Shambles

Chapter 13: Gabe

I'm laying in the living room when I hear somebody knocking on the door. "Who the fuck is that." Getting up with urgency,I rush to the door and look out the peephole. I see Ember. Looking down at my watch, I see it's almost three a.m.

When I open the door - she rushes in before I can ask any questions. "Can I stay here tonight?" She rushes out.

"Yea. What's wrong?"

"I left him." She throws her head back. "I had too." She looks back at me. "I would have stayed with Kita but I'm sure that's the first place he will go looking for me."

"Do you think she will tell him where you are at?"

She shakes her head. "No Kita helped me leave him."

I watch her for a minute processing all her words. "Well, I was sleeping on the couch. So you can take my bed."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep. I'm cool with the couch." She nods and heads to my room. "Thanks. I really do appreciate this," she says, stopping and looking in on the kids first.

I get back on the couch. When I close my eyes I remember the first time I brought her here. I wonder if she still feels as good as she did back then. Closing my eyes I fall back to sleep.

When I wake up I smell breakfast. Maria must have gotten here early. Picking up my phone I see it's seven. When I sit up I see that Ember is in one of my shirts and basketball shorts.

"Morning, Sorry if I woke you."

"It's cool, but Maria will be here shortly to cook."

"It's fine I cook breakfast for the kids every morning."

Standing up, I head to the back to use the restroom. Bash is already up in the bathroom brushing his teeth. "Morning. Why are you up so early?"

"I smelled food."

"Well, your mom is here cooking breakfast."

"I know. I saw her last night. She came in here and took Sweet Pea to the bathroom."

"Oh ok."

I walk to the other bathroom and use it and brush my teeth.

"You know you could have gotten back in the bed. I'm just an early riser."

Looking up from the sink, I see Ember standing in the doorway. I can tell she doesn't have on a bra in my collard shirt. I can see her nipples, and they aren't pierced anymore. Looking away when I feel myself rise, I finish washing out my mouth. "It's okay. Once I'm up it's hard for me to go back to sleep."

She just stands there and smiles before turning and walking out of my room. Looking at myself in the mirror, I give myself a pep talk. "You can't sleep with the mother of your kids...it can be messy."

Adjusting myself in my shorts, I walk to the kitchen and find Bash sitting at the table eating pancakes, bacon, and eggs.

"Do you want a plate?" She asks, sitting a plate down for me. A second plate is sat down in front of the seat Sweet Pea sits in. Ember walks out of the kitchen. After a minute I see her walk to the bathroom holding Sweet Pea. Sitting down at the table I grab my plate and start eating.

"I'm still hungry," Bash says. "I want another pancake."

"I'll make you two more, that's it," Ember says, walking back into the kitchen.

Ember sits Sweet Pea down in front of her plate and slides it in front of her. She walks back over to the stove. I'm almost done with my food when she slides another plate of pancakes in front of Bash.