show. “Blanche.” I freeze. “Jesus, woman you walk fast.” Clancy steps in front of me and holds up my very lacey and very neon pink bra. “You forgot this.” I offer up a weak smile and snatch it from his hands. “Thanks.” The next step feels like I have thousand pound weights strapped to each ankle and then each one after that feels even heavier. Clancy wraps his hand around my wrist and tugs me back to him. His blue eyes bore holes into mine as he stares down at me. The anger has vanished and I’m not quite sure what has returned. He drops his forehead to mine. “Let me take care of you.” He dips his face back down to mine until we are nose to nose. “It’s not your problem and I shouldn’t have let it get that far back there, but…” “Wait.” He places his finger over my lips. “Let me be that ‘but’ you were about to talk about. I’m begging. We can go slow.” “I’m pregnant.” I burry my head and sob into his chest. Clancy’s strong arms pull me into him. His hands rhythmically run up and down my hair soothing me a bit. “It can be my baby, Blanche.” Clancy pulls me in tighter. “No one will need to know, and I’ll start showing up at soccer practice and hanging out at your parents. We’ll make this work to where nobody will know.” I remain silent in his arms and continue to cry for several moments, before finally pulling away and speaking. “I caught him for the ninth and final time with his secretary in his office. I told him I was leaving. The next day he’d served me papers for a divorce and absolving all custodial rights away to Sadie.” Clancy’s arms drop to his side and then his hand slides in perfectly with mine. “I hate myself for marrying that bastard. I’m sick for Sadie and now this baby.” Before I know it we are nearly back to his porch walking hand in hand with the setting sun as our backdrop. “Only Queenie knows how bad the marriage was and that I’m pregnant.” Saying that out loud, stings. Clancy remains silent, leading us in long steady footsteps back through his front door. I wait for him to answer me or even acknowledge anything I just poured out, but he doesn’t. He leads us down the long hallway then up the spiraling staircase to the master suite. “I want to show you something.” He lets go of my hand, and walks over to his oversized mahogany nightstand and pulls out a drawer. “I tucked this away, knowing you might come over tonight.” He places a small sterling silver picture frame on the top of the stand. It’s my senior picture made out to Clancy preserved in a delicate etched frame. “I love you, Blanche, and that’s all that matters right now.” He closes the distance between us. “It’s a new beginning.” He pulls me into him, cradling me in his arms while guiding me back to the bed. I let him lead each move and gesture. He’s bathing me in his love and presence with each sweep of my hair and caress on my skin. My insides swirl in mixed emotion as he effortlessly undresses me. It’s the first time I’ve never been ashamed of my skin or picked at a certain body part. Under Clancy’s gaze, I feel powerful. It’s the first time I’ve ever truly felt loved by the opposite sex. I collapse back onto the bed with his mere touch and then am immediately covered by his skin. He opens his mouth to speak, but it’s me this time hushing him with my finger. Reaching down, I find he’s very much ready. I take my time and stroke him from base to tip, impressed with his girth. “I promise I won’t blow so easily this time.” He drops his nose to mine. A ridiculous chuckle snort combo escapes me. “Prove it.” I guide him to my center and then feel his hand wrap around mine on his cock. Clancy’s hips slowly sink into me. I feel him inch by inch and can’t help the way it makes me feel. It’s a combo of his ice-blue stare and the feeling exploding in me. My fingers clutch to his blond hair and pull