under my head and lay down beside him. The television is turned all the way down so I can’t hear it, but I lie there watching the snakes move across the screen, until I fall asleep …
    I open my eyes after my short nap to a darkened room. The TV is still on and it’s bright enough for me to turn over and see that Daddy is no longer in bed with me. I can’t help the tear that escapes my eyes and hiccup that comes from my chest. Daddy always leaves me. He never wakes me to say he has to go. I’m sad, and all alone …
     
    I sat up abruptly. The sun shone brightly into the room, and I squinted against the onslaught of light. My head hurt. I hadn’t had that particular dream in years. Why I was having it now, when I hadn’t thought about it in such a long time?
    I needed to take a shower and go out to see if Ky was awake yet. I was a little surprised that I hadn’t woken up with him beside me. I’d sort of hoped he’d sneak in to sleep with me. Shaking off the disappointment, I got out of bed, took a quick shower, and dressed in black leggings matched with a peach, lace tunic. My hair hung over my shoulder in long subtle waves, and I slipped on a pair of knee length boots.
    Walking out into the living room, the smell of coffee permeated the air. The table was set with orange juice, coffee, and a bagel with cream cheese—my favorite. Ky was sitting behind The New York Times, but moved it down to see me. I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at him. He was shirtless, his hair still wet from the shower. My mouth started watering, and my nether regions clenched. Ky was beautiful.
    “You look hungry.” He paused. “Except with the way you’re looking at me I don’t think you’re hungry for food.” His mouth tipped up into a sexy smirk.
    He had me pegged. He certainly would be more appetizing than the bagel, but I would maintain the upper hand here. After yesterday’s incident against the wall, I was determined to prove that he wanted me more than I wanted him.
    “Keep dreaming, asshat. I’m craving the coffee, not you.”
    He chuckled. “There’s my girl. I missed that term of endearment.”
    I rolled my eyes and made my way over to the table. Taking a big long sip of the piping hot coffee, I devoured the bagel he’d so kindly