Thin Air (Complete EDITING)

6- Shannon

6 Shannon May 15, 2020

BEEP BEEP BEEP

I roll over and grab my phone, silencing the alarm before turning back and kissing my husband's bare shoulder above his raven tattoo. He stiffens as he wakes, then lets out a sleepy moan. He rolls to his back and presses his warm lips to my forehead. We lie in bed, trying to enjoy those few peaceful minutes before chaos inevitably erupts.

The lazy moments between the streetlights turning off and dawn breaking offer a nice place to plan the day: who is taking who to school, which of us is going to stop at the store on their way home from work, dinner plans--the usual.

I hear the first signs of life from downstairs, then count to ten. Like clockwork, the bathroom door slams shut, and the yelling starts.

"MMMMOOOOOMMMM! Caleb knows I can't go to school with wet hair! I have first dibs on the bathroom during the week! Make him get out!"

We both groan and sit up. "Welp, duty calls." I peck his lips before getting out of bed and making my way downstairs to separate the kids. I don't want a repeat of last week's shoving match. It's too early in the day to deal with blood or tears.

I can already hear the water running when I get to the bathroom, so I shout through the door. "Caleb, you have five minutes to wash up, then you need to get out!"

"Sure thing, Mom!" comes his muffled response.

Exactly eight minutes and one cup of coffee later, the bathroom opens. Caleb emerges with steam billowing out into the hallway behind him, looking smug.

"Move it, dick." Morgan shoves past him, then shrieks about not having enough hot water when she sees how fogged up the mirror is.

"Young lady, I know you did not just call your brother a dick right in front of me."

Her cheeks pink up and she gives me a sheepish grin before ducking behind the door to avoid eye contact.

"No worries, Ma. Doesn't faze me," Caleb says. Then raises his voice so his pissed-off little sister can hear him. "Maybe the cold water will calm down that big ass pimple on Morgan's forehead. I was doing her a favor!"

"Ugh, Caleb, don't antagonize her, please. Your father's driving you guys today. The sister you don't irritate for sport is going to pick you up after practice. She's bringing her new boyfriend home this weekend. I expect you to behave." I give him a pointed stare. He shoots me an innocent 'Who, me?' smile. The same smile his father uses to get out of trouble with me.

"Also, don't say ass!" I shout down the stairs as an afterthought.

I walk into my bedroom as Seth steps out of the closet, pulling a day-glow orange shirt down over his torso. Even after all these years, my heartbeat kicks up when I see him. He's a sight to see in the business casual attire he wears to the office most days. But I much prefer him like this; in his work boots and faded jeans.

He catches me checking him out and chuckles as he takes the cup of coffee out of my hand.

"Thanks, Sunny," he says with a wink, knowing how the nickname melts me.

_____________________

After a second cup of coffee and cold shower, because my children drained the hot water heater, not because I needed it after ogling my husband, I head to work early.

The air is stale and it's surprisingly quiet when I walk in. With Seth working out on a job site and Dad at an appointment, there are only two of us in the building this morning. Hopefully I can pop a window open and get to my office without our paths crossing.

A loud snap shuts that hope down before I can get too excited about the prospect of sneaking by.

I greet the bottle-blonde secretary only because it would be rude not to. "Hey, Nicole, anything I need to know before I hole up in my office?"

"Um," she annoyingly drags out. "No, not off the top of my head. Wait, actually, Dean did call a little bit ago. He was wondering if Cal had said anything about running late. He hasn't called back, though, so I guess your dad must have shown up."

"Okay, thanks. You know where to find me if you need me." I mumble, sorting through the mail I picked up on my way past her desk.

"Mhmm, you got it, Shan." She snaps her gum loudly, making me cringe.

I don't know why my dad hired her. She annoys me to no end with her incessant flirting and gum-snapping.