Sweet Torment/A Jordan Knight Fanfic (18+)✔️

15

**Warning Mature Content Ahead**

Chapter Fifteen

"Bubblegum and then cookie dough."

"Not vanilla?" I asked.

Madi giggled. "Noooooo! Vanilla is the worst!"

"What if they don't have bubblegum?"

"Then I'll get cookie dough, silly!"

Charlie was silent as he drove us to the ice cream shop at Madi's request. With her parents suffering in the hospital, she deserved some ice cream for dinner. And so did I.

I made small talk with my niece, and she was as bubbly as ever. She knew something was going on, but my parents had done a good job of protecting her from seeing her mom and dad in such horrible shape. Even though Madi was her normal, sweet self, she still missed her parents. It wouldn't be long before she started asking questions.

And she shouldn't eat ice cream for dinner more than one night. I was such a pushover I'd probably let it slide.

We'd just placed our orders when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. When I glanced covertly at the screen, I saw I had a new text message from Jordan.

My heart skipped a beat and I felt the heat creep up my neck and into my cheeks.

I opened it while Charlie paid, but it was lengthy—too lengthy to read quickly without getting caught. I stuck my phone back in my pocket and searched for some reason to check it.

"I need to run to the little girls' room," I said as we waited for our order.

"We'll grab a table, but if the ice cream comes while you're gone, we can't guarantee yours will be safe," Charlie teased.

"I'm gonna eat it all!" Madi sang.

"You better not, missy!" I mock-hurried to the bathroom. As soon as the door clicked shut, I pulled out my phone.

I miss you. That's crazy. I just saw you a couple of hours ago. I don't know if it's okay to send you this. Delete it if you need to. I never thought I'd get caught in the middle of someone's marriage. I respect marriage. I respect your commitment. But something's broken there if you're interested in me. I'll step back if that's what you need, but when you kiss me, I think what you need is me.

I had no idea how to respond to that.

I read it again, and then a third time. I processed his words. He missed me, and that sent a bolt of excitement through my chest. I contemplated how to respond, and finally I typed out a quick text. I miss you, too. We need to talk, but I've got Madi tonight. You're right, though. About all of it. What I need isn't what I have anymore.

I stared at the screen for a few extra seconds, reading my words over and over again. There was so much more I wanted to say, but my husband was waiting for me right on the other side of the bathroom door. I needed to get back out there before anyone became suspicious.

I sent the message, read his one more time, deleted both messages, and stuck my phone in my pocket before heading back to my husband and my niece.

Later that night, after I'd put Madi to bed in our guest room and unpacked my suitcase, I lay in bed with a full stomach and a giant wedge between Charlie and me.

He was doing something on his iPad when I got in bed beside him. Sharing a bed with someone who I realized I didn't really like all that much anymore seemed odd. I turned out my light and pulled the covers over me, flipping away from Charlie without saying anything.