When he had it on, he pulled me back into his arms. I wrapped mine around him.

“You’re gonna have to store up some smartass so I can fuck it outta you,” he remarked and I smiled at the same time I tingled.

“I don’t think that’ll be difficult,” I assured him.

“For you, no,” he teased.

I grinned at him then tipped my chin down and kissed his chest over his shirt.

He cupped my head to keep my face there, and I kept it there for him, rubbing my nose against his chest then turning my head and pressing my cheek to it again.

“Sorry this fucked our night,” he said quietly.

“No night is fucked when I’m with you,” I replied.

“Christ, Amy.” This came out as a groan right before I felt his lips at the top of my hair.

We held each other for long moments before I pushed my head back, his came up, and I caught his eyes.

“You gonna be okay?”

“Got no choice, but yeah, baby. I’m always okay.”

I hoped he wasn’t lying but to do my bit (the only thing I could do), I gave him a reassuring smile and a gentle squeeze.

He dipped down and touched his mouth to mine before he let me go but grabbed my hand and walked me to the front door.

I got another lip brush before he was out the door on his, “Talk to you tomorrow, babe.”

I stood in the door and replied, “Okay, Mickey.” I watched him take five steps away from me before I called, “Mickey!”

He turned to me.

“You’re a great guy, a wonderful father, and walking away from just you, she made the worst decision of her life. Walking away from your family, it’s mean to say, but that’s just crazy.”

In the outside lights I saw his face go soft before he ordered, “Don’t be sweet and make me wanna make out with you to the point I’m fuckin’ you in your foyer when I gotta go get my boy.”

“My apologies,” I said through a smile.

“Now get outta the fuckin’ door wearin’ only that robe,” he kept ordering.

“No one can see me, Mickey.”

“Babe?” he called.

“What?” I asked.

“Get outta the fuckin’ door.”

I squinted my eyes at him and got out of the door.

But before I fully closed it, I stuck my face through and blew him a kiss.

Thus, the last look I had of Mickey was him shaking his head wearing a grin that might not have been easy, but at least I’d managed to give it to him.

* * * * *

Late the next morning, I walked into Maude’s House of Beauty and went right to the pedicure chairs.