Under My Protection

Chapter 3

For Clemonlime

"Is it weird that I'm nervous?" Mitch was stilling in the passenger seat of the car as I drove. We were suppose to act like husbands and we were both extremely uncomfortable. I haven't been in a relationship since high school. So ten years. I haven't had time. It's been mostly random hook ups. I don't know of this would be considered a relationship. It's fake. A pose so I can keep Mitch and David safe.

"Is he asleep?" I whispered. Mitch smiled back at his son.

"Yeah. He's tired." His hand went to rest on my shoulder. "Thank you for letting him sleep with you." I took my eyes off the road to look at Mitch. He looked tired. He barely got any sleep last night. His eyes were bloodshot with how much he was crying. I came into the kitchen this morning to find him crying. Anytime David wasn't around, Mitch would cry. I put my hand on his knee as a comforting gesture.

"I don't know how to act." I admitted.

"Just treat me like you would a boyfriend." That easier said than done. He was my best friend's husband. Was I suppose to touch him? Kiss him? I feel like it will be so awkward.

"I feel like I shouldn't. You're my best friends husband. I feel dirty." Mitch laughed and I had to hit his shoulder playfully. I could tell by the embarrassed blush on his face that his thoughts were a little less than innocent.

"Sorry. Dirty thoughts are my worse problem." He suddenly became sad. "I just don't want David to be confused. We're suppose to act like a happy couple and I'm afraid he's going to think that you're his father." I held his hand as a friendly gesture, resting it on the console between us.

"I'm not planning to replace Chris. He's your husband. He's David's father. I'm only here to protect you." I was surprised by his lips pressing against my cheek. That's the second time he's showed me that type of affection.

"Make it believable." I nodded. We came to the house we were staying in. The agency decided that being hidden away in the mountains was too easy. Finding us in a community would be harder. I watched Mitch lift David out of his car seat. The little boy clung to his dad, resting his chubby cheek on Mitch's shoulder. "Hi baby boy. Did you have a nice nap?"

"Scotty?" David whispered my name. Mitch placed the boy in my arms. I began rubbing his back gently.

"They have the house set up if you want to put him to bed." Mitch shook his head, pushing pieces of David's hair out of his tiny face.

"He needs to stay awake." Mitch was such a good parent. He took care of David and had him on a schedule.

"Hey buddy. Wake up." I had David in my arms as he pulled away to rub his tired eyes.

"Hello new neighbors." I could feel Mitch's frustration radiate when a woman and her husband came to greet us. I gave him a little smile.

"Excuse me. I have to put my son to bed." He took David from me and went inside. I tried to contain my laughter.

"Sorry about him. He doesn't do well around other people. Um, that was my husband Mitch and I'm Scott." I shook the hands of the woman Sherry and her husband Francis. They were the same age as me.

"How old is your little boy?" Sherry asked.

"David's three."

"Same age as my little girl." Of fucking course. After what seemed like hours of conversation, I finally got inside and away from our neighbors. Mitch was waiting in the kitchen as David was watching cartoons.

"They have a kid the same age as David."

"Of course they fucking do." He pretty much repeated my thoughts from earlier. "Who knew we'd get those neighbors." We both laugh. I found myself staring at Mitch. He had a red tint on his cheeks when he realized. "What?"

"You're smiling."

"So?" His smile became bigger. I spoke before I could stop myself.

"You're beautiful." He laughed, looking down at his feet.

"Thank you." His mood dropped. I decided not to ask. It's something I've noticed. Unless Mitch brings it up, he becomes uncomfortable answering.

"Am I allowed to touch you?"

"Yes." I wrapped my arm around his waist from behind, bringing his back against my chest. I hugged him. I was trying to comfort him. "I was going to divorce him. That's why I feel like a horrible person."

"Mitch-"

"He has been working so hard to take care of us and I never saw it and I wanted to break apart our family and now he's gone." He was rambling until he began sobbing uncontrollably. I turned him in my arms so he could quiet his crying. We didn't want David to hear. He was convinced Chris was on vacation. He didn't need to know that Mitch was a mess. He was only three. That's why it was part of my job to get Mitch functioning.

"We're going to find him."

"Please. I just want my husband back."

"Daddy? I'm hungry." Mitch backed away from me, wiping the tears from his eyes before looking at his son.

"Do you want carrots?" David pursed his lips in the most adorable way.

"I want chips."

"No." Mitch said the word slowly and with sass. "Fruits or vegetables?"

"Brocky!" David ran to the fridge to grab the broccoli. He held it up for Mitch to wash and put in a bowl.

"Eat the stems this time." Mitch ruffled David's hair before the little boy ran as fast as his legs would let him. "Thank god we have food already. I don't think I could bring myself to go to the store."

"He eats vegetables. Amazing."

"Why?" I caught myself looking at Mitch's butt when he put the broccoli away. I quickly looked away.

"I hate vegetables."

"Don't let him hear you say that. He'll copy you." He stood up to look at me. "He likes you. He doesn't like a lot of people."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Yeah." Mitch fixed the collar of my shirt. "I happen to like you too." He winked at me. I found myself shock as he walked into the living room. I watched the way his hips swayed and the confidence that straightened his body. I smiled, following him into the living room.

Interesting.