LOVE THY ENEMY - REECE WALSH.

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑻𝑾𝑬𝑵𝑻𝒀-𝑬𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻

Reece changed from his dirty clothes and headed out, driving the familiar route to Freda's house. He thought about Tatiana as he drove, feeling a mix of guilt and longing. He knew that he needed this time with Leila, but he also ached for Tatiana's presence. He was feeling extra needy today.

Finally, he arrived at Freda's house and gave a quick knock on the door. Freda opened the door with a friendly smile as she held Leila on her hip.

Reece's heart softened as he saw Leila in Freda's arms. Despite the stress and turmoil of the day, the sight of his daughter always brought a sense of peace. He smiled warmly at Freda and reached out to take Leila.

"Hey there, baby girl," he said, his voice filled with tenderness. "Missed you, munchkin."

Reece took Leila from Freda and held her close, savoring the comforting feeling of having his daughter in his arms. He nuzzled her hair with his cheek and smiled at the familiar scent of baby powder.

As he held Leila, Reece felt his stress and frustration from earlier starting to ease a bit. Spending time with his daughter was a powerful balm to his soul.

Reece entered Freda's house, his mind focused only on seeing Leila. As Reece held Leila in his arms, he made small talk with Freda, talking about their daughter, the weather, and other mundane topics.

However, the atmosphere slowly shifted as Freda's gaze lingered upon him a little longer than usual.

Reece didn't immediately notice the change in atmosphere as they chatted, but gradually, he began to sense an underlying tension between them. It was subtle at first, but gradually became more noticeable.

He thought nothing of it, assuming it was just the usual banter between friends, but when Leila was put to bed, the air became thicker, charged with unspoken tension.

Freda sat down on the couch as she spoke to Reece. "I was a bit surprised when you showed up without Tati, especially so late.."

Reece nodded, trying to keep his composure and ignore the increasingly uncomfortable tension between them. But he couldn't deny that he was enjoying the unexpected attention from Freda. He had always been a bit of an attention seeker.

"Yeah, I... I just wanted to see Leila, you know, Tati understands how much she means to me," he said, his voice casual yet tinged with underlying desire. Freda gave a soft nod as she cleared her throat. "Yeah I understand, and I'm happy she does too.. She's a good person."

Reece couldn't help but squirm under Freda's gaze as they spoke. He could sense the underlying tension between them, the unspoken desires and conflicting thoughts.

He knew he shouldn't act on it, he had Tatiana at home waiting for him, but the attention from Freda was flattering and addictive.

"I'll be honest, I really didn't think she'd let you out of her sight," Freda said with a gentle chuckle.

Reece chuckled along with Freda, knowing that she was right. Tatiana usually clung onto him like a protective lioness, and she wouldn't be pleased at all if she knew what was transpiring between him and Freda.

"Yeah, well... she had some dinner with her family tonight," he replied, trying to keep his voice casual. "But she trusts me, so she lets me breathe every once in a while."

Reece was on the verge of succumbing to temptation when his phone suddenly dinged, jolting him back to reality. It was a message from Tatiana, letting him know she didn't go to long to see her parents, as she had been feeling unwell.

The message served as a sharp reminder of his commitment to Tatiana, and a wave of guilt washed over him. He pulled back slightly from Freda, his mind racing and his conscience screaming at him.